Oldie but goodie Rolex 6569 Oyster Perpetual using cal. 1030. OCC
Bill
It is very basic but it still speaks Rolex.
All the Rolex DNA.
Thanks for looking.
Bill
Swiss only dial with OCC nice touch.
Rolex 6569 with cal 1030 movement occ dial
And it changes from what we are used to see and wear! Very class. [nt]
I am a sport Rolex guy this watch we never get wrist time.
Bill
Vintage Rolex
Understated Rolex. The only Rolexes I like and this is a superb example. Congratulations Bill!
A word of caution about the lumen. Do have it checked for radiation. I recently acquired a great 1958 vintage watch (not a Rolex) and have just checked it for gamma radiation at greater than 10.00 µSv/hour. It was off the scale of my hand Geiger, so my watch is rather unwearable for the moment until I have the lumen removed.
Best
Clive
Thanks for your thoughts.
It seems like maybe we should all through out our cell phones before we start to worry about the watches. I think there are hundreds of worse things that harm us every day starting with each breath we take. Not to be dismissive but i have really see 100's of watch wearing cases and 100's of law suits in the past 50 years to worry.
Radiation in time pieces
Dear Bill
I understand your point of view, which I agree to a limited extent, provided one knows and understands the risks (like smoking) and does not wear an overly radiant watch at night and only during the day occasionally if necessary. One needs to identify the type of lumen on a pre-1960's watch, which was when radium based lumen was made illegal. Most of my watches with lumen are not radium based and give absolutely no concern.
Here is a quote from a 2015 article by a guy who had carried out some serious research on radium based lumen in time pieces:
"If a watch is identified with Gamma radiation, evaluate at what point you feel comfortable with the risks. Clearly, a watch that emits over 10 uSv per hour is one that I would simply not want to wear. It would be the equivalent of having 1-2 chest X-rays every single day. One that emitted at 1 uSv per hour might be something I would wear intermittently. Everyone will have their respective tolerance levels. uSv 100/hour? I actually wouldn't want to be next to someone with such a watch."
I have a Movado from 1943 that emits gamma at 1.10 uSv per hour above my local background radiation (of 0.14 uSv per hour), so I am happy to wear it for short periods. I have a recently acquired Ulysse Nardin from 1958 that emits gamma at 0.12 above background, which I have been wearing for a while now and I am happy with that.
At an unknown gamma in excess of 10.0 uSv per hour, my other recent vintage acquisition is of concern and needs to be attended to if I wish to wear it as I want, because it is a fine, definitive watch to own and wear. Also it needs to be stored in a way not to harm others at home.
Enjoy your lovely Rolex.
Best
Clive
All i can say is there is no watch dial related evidence.
I simply say where are all the cases of watch owners claims in courts of law backed by medical examination.
I am no scientist or doctor. I just think the claims are not substantiated.
You have a point, Bill. I have a few watches in that situation. I wear them. I just avoid licking the dial. [nt]
Gamma radiation
The cell phone radiation myth has nothing to do with the pre-1960 watch lumen problems. Cell phones only emit radio waves in the VHF band at relatively low energy, so please do not confuse them with watch lumen.
Radium 226 isotope is not found in cell phones as far as I am aware but was mixed in the lumen paste of many pre-1960's watches, sometimes quite liberally in "military" watches and clocks. Radium 226 has a half-life of 1,600 years whereas the paste material that glows from the alpha and gamma radiation emitted from R226 only lasts for 20 years or so because it "burns out". Thus the lumen of many old watches and clocks has ceased to glow, even when placed in bright light. Nevertheless the R226 still emits gamma, which creates the dangerous by-product radon gas.
A quick test of old lumen. If the old watch lumen glows brightly after exposure to bright light and then fades after a short while, the lumen is unlikely to have radium 226 as the exciter. If the old lumen does not glow or glows extremely faintly after being exposed to bright light, then that lumen is likely to have radium 226 as the exciter, still emitting gamma and alpha radiation. Alpha will not penetrate the watch case/crystal or human skin but gamma is extremely penetrative (through at least 6 inches of lead).
Old radium 226-excited luminous paint is a serious problem, not just for old watches. It is found painted extensively on old classic aeroplanes' and old ships' instrument dials and switches. The engine RPM gauge and airspeed indicator of the 1951 Chipmunk I fly emits gamma radiation in excess of 10 µSv/hour (off the scale of my hand Geiger reader). As the endurance of a Chipmunk does not exceed 2 hours per flight, I live with the emissions, as I had done for several years in the 1960's military.
Radium 226-excited lumen dust from inside a watch is deadly if inhaled or ingested because the emitted alpha will attack human organs, once inside the skin. Radium 226 will find its way via the blood stream into bone structure. Thus "not licking the dial" is excellent advice here!! Our watch repairers generally have the problem and my guy is very aware.
Best
Clive
OK so we should tell people not to injest or lick their dial. Other than that no harm.
yes...its very clear that smoking causes cancer.....
same with watch radiation....
because watch radiation would be even harder to prove, we dont see mountains of evidence.
....that doesnt mean it isnt there.
Glad you like it
Gracias, Nicolas!
Cheers