Rolex

So here's my 6542
1959
Serial# 482***
Original Bakelite
rare all red mini gmt hand
Mirror glossy gilt dial

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Here's mine. 

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That bezel looks like its in great shape!!

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.....to put a geiger counter over that one!


Beautiful watch...really is beautiful. But the radiation....???

I have used a Geiger but it's not the best although not top of the range

I tend to see 5 as a cutoff for me. 5 is ok. It's when it starts getting to 10 and over.

For a radium watch, your 6542 emits low gamma. Yet another example of Rolex using different types of radium.

I believe Rolex used a number of differen types of radium compositions when they made these pre-tritium dials. I think not only did they use different radium compounds (which is documented) but also they varied teh amount of radium applied to each dial (also documented).

What i find interesting is when certain vintage Rolex dealers try to make claims about authenticity based on just a Geiger reading.

Only two types of people would do that. An idiot or someone with an agenda.

My point is, I have seen quite a few 6542s in totally original state that have varied radiation readings. To my mind...anything between 0 and 400 microsiuverts is totally possible.
Though to be fair, i would only wear one with your level or lower!

Yes your right from what I've heard

After the Radium radiation scare, ROLEX recalled many 6542 to rectify the problems quietly.

Part of the processes taken was to relume the Bakelite with weak Pm147 or Tritium lumes.

Pm147 has been around from the 50's so that would support your theory of Rolex using different radium compounds to lume the dial hands and bezel.

.....there is plenty of Rolex documentation showing not only different compounds but also that they applied these compunds in different amounts. Just these two facts alone make it scientifically impossible to validate authenticity by using just a geiger.

When was the last time you had it serviced at Rolex?

I haven't had it serviced at rolex
It's been serviced running flawlessly

Have been thinking about putting it into Rolex but don't want it to come back with any service parts lol

Service paper would be a nice thing to add!

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Which leads me to think my insert was one from 59 on, made with less stronger compound and not with the strontium what they called back

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6542 from IV 58 - pure pleasure