Is tritium radioactive?

Posted by Asi
March 1, 2007 - 10:51AM cet
IP : 62.219.163.36
Email : asimut@gmail.com

 

 

Well, we all know that sometime in the 40's Radium dials were replaced with Tritium dials. The fact is the Radium dials emit gamma particles and are indeed radioactive to the extent they could be harmful, if not for the user of the watch at least to the people producing the dials or assembling the watches. Tritium enhanced dials should not emit any gamma radiation (only beta, which although is not so dangerous, was also banned in the early 90's) and are in use for diving watches until today.

 

So, decided to test 2 of my tritium dialed watches, the vintage 6152/1 Luminor Panerai and the pre-A 004 Luminor Marina.

 

The test was done with your standard Geiger counter, which can read gamma radiation.

 

 

 

1^st watch tested is the pre-A 004. No reading as expected (some background clutter has no meaning)

 

 

 

 

2^nd is the 6152/1,,,,,,YIKES,,,,,overload,,,,LOL

 

 

 

 

OK, OK don't panic! This reading is done with the most sensitive scale, it is still a very small gamma radiation reading and is not dangerous by any means. But what it may tell us is that perhaps the transition to Tritium involved some kind of "mixed" formula with reduced Radium? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

Cheers,

 

Asi

 

Cheers,

 ~Asi~

Interesting post,Asi.

Posted by amanico
March 1, 2007 - 01:14PM cet
IP : 81.57.232.190
Email : amarillifondaneche@yahoo.fr

I think that tritium has changed to a lighter formula,today.

In the Rolex dials you have the mention<25.

I believe,it's just asupposition ,that with all the international rules in this topic,the brands had to find another and lighter tritium composition to make it "less" radioactive...

As you say,until now,tritium is still used on divers watches.

So if it could be dangeraous ,I don't think any company would keep using tritium on their dials!!!

BTW,nice report!!!

RE: Is tritium radioactive?

Posted by Panerex
March 1, 2007 - 03:33PM cet
IP : 87.67.34.36
Email : philip@fastre.com

 

Bloody interesting test mate !

 

Cheers,

P.

Philip, what did you say???

Posted by amanico
March 1, 2007 - 04:54PM cet
IP : 81.57.232.190
Email : amarillifondaneche@yahoo.fr

AAAAAARGH! bip,bip,bip.... DEAD! LOL

Now that was one scientific post Asi - this gave me a good laugh ; - )

Posted by Milan
March 2, 2007 - 07:29AM cet
IP : 24.148.1.137
Email : asanovicmilan@yahoo.com

 

Tritium mix with radium what else we'll find out better discard of that old thing ,-)

ok kuritza, what was funny???

Posted by Asi
March 2, 2007 - 03:02PM cet
IP : 88.153.12.195
Email : asimut@gmail.com

 this was a serious post!

Cheers,

 ~Asi~

I remember doing that test with you, scary but no worries on wrist >

Posted by YvesOdier
March 2, 2007 - 11:12AM cet
IP : 81.250.151.83
Email : yves.odier@wanadoo.fr

The histoical Panerai watches that were so radioactive, have been destroyed long time ago. As for those of the 50's my understanding is that they cannot endanger one's life, the amount of radioactivity is a few 1000s of time lesser that what we breath daily. 

Anyway if you are worried about it, send it to me... :-)

YvesOdier ^T_TT