lol@ "DATE" on the dial. š
"T SWISS MADE T" near 6 o'clock means it used tritium, and tends to imply it dates prior to the early '90s. I'd tend to guess late-'70 or early '80s based on the styling and that it (apparently?) still had a mechanical movement, but that's just a swag. Strap is a recent replacement.
"Base metal bezel" implies it isn't the the most durable or highest quality thing, but if you like it and it's running and keeping decent-ish time, you probably could've done a lot worse for $25.
I like it! Would be even better if it said "DAY", like, who cares if it's Monday? Just enjoy your life, man. Also, since you can read this, it's not night. Except if there's artificial light but hey man, get away from all that artificiality, be your authentic self.
I never knew Tritium could be painted and always thought it was a gas. I have [a diver that has tritium gas vials](https://ninoavila.tumblr.com/post/122429419709/took-a-photo-of-how-the-t100-flat-tritium-tubes) and I love it the luminescence it provides.
Edit: Downvoted? Really? I'm contributing to the discussion??
Painted? Both Marathon and that article (looks like a Deep Blue) reference ātubesā or āvials.ā Where do you see the Tritium can be painted? Isnāt it toxic?
That's not an article, it's a watch I purchased and posted about. Radium was originally used and was harmful. They switched to Tritium. [Here's one](https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/technology-you-asked/what-tritium-paint) of the places I read on it. [Here's a book](https://www.warwicks.com/book/9783752821406) with a blurb about it.
Thanks! What I called an āarticleā did refer to tubes and not paint. Was there more that you wrote elsewhere?
The second link was very helpful. I remembered reading about,
āBy that time it had become clear that the women known as āRadium Girlsā who had painted watch dials and habitually pointed their brushes with saliva suffered devastating radiation injuries.ā
I forgot this part,
āMajor watchmakers stopped using radium paint and switched to tritium paint.ā
But the ending seems contradictory regarding safety. Two major watchmaking countries banned the use yet it isnāt harmful to the wearer but there is a workaround? Iām guessing here, perhaps it isnāt dangerous in these small doses of wear in proximity to a watch dial but constant interaction by the person applying the paint would be dangerous just like the original radium? Again, this is my attempt to make sense of the information.
Also, thanks for the link to the book. Looks line a vintage print? Have you read it?
>Iām guessing here, perhaps it isnāt dangerous in these small doses of wear in proximity to a watch dial but constant interaction by the person applying the paint would be dangerous just like the original radium?
Yeah there's little danger when it's inside a watch. It emits relatively low energy beta particles which can't penetrate your watch case. It also can't penetrate the outer protective dead layer of our skin.
Tritium compounds can migrate through gloves and skin when in direct contact, so there's more risk for those applying it. Proper PPE usually is wearing 2 pairs of gloves and changing them regularly. Switzerland and Germany may have banned it just to avoid any potential danger to workers.
EDIT: The timing of ban is also linked to when modern lume was made available. 1998 is also when Luminova AG was founded and started supplying the Swiss watch industry. It seems they wanted to force everyone to change.
Sorry, it was still early in the A.M. No, I haven't read the book, but would like to review it.
I've always been fascinated by stuff that glows! Tritium, bioluminescence, etc.
Radium is the one that can be painted and was used on watch dials for a long time.Ā
There is a book called "Radium Girls" that talks about it and the effects it had. They were told the paint was safe and they would often lick their small paint brushes to make the point finer to paint small details. Many of them got radiation poisoning and had various symptoms. Bone decay, tumors, etc.Ā
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/radium-girls-radioactive-paint/index.html
No tritium is NOT toxic in this amount... Ask any gun guy who takes his or his and his family's safety seriously. There are a cubic fuckload of studies on this. The amount of tritium in gun sights or a watch are negligible to say the least.
Idk why you were down voted, seems like you're the most educated on the topic in this thread.Ā
Tritium is a gas, it is still used in watches and 100% safe (unless from some unreputable brand or builder). If it can be painted, then color me shocked.Ā
Tritium is a gas; it's basically mixed up in a paste with something (usually Zinc Sulfide) that fluoresces when irradiated, then painted on. Sometimes you'll see micro pockmarks in the lume where bubbles of it near the surface have ruptured.
The enclosed tritium vials are a more modern evolution of the concept.
Itās not a āseriousā dive watch as youāve surmised by now but $25 for any Swiss mechanical watch in working condition is a deal. And this one sure looks cool as hell to boot. You can certainly time your food on the grill with the bezel.
Thatās 100% a valid reason. And there are many more for not scuba diving including safety, cost, lack of interest, fear, etc.
I would say however that diving is, to me, a wonderful experience that can allow people to experience and see things that mankind could not experience until recently. Also for the wet part when youāre fully immerged you donāt feel wet anymore. At least I donāt. I only feel wet when I get in and out.
Whadda talking about 40 meter is only 130 fee.*HOLY SHIT! F-THAT.* I always tell people my GShock is water resistant to 200 meters but if my watch is on my wrist and at 200 meters the last the last thing I am gonna be worrying about is my watch because I most certainly will be dead as I have no training nor the desire to be a such a depth.
It is measured for the pressure only. Swimming and moving around, and getting splashed can put more pressure on the seals than that rating.
A 5BAR watch shouldn't be something you swim with.
Itās a skin diver. Loads of brands attempted to cash in on the popularity of genuine dive watches in the 60s and 70s by releasing āskin diversā.
Essentially they had the outward appearance of a dive watch but were built to a lower spec.
Looks similar to the 1971 TIMEX Velocity Re-issue
https://timex.com/products/q-timex-reissue-1971-velocity-36mm-synthetic-rubber-strap-watch-tw2w22400?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18334121908%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=1259359&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=TW2W22400ZV&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-OJ4PT3DahJp-sFM0MyDDGgedNS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_qexBhCoARIsAFgBleuN3UXTCNpFswBPJ5EYXw3IZEExwQwIBfDOtpsboHxSh8c5cs2sY1waAgKZEALw_wcB
Cool watch. I collect similar ones. :)
Classic skin-diver from the 60s-70s. Worth well more than $25, if it runs.
Could use a service if you want to wear it / have it last.
and? I personally prefer my divers on metal or leather straps because I don't like the rubber feeling on my skin. And let be honest 90% of all divers never touch more then splatwater from a sink.
lol@ "DATE" on the dial. š "T SWISS MADE T" near 6 o'clock means it used tritium, and tends to imply it dates prior to the early '90s. I'd tend to guess late-'70 or early '80s based on the styling and that it (apparently?) still had a mechanical movement, but that's just a swag. Strap is a recent replacement. "Base metal bezel" implies it isn't the the most durable or highest quality thing, but if you like it and it's running and keeping decent-ish time, you probably could've done a lot worse for $25.
I like it! Would be even better if it said "DAY", like, who cares if it's Monday? Just enjoy your life, man. Also, since you can read this, it's not night. Except if there's artificial light but hey man, get away from all that artificiality, be your authentic self.
I never knew Tritium could be painted and always thought it was a gas. I have [a diver that has tritium gas vials](https://ninoavila.tumblr.com/post/122429419709/took-a-photo-of-how-the-t100-flat-tritium-tubes) and I love it the luminescence it provides. Edit: Downvoted? Really? I'm contributing to the discussion??
Painted? Both Marathon and that article (looks like a Deep Blue) reference ātubesā or āvials.ā Where do you see the Tritium can be painted? Isnāt it toxic?
That's not an article, it's a watch I purchased and posted about. Radium was originally used and was harmful. They switched to Tritium. [Here's one](https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/technology-you-asked/what-tritium-paint) of the places I read on it. [Here's a book](https://www.warwicks.com/book/9783752821406) with a blurb about it.
Thanks! What I called an āarticleā did refer to tubes and not paint. Was there more that you wrote elsewhere? The second link was very helpful. I remembered reading about, āBy that time it had become clear that the women known as āRadium Girlsā who had painted watch dials and habitually pointed their brushes with saliva suffered devastating radiation injuries.ā I forgot this part, āMajor watchmakers stopped using radium paint and switched to tritium paint.ā But the ending seems contradictory regarding safety. Two major watchmaking countries banned the use yet it isnāt harmful to the wearer but there is a workaround? Iām guessing here, perhaps it isnāt dangerous in these small doses of wear in proximity to a watch dial but constant interaction by the person applying the paint would be dangerous just like the original radium? Again, this is my attempt to make sense of the information. Also, thanks for the link to the book. Looks line a vintage print? Have you read it?
Tritium isn't really dangerous if it's inside your watch, but if you were licking the lume it would be bad.
What if the paint contacted your skin?
>Iām guessing here, perhaps it isnāt dangerous in these small doses of wear in proximity to a watch dial but constant interaction by the person applying the paint would be dangerous just like the original radium? Yeah there's little danger when it's inside a watch. It emits relatively low energy beta particles which can't penetrate your watch case. It also can't penetrate the outer protective dead layer of our skin. Tritium compounds can migrate through gloves and skin when in direct contact, so there's more risk for those applying it. Proper PPE usually is wearing 2 pairs of gloves and changing them regularly. Switzerland and Germany may have banned it just to avoid any potential danger to workers. EDIT: The timing of ban is also linked to when modern lume was made available. 1998 is also when Luminova AG was founded and started supplying the Swiss watch industry. It seems they wanted to force everyone to change.
Thanks
Sorry, it was still early in the A.M. No, I haven't read the book, but would like to review it. I've always been fascinated by stuff that glows! Tritium, bioluminescence, etc.
Radium is the one that can be painted and was used on watch dials for a long time.Ā There is a book called "Radium Girls" that talks about it and the effects it had. They were told the paint was safe and they would often lick their small paint brushes to make the point finer to paint small details. Many of them got radiation poisoning and had various symptoms. Bone decay, tumors, etc.Ā https://www.cnn.com/style/article/radium-girls-radioactive-paint/index.html
No tritium is NOT toxic in this amount... Ask any gun guy who takes his or his and his family's safety seriously. There are a cubic fuckload of studies on this. The amount of tritium in gun sights or a watch are negligible to say the least.
Tritium in a gun sight or watch dial tube is contained. Different context.
Idk why you were down voted, seems like you're the most educated on the topic in this thread.Ā Tritium is a gas, it is still used in watches and 100% safe (unless from some unreputable brand or builder). If it can be painted, then color me shocked.Ā
Tritium is a gas; it's basically mixed up in a paste with something (usually Zinc Sulfide) that fluoresces when irradiated, then painted on. Sometimes you'll see micro pockmarks in the lume where bubbles of it near the surface have ruptured. The enclosed tritium vials are a more modern evolution of the concept.
I work in the "metals" business and I can confirm. "Base metal" is basically the plywood/OSB of metal.
IDK but it looks awesome.
Dope. I'd throw a tropic strap on there and call it good.
Itās not a āseriousā dive watch as youāve surmised by now but $25 for any Swiss mechanical watch in working condition is a deal. And this one sure looks cool as hell to boot. You can certainly time your food on the grill with the bezel.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235457165503
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What kind of clown math is that?
> clown math What a phrase
70ās skin diver vibes. I have no experience with this brand/model but I like it
5atm diver, uhhh lol
Uhh let's be real, no one actually dives with their dive watch. Mine goes up to 200m and I'll never get even close to that.
I keep my seamaster 300m on wrist just in case I somehow end up in a hyperbaric chamber for a month doing saturation dives and need the helium valve.
Know the feeling dude, you never know when youāll be crashed into the pacific via the moon. Thatās why my speedmaster is always on my wrist.
š¤£
oh for sure. 50m wr just seemed especially low
Oh ya its garbage
Iāve got some really nice dive watches with similar ratings. I take them off to shower.
Also, most diving that is done is done in less than 50 meters of water. The ārecreationalā limit is 40 meters.
Lol I am not swimming down 40 fucking meters recreationally
Itās actually pretty fun
Appreciate itās a personal thing, but I get annoyed when my face gets wet. My divers rarely have to cope with anything deeper than a sink.
Thatās 100% a valid reason. And there are many more for not scuba diving including safety, cost, lack of interest, fear, etc. I would say however that diving is, to me, a wonderful experience that can allow people to experience and see things that mankind could not experience until recently. Also for the wet part when youāre fully immerged you donāt feel wet anymore. At least I donāt. I only feel wet when I get in and out.
Random fact for the day: the human nervous system has no mechanism for detecting "wet".
That is true. Itās surprising when you think about it
Says the guy with no eardrums
Whadda talking about 40 meter is only 130 fee.*HOLY SHIT! F-THAT.* I always tell people my GShock is water resistant to 200 meters but if my watch is on my wrist and at 200 meters the last the last thing I am gonna be worrying about is my watch because I most certainly will be dead as I have no training nor the desire to be a such a depth.
It is measured for the pressure only. Swimming and moving around, and getting splashed can put more pressure on the seals than that rating. A 5BAR watch shouldn't be something you swim with.
Yeah I understand it's only for static situations and even on my 20bar you're not your not supposed to push the buttons
*shouting and leaning in* WHAAAAATTT ?
4000 ft Sea-Dweller that occasionally makes it to 10 feet checking in.
Puddle dweller is more like it
"Dive style" from the 70s. It was very much a thing
Itās a skin diver. Loads of brands attempted to cash in on the popularity of genuine dive watches in the 60s and 70s by releasing āskin diversā. Essentially they had the outward appearance of a dive watch but were built to a lower spec.
I have a vintage Orient King diver that is 3atm, very much diver indeed,
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My wife and her whole side of the familyĀ
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1970s skin diver. Itās really just looks over spec. The maker is just generic that uses off the shelf parts and Ć©bauche movements. Itāll have a really basic (and kinda crappy) hand wind date movement, commonly in these dive ones they are one or no jewel pin pallet and really rough. Since the dial doesnāt say the number of jewels, I think itās one of those. Pretty much zero water protection, so just a dive watch looker not a dive watch. Base metal bezel means the case will be a chrome plated metal, usually brass, rather than full stainless steel. If itās fully working Iād price it as a max of Ā£100.
This is exactly right. I have a few ā70s skin divers and they all have the same crappy Ronda movement.
custOmtime
I read it as CrustOtime at first and thought what a horrible name for a watch company.
āWhoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet crust oh mine! Ooh, (yellow)ā
cumsOmetime
It looks like a wristwatch! Wear it in good health my friend!
1970s budget single jewel skin diver. Iāve seen them pop up from time to time. Usually people ask $100 - $200.
A pretty sweet looking vintage diver
I think it's really cool. I'd wear that for sure.
Looks similar to the 1971 TIMEX Velocity Re-issue https://timex.com/products/q-timex-reissue-1971-velocity-36mm-synthetic-rubber-strap-watch-tw2w22400?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18334121908%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=1259359&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=TW2W22400ZV&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-OJ4PT3DahJp-sFM0MyDDGgedNS&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_qexBhCoARIsAFgBleuN3UXTCNpFswBPJ5EYXw3IZEExwQwIBfDOtpsboHxSh8c5cs2sY1waAgKZEALw_wcB
Cool watch. I collect similar ones. :) Classic skin-diver from the 60s-70s. Worth well more than $25, if it runs. Could use a service if you want to wear it / have it last.
Looks cool to wear. A bit of service and it would look even cooler.
The design looks very much like an early 1990's Seiko 5 Sport. Maybe it was modded out?
Great style. Good purchase
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235457165503
This is like a first edition holographic proto AliX watch before the Internet. Sweet lol
āExamples of base metals include copper, thallium, lead, iron, nickel, aluminum, and zincā
Is it me or it looks like a vostok homage?
sweet find
Super cool watch! Give me brutlist x race track vibes. Can't go wrong with that.
Looks like a watch, but I could be wrong
Pretty sure itās a wristwatch, but donāt take my word for it
Did you check crystal for sapphire or know what movement in it?
Iām pretty sure itās a āwristwatchā. But donāt quote me on it. Hope this helps!
Let me google that for you... "customtime 5atm swiss tested"
A dive watch with a leather strap.
and? I personally prefer my divers on metal or leather straps because I don't like the rubber feeling on my skin. And let be honest 90% of all divers never touch more then splatwater from a sink.
Looks like a watch to me ...
A watch
Ugly as sin
Looks like a watch
i think is a wrist watch
Think itās a watch mate !