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Investigation into mystery U.S.S.R. Era watch


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Hi Everyone,

 

It's been quite a few months since I've been online. Still plugging along slowly, though my watch repairing stuff has taken a back-seat sadly. I do hope you have all been well in the interim.

 

Today I was talking to a friend about watch repairing and that I had only recently taken up the hobby, when he goes and pulls this watch out from his dresser. It is an heirloom that belonged to his Grandfather,  and that is about all the information he has about it.

 

As you can see it's in pretty rough cosmetic shape, though thankfully that is seems to be isolated damage to the mineral crystal lens. Unfortunately, the crown is spinning freely and not engaging after something inside 'snapping' one day on his winding it, he tells me.

 

He's in Europe whilst I am in Australia, so I cannot actually do more than see what you can from the images. We have confirmed the dial has a radioactive isotope paint on the hands and at the hour markings via UV LED exposure tests... At least that means he knows now, not to just open the thing now cause of the exposure risk- to which he had no knowledge of prior, having not identified the telltale usage on that dial -as the paint long ago ceasing to glow in the dark.

 

I know there are some Soviet era watch collectors/restorers here. If anyone knows or can point me in the right direction to maybe finding out more about it that would be appreciated. I don't have a single clue about Soviet era watches at all, but I do know you all here are a very varied and knowledgable bunch of people, so I didn't think it any harm to at least ask for him on the chance it helps me tell him a little more about the timepiece.

 

Thanks everyone 😄

 

 

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vostok-Komandirskie-Mechanical-Military-Russian-wrist-watch-Tank-811306-/223754792594?mkevt=1&mkcid=16&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&media=MAILTO&sojTags=media%3Dmedia

Here's one almost identical.

I don't think the lume is radioactive. Any modern lume will glow when exposed to UV. The only way to test for radioactivity is with a Geiger counter.

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14 hours ago, WatchingOracle said:

We have confirmed the dial has a radioactive isotope paint on the hands and at the hour markings via UV LED exposure tests

Which is not a radioactivity test.

 

14 hours ago, WatchingOracle said:

At least that means he knows now, not to just open the thing now cause of the exposure risk

Even if it was radium, and likey isn't, there would be no risk, because you need to eat or inhale that dailt for a very long time before the amount could become dangerous. Have a read of our pinned topic 

 

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7 hours ago, jdm said:

Which is not a radioactivity test.

 

Even if it was radium, and likey isn't, there would be no risk, because you need to eat or inhale that dailt for a very long time before the amount could become dangerous. Have a read of our pinned topic 

 

Yeah I've already read that and a heap of other stuff on radioisotope lume, I told him not to open it just incase as from my investigations online UV leds can activate the remaining oxide in the paint causing it to lume briefly. It would be preferable to use a particle radiation detector but he doesn't have access to one. Anyhow it would be unwise for him to open the thing as you know how delicate mechanical watches are to repair and it would be ill advised for someone from the general public with ZERO watch repair knowledge to do that.

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20 hours ago, mikepilk said:

They are common, and quite cheap on ebay. They do look good though 😀

He's one I have. Your's probably has a similar movement -  http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Wostok_2414A

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20191220_165833.thumb.jpg.18ad47e338f939602c8c693230b48b8f.jpg

 

16 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vostok-Komandirskie-Mechanical-Military-Russian-wrist-watch-Tank-811306-/223754792594?mkevt=1&mkcid=16&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&media=MAILTO&sojTags=media%3Dmedia

Here's one almost identical.

I don't think the lume is radioactive. Any modern lume will glow when exposed to UV. The only way to test for radioactivity is with a Geiger counter.

 

21 hours ago, Marc said:

That's a Vostok Komandirskie.

If you Google it you will find a ton of info about it, they have something of a cult following.

Thank you all for the information. That is very helpful. I appreciate it and I am sure he will be happy to know a little more about the watch 🙂

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