Many vintage watches — especially those made before the 1960s — used radioactive materials in their luminous paint so the hands and numerals would glow in the dark. If you’ve recently rediscovered an old watch that’s been tucked away in a drawer for decades, you might be wondering: is it dangerous? Let’s look at what you need to know.

Let us start with that we are NOT experts in Nuclear science, and certainly have no medical background. However, let’s dive into this.

1. What Is “Radioactive Lume”?

Before modern photoluminescent and tritium paints, watchmakers used radium-226 mixed with zinc sulfide. The radium’s radiation caused the zinc sulfide to glow continuously.
While the light fades over time as the phosphor breaks down, the radium remains radioactive essentially forever — its half-life is about 1,600 years.

By the 1960s, most manufacturers switched to tritium (H-3), which is much less hazardous and has a 12.3-year half-life. Today’s watches use non-radioactive luminous compounds like Super-LumiNova.

2. Is It Dangerous to Have One?

If the watch has been intact and sealed, simply owning or being near it is not usually a health risk. The main concern is ingestion or inhalation of the luminous paint, not the radiation that escapes the watch case.

Having it in your bedside table for 25 years is unlikely to have exposed you to harmful levels of radiation. Radium emits alpha particles, which cannot penetrate glass or even a few centimeters of air. Unless the paint was flaking off and you handled or breathed it in regularly, your exposure would be negligible.

However, if the watch has cracked glass, loose hands, or visible powder, take care.

3. What If You Touched the Lume Powder?

If you think you’ve gotten some of the old luminous powder on your hands:

• Do not panic — brief skin contact poses minimal risk.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
• Avoid touching your face, mouth, or eyes until after washing.
• Do not blow or brush the dust away, as this can make it airborne.
• If the powder may have gotten on surfaces, wipe them gently with a damp paper towel and dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag.

If you accidentally inhaled or ingested any dust (for example, if you were cleaning the watch and saw visible particles), contact your local health authority or a radiation safety office for advice — they can assess whether any testing is needed.

4. How to Handle and Store the Watch Safely

Do not open the case or scrape the dial or hands. This releases particles.

Keep it in a sealed plastic bag or small airtight container if the lume is deteriorating.

Store it away from living areas — a garage, shed, or closet is fine.

Label it clearly as containing radium lume.

If you’re a collector, you might want to get a Geiger counter reading for curiosity’s sake, but note that even mild readings don’t necessarily imply danger if the lume is sealed.

5. What to Do If You Want to Dispose of It

Do not throw the watch in the trash or recycling bin.
Contact your local radiation safety authority or hazardous waste disposal program. Many regions have facilities that accept small radioactive artifacts like radium dials safely and discreetly.

6. Final Thoughts

Old radium-dial watches are fascinating pieces of horological history, and most pose little risk when left undisturbed. The danger comes from damage, dust, or DIY restoration — not from passive ownership.

If yours has been sitting quietly in a drawer for 25 years, it hasn’t been harming you. Just treat it with respect: don’t tamper with the lume, keep it sealed, and handle it gently. With those precautions, you can safely preserve a small piece of the glowing past.