Bulova Accutron Astronaut & Seiko SKX781

Side-by-side comparison of Bulova Accutron Astronaut N and Seiko SKX781 'Orange Monster'. Of particular note is the disparate sweep second behavior and lume performance.

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• glow
• h264

[mabonvin3]

If I have a relatively new Seiko, what are the odds of it having some kind of radioactive material in the luminous hands? It costs around 150 bucks, so nothing really fancy.

[hp2114b]

@mabonvin3 Seikos use a material called Lumibrite, which is not radioactive.

[polonium9]

the accutron has radium! thats why its so weak with light. i have many old radium watches and they all glow like that. since its radioactive, due to radium, can i have it?

[hp2114b]

Accutrons do not use radium paint. Radium paint glows continuously for years regardless of light exposure, ceasing only when the radium breaks the paint down entirely over a period of decades. Accutrons use a phosphorescent paint, as does the Seiko.

[polonium9]

the old ones did though, they stopped glowing due to too much alpha radiation hitting the activated zinc sulphide. over the period of like 30 to 70 years the zinc sulphide broke down and thus did not fluoresce unless put under a UV light with a nm length of around 360 to 400nm. the old one does contain radium, no doubt in my mind.

[hp2114b]

The Accutron in this video, as well as all other Accutrons, do not use radium paint. Accutrons were produced from 1960 through 1976, and radium use was mostly over with by 1950. Accutron watches use the plain old phosphorescent paint from that era, and will glow quite well from regular visible light, no UV necessary.

[DanaandClay]

I love this vid. Genius!

[martynroberts1974]

i have a omega seamaster planet ocean and mine glows all night long without a charge under a light

[ghtriumph]

Accutron 214's and other Bulova's, etc., from the 1960's used Tritium for luminesence. Most, but not all of these dials will have a "T" at the bottom. For example: "T Swiss T'. This means Tritium. It can also be stamped on the dial back as well.

[caricama]

Is it really that old? Well I wouldn't think Bulova gained its fame with bad lume. Though I've never owned a Bulova haha. But the Seiko Monster does have a really nice and bright lume, right? I heard that it lasts through the whole night..