Restoration: Which One Is Radioactive!? Vintage DOXA Conquistador or Girard Perregaux Gyromatic?

In this video I discuss a vintage DOXA by Synchron with an ETA 2651 movement and a Girard Perregaux Gyromatic in the context of radium lume and how to detect it, both visually and with a geiger counter.

chapter index:
00:00 video introduction: this video is about DOXA by Synchron with an ETA 2651 movement and Girard Perregaux Gyromatic radium lume detection
01:04 channel introduction
01:27 follow-up note about Tissot T-Touch II watch from previous video - prices and the importance (to me) of hand contrast with dial
06:09 note about hand contrast with dial on my Consul Automatique and how contrast is accentuated on that watch, which is one of my favorites, with tiny black paint stripes on the hands over a sunburst dial
07:40 DOXA by Synchron with an ETA 2651 movement and Girard Perregaux Gyromatic discussion with respect to visual detection of radium lume
08:11 brief discussion of the history of the brands GP (Gerard Perregaux) and DOXA
09:39 a closer look focussing on the DOXA lume color, texture and style
12:29 a closer look focussing on the GP lume color, texture, stye, and corrosion
14:11 discussion of the prices paid for these two watches on ricardo.ch (DOXA 35 Chf, GP 77 Chf)
15:53 a note about the ETA 2651 movement in the DOXA as presented on the website 17jewels.info
17:43 DOXA on the Timegrapher
20:40 reveal of which watch has radium lume
21:46 opening up the DOXA to look at its ETA 2651 movement under the microscope
23:06 size comparison ETA 2651 vs ETA 2472 (which is the same size as the ETA 2783)
24:04 simple regulation of the DOXA under the microscope and checking again on the Timegrapher
25:50 greasing the case back gasket on the DOXA before closing it back up
29:45 GP under the microscope - dial and hands only
32:52 quick discussion / follow-up on Eterna -
35:34 I open an Eterna Sahida Cal 1446U that I paid just 9 Chf for on ricardo.ch and discuss what a good practice watch it is (mostly because of the price, simplicity, Eterna's historical relationship withe ETA, and small size)
36:19 I take a look at the GP on the Timegrapher
38:23 back to the Eterna Sahida Cal 1446U under the microscope
41:16 conclusion and sign-off

The tools I use are discussed in greater detail in these videos:

$400 Worth Of Bergeon Tools And Supplies
https://youtu.be/lr0cmsUerps

Everything I Know About Watchmaking in Five Minutes
https://youtu.be/65mmQt5o0Cg

Trinocular 4K Microscope Meets 1976 Patek Philippe 16-250 Meets Crazy Person With Rodico Fetish
https://youtu.be/morbHp7GHHA

The stand on my desk that I use to elevate my work area is an IKEA SIGFINN monitor stand.

Before opening any vintage watch or clock for the first time I recommend checking it for radium paint. I didn't do that in this video because it wasn't the first time that I opened this watch. For more information on radium and how to check for it using a geiger counter see either of these two videos:

Everything I Know About Watchmaking in Five Minutes
https://youtu.be/65mmQt5o0Cg?t=112

How to Re-lume a Vintage Watch
https://youtu.be/0fFX1LkpjMU?t=829

The NetIO GC10 that I use is no longer made. It uses an SBM-20 geiger muller tube, which is also used in the GQ GMC-300E and other geiger counters. If you find one of those it should perform similarly.

My videos are for entertainment and educational purposes only. Critical / corrective comments and links to resources including other watchmaking channels are welcome.

#restoration #watchmaker #comedy #watchrepair #watchrestoration