I have a 1950s Rolex GMT-Master with original radium lume. I opened the safe one day to find the lume on the minute hand had crumbled, dusting the dial with radioactive powder and ruining the gloss finish. Value drop: $20,000. I filed a claim. Denied. “Inherent Vice and Gradual Deterioration.”
Key Takeaways
- “Inherent Vice” Exclusion: Insurance covers external accidents. It does not cover internal decay caused by the nature of the object (e.g., radium drying out and falling off).
- Accidental Drop Exception: If you dropped the watch and the shock caused the lume to flake, that is a covered Accident. You must be honest, but the cause matters.
- Stabilization is Key: You cannot insure against the passage of time. You must have a watchmaker stabilize the hands (apply binder to the back) to prevent this.
- Value of Patina: Insurers struggle to value “Patina.” If they offer to “dial swap” or “refinish,” they destroy the vintage value. You need “Agreed Value” to protect the monetary loss.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Chemistry.”
Radium burns organic binders. Eventually, the lume will fall off. It is inevitable.
Insurance does not cover inevitable events (like tires wearing out).
Therefore, “Lume Flaking” is almost always excluded.
However, if the flake was caused by an “impact,” the “impact” is the covered peril, and the flaking is the damage.
The Investigation (My Analysis of Vintage Coverage)
I asked specialist underwriters about vintage decay.
Hodinkee (Chubb)
- The Nuance: They understand vintage better than anyone.
- The Stance: Spontaneous crumbling is excluded. Impact damage is covered.
Jewelers Mutual
- The Risk: They might suggest “refinishing the dial” to fix the damage.
- The Fight: You have to prove that refinishing destroys the value. You need a payout for the diminished value, not just the repair cost.
[IMAGE: Macro shot of a vintage dial with “lume dust” scattered across the gloss surface]
Comparison Table
| Scenario | Covered? | Reasoning |
| Lume falls off in safe | No | Inherent Vice / Decay |
| Watch dropped, lume falls | Yes | Accidental Damage |
| Lume burns dial (radium burn) | No | Gradual Deterioration |
| Service Center damages lume | No | Workmanship Exclusion |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Stabilize Now: Send your radium watches to a specialist (like LA Watch Works or Rolliworks) to have the lume stabilized from the back. It costs $100 and saves $20k.
- Document Condition: Macro photos of the hands. Prove they were intact on [Date].
- Agreed Value: Ensure the policy value reflects the “all original” price.
- Handle with Care: Don’t wear radium watches while golfing or shooting. The shock knocks the lume loose.
FAQ
Is radium dangerous?
Yes. Don’t inhale the dust. If the crystal breaks, put tape over it immediately.
Can I re-lume it?
You can, but the value drops 30-50%.
Does insurance cover the cleanup?
If it’s a covered accident (drop), yes, they pay for the service to clean the movement.