The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi, just got my first Breitling which i bought form the 'bay. Arrived today and I eagerly put it on. One disappointment so far though... went into pitch black room... looked down... NOTHING. Went to a couple of lights... from incandescent, to CF, to 200 W halogen, holding it a respectful distance away... went to garage...total blackness. Again...nothing. Its a SuperOcean Professional and all the paperwork says 2000... is the lume dead already ? I intend on taking it in for servicing this weekend, is that something they will include or am I going to be charged more for that ? Kind of concerned as I've had the watch 1 hour and already a $500 expense because previous owner neglected to have it serviced. I appreciate any info/feedback. Thank you.

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

It shouldn't fade by now. Could you post a photo of it?

Especially as it is SuperLuminova, therefore no half life issues.

Definitely post several pictures. Not to prematurely worry you but something sounds suspect. I can hold any of my Brietlings close to a 75 watt light for 10 seconds, turn off the light and the lume glows like its electric. Now having said that, normally without a "recharge" it is dim but still legible.

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Breitling Steelfish(black)
Breitling Steelfish(silver)
Panerai PAM 312
Bell & Ross BR03-92 Phantom
Steinhart BreitlingSource LE #5/15

o.k.... why is it so ridiculous to post a photo here !?.... can't be done without a web-page ? not helpful at all !.... please see posting under my name in Breitling identification forum (it contains original 'bay ad... it did come with bakelite box..warranty card,COSC cert..all matching the serial on the watch).... or some help on posting a pic seeing as how i don't have a webpage...

and I tryed holding to it light and when I go to pitch black room..NADA, not even a little glow.... its like its invisible in the dark...not dim...not there !

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

Go somewhere such as www.xs.to and upload pics. It will give you a link to each pic that you can post here.

so here are pics...

first just a face shot...

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060197872.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

and from another angle if it helps...

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060203858.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

the back...

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060200597.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

showing the serial...

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060202469.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

under a light (sorry for the yellowness, apparently my camera doesn't do white light terribly well )

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060205561.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

and finally after a few minutes under the lamp... you may have to turn brightness up on your monitor to make it out, but I assure you it is my watch...

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=p1060207955.jpg&h=xs433&d=08453

as you can see... pretty much ZERO lume.... even a $2 disposable watch glows more than this...

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

OK, I am no expert, but I am a former SuperOcean owner of 11 years...
I think the date font looks wrong which leads me to think that this might be a replica. But I am not 100% sure and I havent got my old SO left to compare with, so let´s hear what the real "spotters" think first.

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Blue Baton Super Avenger
Black Avenger Seawolf

It is genuine, but don't have a clue why there's no lume. Try to hold it under the sun or some more powerful lamp and then go in total darkness. It isn't suppose to shine like the new models, but no lume at all.

I still say the datefont looks strange, but it might be that my SO was an older version and thus looked a bit different. If I am wrong I am sorry for suspecting or even insinuating your watch to be fake!

Still, the lume issue does not speak in favor of this being a real Breitling.
I mean, I cant see how the Superluminova would just stop working, and I I certainly cant imagine that a batch of SO´s would be applied with the wrong lume-paint...

My eleven year old SO was illuminating as good as it did when I bought it.

Just my 2 cents.

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Blue Baton Super Avenger
Black Avenger Seawolf

left it under lamp @ about distance of about a foot (enough so that it wouldn't get any heat from bulb) for 5 hours... maybe a 2-5 % improvement...VERY...VERY faint glow from the numbers in a completely darkened room, but useless as hands still have no lume at all. I would be suprised if it was a fake given the warranty card and COSC certificate match ?Anybody "know" an AD who would run a check on the serial 138883. According to warranty booklet, purchased in USA LENKERSDORFER if that info helps.

Looking at warranty book and watch... card says ref. A1734509/B409... watch marking A17345... is it normal to be missing the 09/B409 part of the ref. # ?

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

I tried, but arm wasn't long enough

sorry, trying to keep a sense of humour. this was an engagement gift from gf and she is pretty upset at possibility of it being a fake, so trying to keep my spirits light

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never argue with idiots, they just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

IT'S NOT A FAKE.

It definitely looks real, but that is really odd about the lume, especially with Superluminova. I've never heard of anything like that before. Just a few seconds in the light should be enough for it to visibly glow in the dark.

Very peculiar.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I think it's genuine, but like everyone else, the lume problem doesn't make sense. Maybe it was a bad batch of lume? I don't know what else could explain it. Have you tried using a blacklight to charge the lume? I know that wouldn't fix it, but when I put mine under a blacklight it REALLY lights up. There are modders out there that could relume a lot cheaper than Breitling, which is probably the route I would take. Just another option.

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Life is too short to have a crappy watch.



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Thanks
Terry