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 Post subject: Navitimer Lume Question
PostPosted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:35 am 
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I'd like to first start by saying that this forum is a wealth of knowledge and I've learned so much from reading the discussions--thank you.

My question is about lume on a Navitimer. What are the telltale signs that a watch has been relumed?

In the two attached examples, both look very good (one better than the other) but I can't tell if the lume is updated or just well preserved. I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks,

Jason


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 11:47 am 
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Don´t take my word for this because I am a novice at this myself, but I´d say that these tiny cracks that you see in the 3rd and 4th picture only occur in aged tritium or radium. I don´t know any way to check however if this tritium or radium has been applied at a later stage in the life of the watch after its production. A certain indicator and the easiest way to check for redone lume is just to shine a flashlight on it and see if it glows brighter in the dark because only Superluminova does that. Last tip I know of is to check if the patina of the hands and indecies match. If they don´t have the same aging or colour one or the other might have been redone.

I hope this was helpful.

Luca


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 11:38 pm 
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Historically Radium was applied to various metallic compounds which resulted in different glow colors. Perhaps Breitling can provide information of their original lume process and the color might be an indicator. Thermo Fisher manufactures radiation detectors that are isotope identifiers now used to screen for radioactive materials at airports, border crossings, and ports. Someone might be interested is doing a cursory screening of your watch as a test of their equipment. If it was a complete re-lume with 3H, a simple radiation detector will tell you whether beta particles (from 3H) are being emitted or gamma rays (from 226Ra) by placing a piece of aluminum foil between the watch and detector. Beta particles will not pass through, gamma rays will.


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:31 am 
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Thanks for the input. I find it challenging to figure this out, especially without physical access to the watch.


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:54 am 
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I ended up buying the Navitimer in the first two photos.


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 9:21 am 
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The new watch arrived, looks even better in person than in photos.


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