The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So I have brought my SOP in for servicing and asked about the lume issue (previous thread exists detailing almost COMPLETE lack of lume)... He indicated that if it was stored in its box for a prolonged period of time that the lume would diminish considerably and needs daily exposure to light to maintain its lumenesence (sp ?).... Not trying to beat a dead horse here (no new repsonses in previous thread)...but how do you guys store your watches for long periods when they are not in use... and do you find that the lume suffers from prolonged non-exposure ? For those who haven't read my previous thread, my lume has ZERO glow on the hands, and even after a day sitting on my window sill while at work and overnight under a lamp...BARELY a glow form the number and pearl. Thanks for any responses.

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

I've never heard of that, but I guess it's possible.

All of my watches are exposed to light for at least part of the day, so can't provide any practical experience.

thanks for the response roff... I find it a little unlikely, but who am I to argue with guy at AD. I had an Orient automatic that broke, sat in its box waiting for me to take it in to be fixed, and I put it off for quite awhile as it was my daily wear watch, and when it broke I replaced it immediately with another watch, so it didn't make it into the jeweller for at least 4 or 5 months, and it affected the lume none at all. Now I'm wondering if 4 or 5 months qualifies as an "extended" period of time. But I still find it odd that on my SOP after lengthy exposure to light that the effect was so negligible. I frequently wake in the middle of the night and look at my watch to see how many more hours I have to sleep LOL so the lume is kind of a big deal to me.

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

I have to disagree as well. The lume either works or it doesn't. It shouldn't take more than a few seconds to charge lume in sunlight. If it doesn't then something is wrong.

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Life is too short to have a crappy watch.



Navitimer o1 LE
SuperOcean Steelfish
Bathys 100Fathoms Aquaculture
RXW MM20
RXW MM25
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Movado series 800 diver
Thanks
Terry

I find the storage argument a little hard to believe as well. Superluminova is a chemical compound which should continue to work just fine unless the compound breaks down for some reason. I can't remotely imagine that darkness would cause that to happen. And it's not like it has a half-life or anything to worry about.

It sounds a little bit like an AD excuse to me.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks for the responses guys. You have definetly helped, as I will insist on the affected parts being replaced... I had been kind of hoping against logic that his statement might have some merit, but that was more based on not wanting to have to spend and arm and a leg servicing a watch I've yet to wear. I was pretty shocked to discover that in its 8 years it had never been serviced. What kind kind of person buys such a nice timepiece and then completely neglects it like that ?

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

O.k, so here's the latest. AD tells me it will be $800-900 to replace the dial ! I politely asked why so much as the original cost of a 2000 SOP was ballpark $2700, and I find it somewhat unbelievable that 1/3rd the cost of the watch new to replace something as simple as the face, probably the least engineered part in the thing. Got the "maybe water got inside" story. On a watch rated for 5000 ft ? with no water marks on the dial or inside the crystal or the case ? seems quite unlikely to me.

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

5000ft rating isn't worth much if the caseback was not put back properly or a gasket got damaged. A diagnosis of water sounds enitrely possible to me - in fact I think I suggested that in your original thread. It wouldn't take a lot, especially if the watch was then sealed properly without drying it out so the lack of water marks wouldn't be an indication that it didn't happen.

Well, this has been a learning process thats for sure. Thanks for the info and feedback guys. MUCH appreciated.

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

I would seriously look into having the dial re-lumed. It should be about 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of a new dial, and probably only take a few weeks turnaround (just a guess on my part).

_________________
Life is too short to have a crappy watch.



Navitimer o1 LE
SuperOcean Steelfish
Bathys 100Fathoms Aquaculture
RXW MM20
RXW MM25
Seiko Sumo
Seiko Orange Monster
Movado series 800 diver
Thanks
Terry