Luminox Resurrection

It all started with a Luminox Navy Seal with a broken case, that I received as part of a trade deal. I thought that a simple case swap would be really an easy way to fix the watch up for use as a summer beater. Well, it turned out to be a bit more interesting than I had anticipated. Makes for an interesting tale, though.

 

First off, here's a pic of the watch as I received it.  The lugs were missing. Apparently the original owner broke off one of the lugs (I have NO idea How!) and as such trimmed the rest off, and was using it as a 'pocket watch" of sorts.

Step one.... Call Luminox service department.

   While the folks there were extremely friendly and tried to be helpful, it turns out that Luminox policy is not to sell parts other than bands and clasps/buckles and replacement bezels, and prefer you return the watch to them, even for those parts. They also wanted to see proof of purchase (understandable) . After some conversation, I was  told, "sorry, we will not sell you a case, send the watch back, with $10.00 US for return shipping, and we will provide you an estimate on repairs. If there is no adequate proof of purchase, we reserve the right to refuse to do a repair" -  I was told that the average price for a repair similar to the one I wanted should be about $100. So, $110 US to repair a watch I got for free? That's just about $150.CDN. I can buy a beater up here for less. Still, its a nice watch, so...

 

Step Two... Invoke the Power of the Internet!

   Posting my story on several of the more well known watch sites came up with some interesting stuff. I was offered  the chance to get a new case through a fellow who was a watchmaker. Turns out Luminox wouldn't sell him a case either, it was again, "Send us the watch for service", although as he was a dealer, it would have been a whole lot cheaper for me. Turns out there's some silly rule about who can service a watch with the illumination system Luminox uses. Still, there has to be a better way.

Enter the PMWF and Shane de Laurian. Shane  offered up a Luminox case that appeared to be the answer..

 

Step Three ..... wait on Canada Post..

  sigh...

 

Step Four ..... start the work..

  This is where it got very interesting. I started by looking at what Shane had sent, looked pretty good, case was the same model (wait for it!), and only problems seemed to be a chipped crystal, and no hour illumination in the chapter ring - no big deal says I, I have those parts (hah!).. Let the surgery begin. I remove the movement, and store it in a movement tin.

 Round  One...

      Ever take a Luminox apart? Very interesting design. Turns out the bezel fits onto a steel compression ring, which is tightly press fitted around the case lip that the crystal sits in. This in effect, makes a very tight compression seal on the crystal, which no doubt helps with water resistance.  So, seeing as I need the new crystal, I figure that I can remove it by simply popping it out from the inside. Wrong! That  compression rig really does hold it in with a death grip!  About a half hour later, the crystal and ring are off (and the case is more destroyed than it was). OK, so far so good. Now to lift out the little plastic hour chapter ring. Aghh, its in two parts, the chapter ring, and the plastic part that sits under it and actually holds those really tiny little glowing glass tubes, which as I discover, are really really tiny, and light. Naturally, obeying the first law of physics of amateur watch making, these little bits proceed to merrily fall from their plastic home, and land on the carpet!.. ARGGH! Doom! Ruination!  Quick, make sure the cats are NOT in the room.. Some quick thinking suggests that if I TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, I might be able to find them, thanks to that wonderful Luminox glow.

 Sure enough, after a few minutes on my knees with a pair of tweezers and some 4x reading glasses I find them all (except for one second of panic after having found 11 of them, and not being able to see #12), and safely corral them in a 35MM film canister.  A few minutes work with tweezers sees them back in their proper home, and installed in the new case. Enough for now. The whole project is safely stored in my favorite watch project box (actually a vintage  tin cigarette container, MacDonald's Export A, for those that care, and no, I don't smoke,)

 

 

Round Two...

  Time to fit the crystal and compression ring. Crystal snaps in like a charm, but the new compression ring is smaller than the one on the case Shane sent. Not even close. To make it worse, when I try to use the one that came with Shane's case, i discover that while it fits loosely, and holds the crystal, the bezel, once on, condescendingly flops around looking rather smug at my surprise.. Hmm, time to think. Back into the tin with the whole shebang,  and off to sit on the patio and be inspired by cold dark ale. (Big Rock Traditional, for those interested in such things)