Would the old lume become even worse as time flies?
Old lume can (read can, doesn’t mean must) deteriorate more and more over time. A competent watchmaker can stabilize the old lume on the dial and hands without changing the look of it.
I had this done on two of my watches to preserve allready failing/cracked lumen.
Your second cosmic looks much better than the first one you posted, depending on price I‘d go for it!
If you want the most out of your watch nd intend to wear it daily don’t forget to count in cost of service for the movement into the price.
Depending on who does the work, you are looking at an additional 250-500€.
Cheers,
Max
Thanks for all these details. I'm wondering if I shall choose one with old lumes or not.
You‘r welcome!
The third one you posted is not bad. Looks like an all correct cosmic to me but not as nice as the second one. (Different case styles btw.)
I personally like the old lume (the lumen material is called „tritium“ in this instance btw, that’s also what the - T Swiss Made T - indicates on the bottom of the dial. T Stands for tritium).
If you don’t want lumen on a cosmic you have to search for one that never had lumen on the dial in the first place, like the first and second watch you posted (black Onyx style markers and hands).
I would advise against a relumed watch. (Meaning the old lumen was replaced with modern lumen material, most likely during service.)
It takes away from the vintage charm and originality.
Cheers,
Max
Thank you so much! I'm trying to get a good bargain.
How about this one?
BTW, what's the right attitude on the expired luminous paints on the dial？
also, I like cosmics just fine but since you mentioned about cost/finding a good deal, and want to use the watch, I would expand my horizons past the cosmic line as they are front-loaders and much more difficult to disassemble for service. yes I know some view that as merely being a different procedure of disassembly but the two-piece stems and finesse needed to take apart and reinstall the movement back into the watch surely has an effect on why they are not the hottest model going in the vintage omega arena. 😀
The second one is on its way to my pocket now😀 I kind of like this watch for its two-tone dial and the front-loading.
Once arrived I shall post more pics. Thanks for all the advices and generous helps to a newbie.🥰
As for the service part, I'm generally advised with two ideas:
1) do not service or repair as long as the time is still accurate, relatively, in case the work by someone may do further damage to the watch that a non-professional cannot spot; in other words, if something need to be done to the watch, the accuracy will tell;
2) do it as the manuals and papers say, 3-5 years once regularly.
I'm a guy using watches only as on-hand accessories, who do not use one watch for a long time. Most of them are only left home for most of the time.
Thanks.
....do not service or repair as long as the time is still accurate, relatively, in case the work by someone may do further damage to the watch that a non-professional cannot spot; in other words, if something need to be done to the watch, the accuracy will tell....
