Speedmaster Moonwatch Lume Issues

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping to get some advice. Four days ago, I purchased a new Speedmaster Moonwatch (Sapphire) from the Omega Boutique in Vienna. This evening, I noticed that the luminous index at the 11 o'clock position isn't glowing in the dark, unlike the others. Also I left Europe already and I will be back in 2 months again. So I cannot visit the dealer right now.

Has anyone else experienced this issue with their Speedmaster?

I assume this would be covered under warranty. My main question is, do you think it's justifiable to request a full exchange for a new watch, or is it more likely they'll insist on sending it for repair?


Thanks in advance for your insights!

That totally sucks. But I agree: they will likely handle it as a warranty claim, not a quick exchange. You might be able to contact Omega directly and start the process today without having to visit a boutique. (At least they used to be able to send you a padded box and then you’d put the watch in and mail it to them.)

Be prepared: the watch will be out of your hands for several weeks. Standard service turnaround time right now is counted in months, but I believe they prioritize warranty work, so it shouldn’t be too bad.

Since the watch will be warrantied for several more years, I don’t know that there’s any reason to rush: you might consider wearing it for months or even years, and then send it in after you’ve had a chance to bond with it—and to see if it has any other issues that need warranty attention. Unless the lume thing really bugs you and you’d rather start out with a watch that doesn’t have that flaw.

This is one of those reminders that, for all that we might celebrate the brand as a luxury product, Omegas are mass-produced swatch products after all. 😀 Quality control is challenging when you’re cranking them out in the millions.

This is maybe a dumb question, but did you test it with a UV flashlight just to make sure something wasn't blocking the dial and preventing that 1 hour marker from getting lots of sun?