Luminox Battery Replacement

[nhsmitty]

For some reason I have it in my head I need to send our two Luminox watches back to Luminox to have the batteries replaced. Maybe it's in the papers that came with the one new watch. I need to dig those out. Maybe I read it somewhere else.

I was at a local jeweler this afternoon and he was wearing a Luminox so I mentioned bringing mine in for battery replacement and even he said they're supposed to be sent to Luminox due them being gas filled (??), and for warranty purposes. I'd never heard the gas filled statement before, warranty yes, and if a watch is still in warranty I'm sure that's why it's suggested to send back for battery replacement.

Warranty isn't an issue. Both watches are well out of warranty.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't get the battery replaced locally?

The battery in both watches lasted close to five years. Does Luminox use some special super battery? If so, that would be the only reason I would consider sending in the watches..

[GradyPhilpott]

The gas-filled vials on the watch shouldn't have anything to do with the battery.

It might very well be that working on a watch with radioactive-gas filled glass vials is more susceptible to damage during the battery change, a liabilty the jeweler might not have wanted to assume.

If that was the case, he should have just said that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritium

I found a site on which a member warned about having the battery changed on Luminoxes without having the O-rings changed, so that may have been the jeweler's concern.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/arc...p/t-82409.html

[nhsmitty]

The service center referenced in the second link is the same I emailed a couple of years ago in anticipation of this day. The 30 bucks (multiply by 2) sounds right and then there's shipping.

It's tough being cheap.

Will a jeweler know what o'ring is needed without opening the case?

[ltgary]

Luminox 's use a standard Rhonda movement which usually takes a Lithium battery in the 20xx series. They are easy to change yourself if you have the tools to open the case back. If its one of the Luminox with the four little phillips screws holding the back plate on thats even easier. Just be sure you dont damage the caseback gasket and be sure the caseback gasket is properly seated when you replace the back. If you have silicon grease you can lubricate the gasket. Gasket replacement is seldom needed unless the gasket is damaged in some way.
Should you not want to handle the job yourself ANY watchmaker should be able to do the job quickly and easily while you wait at minimal cost.

[foghorn]

Luminox 's use a standard Rhonda movement which usually takes a Lithium battery in the 20xx series. They are easy to change yourself if you have the tools to open the case back. If its one of the Luminox with the four little phillips screws holding the back plate on thats even easier. Just be sure you dont damage the caseback gasket and be sure the caseback gasket is properly seated when you replace the back. If you have silicon grease you can lubricate the gasket. Gasket replacement is seldom needed unless the gasket is damaged in some way.
Should you not want to handle the job yourself ANY watchmaker should be able to do the job quickly and easily while you wait at minimal cost.

Agreed.

I recently had a battery replaced and the watch pressure tested by a local and respected "high end" jeweler for a grand total of 10.00.

This whole "send it to us" and this is a special procedure is pure ***fill in the blank***

[MAX]

Recently replaced the battery in my Ultimate Field Commander Lumi and it is indeeds a Swiss Ronda movement. The original 10 year battery lasted about 4 years and was a Renata. Replaced it with a good old 2016 Energizer.

No different to change than most any other watch. I do all my own.

One thing I do NOT do is let some pimply faced kid ever touch any of my quartz watches for a battery replacement. Dont trust just any Jeweler either. They have to train their pimply faced kids too.

[bullosa]

Luminox 's use a standard Rhonda movement which usually takes a Lithium battery in the 20xx series. They are easy to change yourself if you have the tools to open the case back. If its one of the Luminox with the four little phillips screws holding the back plate on thats even easier. Just be sure you dont damage the caseback gasket and be sure the caseback gasket is properly seated when you replace the back. If you have silicon grease you can lubricate the gasket. Gasket replacement is seldom needed unless the gasket is damaged in some way.
Should you not want to handle the job yourself ANY watchmaker should be able to do the job quickly and easily while you wait at minimal cost.

@Ltgary; this is OT but is it possible to swap the Rhonda for a thermocomp ETA maovement?

[mgiraz]

Recently replaced the battery in my Ultimate Field Commander Lumi and it is indeeds a Swiss Ronda movement. The original 10 year battery lasted about 4 years and was a Renata. Replaced it with a good old 2016 Energizer.

No different to change than most any other watch. I do all my own.

One thing I do NOT do is let some pimply faced kid ever touch any of my quartz watches for a battery replacement. Dont trust just any Jeweler either. They have to train their pimply faced kids too.

What if the kid does not have pimples?

[nhsmitty]

Thanks all for the input.

I had the battery replaced in the wife's Luminox about an hour ago by someone with a relatively good complexion.

The watch didn't explode, it's working fine, the earth is still spinning in the same direction and it's back on her wrist.

[ltgary]

For Bullosa: In a nutshell, probably no
Rhonda and ETA quartz might take different hand sizes.
ETA movements also would not have the clearance needed for the gas tube hands which are much thicker than those with superluminova paint. ETA thermo movements are usually 10 1/2L dont remember what size the Rhondas are. Thickness would also have to be the same for the crowns to line up properly. Sorry