Numbers fading steinhart bezel

micks_address · 27-12-2018 8:40pm #1

Hi folds,
The numbers at the 2 position are starting to fade on my 7 month old ocean vintage gmt. Wouldn't have thought that's normal? Have emailed steinhart to see if covered under warranty.

https://www.steinhartwatches.de/en/ocean-vintage-gmt-neu.html

Homer · 27-12-2018 9:28pm

Looks like it’s affecting 4, 8 and also some of the number separators! Definitely not normal for a 7 month old watch I would have thought. Is it your daily wear?

micks_address · 27-12-2018 9:31pm

Homer wrote: »

Looks like it’s affecting 4, 8 and also some of the number separators! Definitely not normal for a 7 month old watch I would have thought. Is it your daily wear?

Yes I wear it every day but work in an office so it doesn't get abuse.. I do wear it in the pool but it should be able to survive that.. I haven't had any harsh chemicals near it.. steinhart closed till 7th Jan so will see what they say in new year..maybe it's pissed off that I picked up a Seiko Alpinist for Xmas..it's interesting as I only noticed it today.. I was at the pool this morning but again nothing out of the ordinary

Teddy Daniels · 27-12-2018 9:33pm

Black sharpie and rub off the excess will fix that short term

Or this for long term

http://www.igraver.com/blackening.shtml

blue5000 · 28-12-2018 1:24pm

Is it being rubbed off by a shirt cuff? Shouldn't happen I know, but it may be the cause. Have you any photos from a few months ago to compare?

micks_address · 28-12-2018 2:51pm

blue5000 wrote: »

Is it being rubbed off by a shirt cuff? Shouldn't happen I know, but it may be the cause. Have you any photos from a few months ago to compare?

Never wear shirts... Much to my wife's dispair..don't have many pictures really.. I don't think it was worn pre Christmas but can't imagine it just happened overnight

28-12-2018 3:18pm

The chlorine in the pool could have done it. Could have been a higher concentration the other day or something. Not saying it's normal or should have happened, just that it's a possible explanation. I know of guys using chlorine to relic a watch (make it look faded/older).

Lorddrakul · 28-12-2018 3:58pm

Agreed, that's not normal for a watch a few months old.

If you are looking to fix, as opposed to a warranty job, I an recommend good quality black nail varnish.

Brush in to fill the cavity, then carefully wipe away the excess.

Job jobbed.

micks_address · 28-12-2018 5:13pm

Lorddrakul wrote: »

Agreed, that's not normal for a watch a few months old.

If you are looking to fix, as opposed to a warranty job, I an recommend good quality black nail varnish.

Brush in to fill the cavity, then carefully wipe away the excess.

Job jobbed.

Thanks ,
I'll hold on till steinhart are open in new year and see what they say. Will let you know
Cheers,
Mick

HDMI · 29-12-2018 12:18am

Mine done the same thing, 12 and 14 numerals faded on the bezel. Seems to be fairly common for it to happen.

fat bloke · 29-12-2018 4:53pm

That's very disappointing. I'd be interested to hear Steinhart's response to that.

scwazrh · 29-12-2018 10:52pm

I’ve had this on two tag Heuer’s and one tissot. Not sure what causes it but it’s definitely not a steinhart only issue

micks_address · 15-01-2019 11:12am

Quick update on this - Steinhart want the watch back for repair under warranty. They sent me lengthy instructions on how to send back using their fedex account so I'm guessing I wont be out any money on postage etc.. will try and organize this week.. be glad to get it sorted. I guess I wont wear in the pool any more just in case that's what caused it

oxocube · 15-01-2019 3:10pm

micks_address wrote: »

Quick update on this - Steinhart want the watch back for repair under warranty. They sent me lengthy instructions on how to send back using their fedex account so I'm guessing I wont be out any money on postage etc.. will try and organize this week.. be glad to get it sorted. I guess I wont wear in the pool any more just in case that's what caused it

Good stuff that you got it sorted under warranty. I had the older model and had the same problem as you. It was 6 years old and the last owners' beater.

Sold as is with a small discount.

2shea · 15-01-2019 3:45pm

micks_address wrote: »

Quick update on this - Steinhart want the watch back for repair under warranty. They sent me lengthy instructions on how to send back using their fedex account so I'm guessing I wont be out any money on postage etc.. will try and organize this week.. be glad to get it sorted. I guess I wont wear in the pool any more just in case that's what caused it

Good to hear they are looking after you. I might pick one up myself.

Lorddrakul · 15-01-2019 5:49pm

Glad to hear it is being sorted, but to be honest, I would have expected no less from Steinhart.

micks_address · 24-01-2019 10:13pm

Watch delivered to steinhart yesterday according to FedEx. Be interested in seeing how long it will take to get sent back to me

micks_address · 04-02-2019 2:35pm

Watch back today.

Two weeks since I posted. Happy with the result. I wasn't out any money so can't complain. Glad to have it back

micks_address · 04-02-2019 2:36pm

Guess I'll avoid wearing it in the pool going forward

04-02-2019 2:50pm

Might just be the photo but from the way the light is hitting some numbers it looks like the black paint is very thickly/unevenly applied. Might be wrong. I would take a look at it under a magnifier.

micks_address · 04-02-2019 2:55pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Might just be the photo but from the way the light is hitting some numbers it looks like the black paint is very thickly/unevenly applied. Might be wrong. I would take a look at it under a magnifier.

i think it may be my shaky hand in portrait mode on the phone camera.. it looks pretty consistent to the naked eye

funkyouup · 04-02-2019 3:55pm

Did they give any indication on what might have caused it Mick?

micks_address · 04-02-2019 4:54pm

funkyouup wrote: »

Did they give any indication on what might have caused it Mick?

No and to be honest i didn't ask them if wearing in the pool might have as i was concerned they might say wearing in chlorine pool is not covered under warranty..

artanevilla · 04-02-2019 6:58pm

I would have thought salt water would corrode more than pool water. It is a divers watch, you'd expect it to stand up to that.

micks_address · 04-02-2019 7:51pm

artanevilla wrote: »

I would have thought salt water would corrode more than pool water. It is a divers watch, you'd expect it to stand up to that.

someone earlier mentioned chlorine can do it.. that its often used to 'age' watches...

Oafley Jones · 04-02-2019 11:06pm

artanevilla wrote: »

I would have thought salt water would corrode more than pool water. It is a divers watch, you'd expect it to stand up to that.

Isn’t it a splunking Watch, given that it’s based on the Explorer 2. Not sure why it needed a GMT hand, but still.

Eoin · 04-02-2019 11:23pm

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Isn’t it a splunking Watch, given that it’s based on the Explorer 2. Not sure why it needed a GMT hand, but still.

Was curious myself, and found this!

Speleology is the study of caves and it has been, since the late nineteenth century, its own specific science that is quite distinct from geography and geology. Carried out by potholers and cavers as part of their hobby, speleology is not for the feint hearted. These cavers have to get themselves through some very small spaces and can spend prolonged periods of time within the cave networks. This can become acutely disorientating, especially when one loses track of time. Step forward the Explorer II and its 24-hour hand and fixed bezel.

Designed for speleologists and potholers, the watch allowed the adventurers to keep a track of time and whether it was am or pm via the large luminous 24-hour hand. A specialist application for sure, but also useful for those who spent large amounts of time away from natural daylight. It would also prove useful for explorers in continents where there were periods of constant daylight or darkness.

fat bloke · 05-02-2019 9:23am

Spelunking. A silly name for a bonkers activity.

05-02-2019 10:57am

micks_address wrote: »

someone earlier mentioned chlorine can do it.. that its often used to 'age' watches...

It shouldn't do it in reality, people swim in pools all the time without the paint instantly coming off.

It was more just speculation since you took it swimming that morning and all of a sudden the numbers were coming off. With the pool closed over xmas could they have added the chlorine early on the morning you swam rather than previous evening or something ? Or could it be normal to add extra when the pool has been closed for a few days? (im just guessing, I have no idea about swimming pool maintenance :pac:)

Now that you've got it sorted i'd ask them (Steinhart).

Oafley Jones · 05-02-2019 11:00am

Eoin wrote: »

Was curious myself, and found this!

Makes sense, but that explanation gives me claustrophobia by itself. Crazy activity.

blue5000 · 06-02-2019 12:18pm

Mick's address any chance of a lume shot? I'm just thinking if I woke up at 3.15 and looked at that I'd be a wee bit confused:D

Anyway it's good that you got it back safely and all fixed up.

Numbers fading steinhart bezel

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