@that911fan
790
Before and after service photos
So I sent in my Flyback Chrono in for service 3 months ago. Went in with a slightly faded with patina dial and hands, and came back with a new dial and hands with superluminova. I asked for the new dial because I knew they were going to replace the hands with superluminova and I didn’t want the mismatched color to the dial with tritium. I noticed that the dial is a little different in that if you look at the 11 marker, in the tritium dial, the 1 from the 11 covers the length of the 55 above it, whereas on the new dial, the 1 from the 11 only covers the length of the 5 from the 55. Also, the large chrono second hand is different. The counterweight is shorter as well as the pointed tip with the red marking being smaller. The Blancpain writing in the new dial seems more bold as well. There’s also no blue hue on the AR coating in the new crystal which I much prefer.
Overall, I like the older hands better, but wouldn’t have wanted the original hands put back on cause they wouldn’t match the new dial, and I read that they must replace the hands on a flyback due to the force used in the flyback function. Feel like I got a new watch as it looks different to me. What do you think?
Before: 
After:
Before and after service photos
So I sent in my Flyback Chrono in for service 3 months ago. Went in with a slightly faded with patina dial and hands, and came back with a new dial and hands with superluminova. I asked for the new dial because I knew they were going to replace the hands ...
Unfortunately no.
They didn’t give back any old parts. It’s strange because when I got my Speedmaster back from service, they did give me back all my old parts. I just sent an email to my service advisor at Blancpain NYC to ask him why the old parts weren’t returned to me....
Response to my request for hands and dial back
So my service rep at Blancpain NYC showed me Swatch Service’s response to my request for my original parts back. This is what they said. I told my service rep that when I had my Speedy serviced in Switzerland, they gave all my old parts back. Guess if the...
Yeah really
I can understand wanting them to send the old parts to headquarters so that everything is legit, but once sent, they should realize that it is for the repair and then the old parts should be sent back too to the owner.
personally, I can't stand mixed lume (luminova hands on a tritium dial), so I think you may the right decision
The Leman Flyback was available for many years with full luminova, so it's not complete sacrilege ;-)
Thanks
I agree. They did that when I sent in my old Speedy and it does look a little weird to me sometimes. ...
Tough spot
you were in- I once did that with a red sub and hated the service dial but I like yours- enjoy 😊
Thanks.
Yeah, I had no choice. The watch was running like 50 sec fast a day and power reserve was very low, so I had to service it.
the no-AR crystal is much better
I have one that has the AR on both sides of the crystal and my wife loves to remind me that it always looks smudged! .....but I hate to send it in for Swatch service and end up with a frankenwatch combo that doesn't appeal to me. Off to find a watchmaker ...
You could
Buff off the AR coating yourself on the outside. I did after many scratches. Used a dremel with felt tip and metal polish. Just need to tape off the double stepped bezel so as not to damage it.
my god you have lots of courage/skill
I tried that on my car lights (with mixed results, and some "polished" body work on the side on the lights) but would never dare to do it on a watch
I was a little hesitant at first
But the scratches on the AR bothered me so much I decided to try it. Turned out great as you can see from the first pic above. I never liked that bluish tint of that original AR coating. I’m glad the new crystal replacements don’t have that.
As much as I like patina
The lume freak in me will always choose function first, at least for watches I wear the most.
Agree
Thanks…I think it does look good still. To me, it feels like wearing a new watch vs a vintage one. ...
Oh ok
I see now. Yes, it looks like they did. I had to just look at a bunch of other pics of Leman Flybacks and noticed a lot of the later ones also show a hollow pin as well, so I’m not as concerned but thanks for pointing that out! You have a good eye!
Your Blancpain's revamped dial certainly looks mighty sharp...
... so perhaps you'll come to terms with, and maybe even realize that you prefer, the changes that Blancpain's made, once you get past the initial, nagging sense of dissonance that sometimes arises from the difference in what you expected and what you got...
Thank you.
They did answer my questions, and basically said that they don’t provide the old parts back and won’t comment on the change in handset cause they don’t have it in their shop to see the watch in person right now. So be it. I guess I’ll just have to be happ...
Great, very good to hear. & returning with no dust specs, etc. and everything working correctly -- two thumbs up!
Enjoyed your video too, BTW, thank you for sharing.
My pleasure
Glad you enjoyed the video! To me, I have anxiety every time I send my watches in. I haven’t had such good luck with some other brands like Rolex, Breitling, Bvlgari when servicing.
Happy I got my watch back so did a video
Ultimately, I’m just glad I got my watch back, so did a video. Blancpain Leman Flyback Chronograph
Yes, they didn’t send it to Switzerland
I think it would have been at least another month or two if they had sent it to headquarters. Part of that, I think is due to them changing out everything (including the dial). If not, I think it would have gone back to Switzerland. It is clear to me that...
Did they provide
A scope of work estimate for your approval first, or a cost breakdown after?
Yes
They provided both. Said it would take approx 5 months to complete and about $1500 due to me wanting a whole new dial and crystal along with the new hands and service. At first, my service advisor at Blancpain told me he thought they would need to send ba...