Carbotech repair

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by f_klo

My panerai carbotech 616 had broken lugs due to delaminination of the layers. Initially they wanted me to pay a ridiculous amount. But they ended up paying for everything apart from the man hour charges to replace the case with the new one. I'll need to dig up the photos of the lugs if anybody is interested.

Yes please , makes sense if you say it got delaminated probably the resin glue lost its strength due to some exposure of either chemical or anyways or just earlier prototypes...

[IGotId]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

man, i've posted sooooo many....

BTW i don't think most realize how many 'personalities' this lume / dial has. The slightest of sun makes it glow a bit like the 'best' Rolex lume, more sun gets you Panerai TRON glow. It's sooooooo many levels brighter :)

Attachment 1245272

Attachment 1245273

Attachment 1245274

Attachment 1245275

Attachment 1245276

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Attachment 1245284

Attachment 1245285

Attachment 1245286

Attachment 1245287

Attachment 1245288

Originally Posted by rajurama

Yes please , makes sense if you say it got delaminated probably the resin glue lost its strength due to some exposure of either chemical or anyways or just earlier prototypes...

[56Diver]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Yea, I won’t give much credit to a baseless claim without some empirical information. The Internet runs wild to discredit new scary materials so a back story and pictures are required to give it any more attention or thought. I have way too much experience with watches and have beaten the hell out of my Carbotech watch to have a pretty educated idea of how durable the material is. It’s not brittle because it’s built in layers. I have yet to put a single mark on my Carbotech watch. Certainly nothing is indestructible and if you put enough leverage (abuse) and reap hard enough on the lug you can break it. That said, layered Carbon fiber is used as THE strongest material in the space, aviation, and the racing world. From structural components used in rocket fuselages to Indy cars.


FYI, BMG and Carbotech have nothing in common.

I will see the doctor when I go by the facility again and ask if he has any pictures of the broken carbotech.

What’s funny is that if someone doesn’t like your info, then it’s “the internet is full of rumors”

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by 56Diver

I will see the doctor when I go by the facility again and ask if he has any pictures of the broken carbotech.

What’s funny is that if someone doesn’t like your info, then it’s “the internet is full of rumors”

I always keep an open mind and that's the only way we learn...there are already 2 photos submitted in this thread with one having a valid accidental damage. Please do share whenever you can. Appreciate your input.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by rajurama

I always keep an open mind and that's the only way we learn...there are already 2 photos submitted in this thread with one having a valid accidental damage. Please do share whenever you can. Appreciate your input.

X2

I’d like to see more from the other posters and learn more about repair / case replacement costs

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by 56Diver

What’s funny is that if someone doesn’t like your info, then it’s “the internet is full of rumors”

Sadly, it may be the world we now live in. Facts (and laws) don't matter anylonger. Kinda reminds me of the same stuff that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc do daily with shadow-banning, even if you post/read word for word what is the 'official' party-line stance.

We live in interesting times my friends.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by 56Diver

I will see the doctor when I go by the facility again and ask if he has any pictures of the broken carbotech.

What’s funny is that if someone doesn’t like your info, then it’s “the internet is full of rumors”

That would be great to gather actual data to these stories.

[IGotId]

Originally Posted by 56Diver

I will see the doctor when I go by the facility again and ask if he has any pictures of the broken carbotech.

What’s funny is that if someone doesn’t like your info, then it’s “the internet is full of rumors”

I think you would agree that there is a lot of misinformation out there...

I'm just glad Panerai has an 8 yr warranty

[inadeje]

This is a case replacement. These composites cannot be repaired. With metals laser welding can be used to build up the area, but these composite materials have no repair. Sorry.

Like any composite material they’re particularly prone to edge damage due to weave configuration. Tons of torsional stiffness though…

I had a ceramic panerai tuttonero. Different material entirely, but a chipped bracelet occurred really easily. Panerai repaired it and I sold the watch immediately…

[dchang81]

yea the lack of repairability concerns me for any of these carbon cases, like the zenith defy or carbonium UN.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by IGotId

I'm just glad Panerai has an 8 yr warranty

Or 70 year warranty :)

[f_klo]

Ive found the images but have trouble uploading the pics. LOL the file size seems a bit big

[f_klo]

20210924-110045.jpg

20181210-085606.jpg

[enjoythemusic]

Ouch! Almost looks like the strap was pulled so hard it somehow took out the CF, but wow that would take some super strong springbars... like the sturdy ones that come with CF timepieces.

[IGotId]

Originally Posted by f_klo

Attachment 1245795

Attachment 1245796

Wow!

[waterman1]

F_klo, thanks for finding and posting these pictures. This is alarming. Can you tell us how exactly it happened? Were you wearing the watch and caught it on something? Strap change? Was a lot of force involved?
Thanks again!

[PekWatchGuy]

That is bad. I wonder why they have not fabricated somekind of metal insert around lug holes to strengthen the structure. Without it seems like poor design.

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by f_klo

Attachment 1245795

Attachment 1245796

Thanks for sharing , it seems like the layers got delaminated due to loss in resin glue strength , either could be exposure to some harsh chemical or extreme temperature? Surely doesn't look like damaged from any force ?

Anyways its good to know material limitations... I would still choose to wear and own carbotech as its still really amazing to wear I like wearing all sorts of materials from Titanium , Ceramic , PM and all require different wrist awareness.

[f_klo]

The delamination happened out of nowhere no signs of giving up prior. I also own APs Trulli and that watch im much more careful with since the carbon is much softer, so even after the replacement i still wear the carbotech daily because this case material is harder.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by f_klo

The delamination happened out of nowhere no signs of giving up prior. I also own APs Trulli and that watch im much more careful with since the carbon is much softer, so even after the replacement i still wear the carbotech daily because this case material is harder.

That’s incredibly difficult for me to understand.

I’m not saying that I don’t believe you, but how can this just happen out of “nowhere”?

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by brandrea

That’s incredibly difficult for me to understand.

I’m not saying that I don’t believe you, but how can this just happen out of “nowhere”?

Well that's why his was replaced under warranty , probably a manufacturing defect , somewhere in the process some lapse or material quality provided by the supplier... Like its still very rare compared to the earlier BMG cracking issue which also seems resolved now.

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by PekWatchGuy

That is bad. I wonder why they have not fabricated somekind of metal insert around lug holes to strengthen the structure. Without it seems like poor design.

it will not be necessary because panerai claims their carbotech material is stronger than steel.

[roger.bolton]

My 1661 has had a few minor whacks, not a mark on it.

I like that a harder material is more scratch resistant, and I accept that harder material at some point will crack/chip.

Carbotech is a different beast with pros and cons.

[roger.bolton]

Spotted this on chrono 24, damage to back of lug:




From :

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/panerai/l...id21179822.htm

[enjoythemusic]

Weird, how did that happen? I like his condition of little to no wear. LOL

[roger.bolton]

Indeed, it looks a little like the image posted by f_klo where some of the back of the lug has come away.

The condition comment is very suspect.

[waterman1]

It is hard to tell looking top down but something is going on. Is a layer of material on the lug corner missing? If so this is really worrisome.

[enjoythemusic]

Chrono24 timepiece above, contacted him and he was upfront about the chip. i kinda sorta tried being laid back-ish yet 'lightly' suggested he update the description and condition. He said he will.

Yeah, slow day here at work here i guess

[waterman1]

This carbotech lug weakness has me worried. How many of these are out there? How rare? I wear mine in the ocean all the time with the assumption the watch is tough as nails and strap system extremely secure. But now, if lug were to crack as we have seen, the watch would fall off. And this could happen at any time it appears…could be walking down the street.

[winst]

Original OP - Not in that visible a place when worn and if he went over it with a pencil to give a light graphite coating that might make it a little less visible. I think it would only be worth getting Panerai to do something with it when it goes back to them for servicing one day.