Editors Note:
Chris of LÜM-TEC recently took the time to conduct this great interview for LuxVelocity.com. You have seen some of their watches on our site and we are a huge fan.
Chris is a passionate motor head and also is the man behind the LÜM-TEC watch brand.
LÜM-TEC is also celebrating the launch of their brand new web site! Happy shopping and happy motoring!
http://www.lum-tec.com/
How did you break into the watch industry?
We started out doing dial repair/reluming/modifications/etc. We quickly became well known worldwide for our custom parts and modifications. We started Wiegand Custom Watch, LLC. And made thousands of highline custom watches and parts and still do make everything from small parts to complete watches for other brands.
How did you come about founding LÜM-TEC?
We had so many requests for mass produced watches from our clients with all of our well known quality and world famous luminous applications. We wanted to provide all of the features and finishing quality formerly reserved for our higher end pieces at a great price point that is only possible by mass producing without large overhead from advertising, etc.
We had the great reputation and large enough customer base to do this without any advertising at all. We knew word would spread fast on it’s own, and it did exactly that. We launched the brand’s first watches in September 2008 and they sold out within a few months.
From the start, we listened to every suggestion of what our customers wanted. We already had the key resources to make a top end quality product. What we learn from our customers is what actually goes into our products. With the thousands of watches we have had sent to us for modifications, we had a clear picture of what people liked, what the shortcomings were of other brands and why people were sending us their other brand watches for modifications, improvements, etc. Our company was founded on our top level, personal customer service that is well known worldwide. I answer 95% of our emails for sales and service personally and fast. We turn around 95% of our repairs or service work within 1-2 business days only. We strive to purposely do what others do not! We listen. We went from building just 7 models for our first launch of the LÜM-TEC brand to now building 54 models for our 2010 collection
Right now, we are sitting right about where we planned to be in 10 years. Customer service is something that has always come natural for me and I had never realized how much our service stands out in the industry until I read the hundreds of emails we get daily about how amazed our customers are with our service. I think our product sells itself the first time, and our huge percentage of loyal repeat buyers and collectors is because of our customer service and because we listen to their input and make what they ask for!
What are the most popular LÜM-TEC watches?
The M chronograph and Combat B series are currently the most popular models in our collection. Our M tungsten series sold out before it was even on the market as well and we are still filling orders in this series.
Are there any celebrities who wear LÜM-TEC watches?
Yes. Much of the cast from “Cold Case”,Thom Barry, Guy Fieri, Roman Volak, Jan Germanis, Chip Wade, just to name a few.
Are you a car guy?
Yes. Absolutely. I grew up in motorsports. I started racing motocross when I was 13, and started building and racing cars when I was 16. It’s in my blood. I love tearing down a brand new car and building it better and faster! I do all the work myself as my hobby.
If so, what kind of cars have you driven and what do you drive now?
I have driven many exotics on road and on the track including Ferrari F430, Lambo LP560, Calloway C16, highly modified Supras, Ford GT, Corvette ZO6, S2000, Acura NSX, Alpha 8C, BMW M3, Many modified DSM race cars, and I currently drive a nicely modified for street 2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X MR BR350 with 413 AWHP. My winter car is a 2009 Corolla XRS manual with 4 Michelin snows mounted. We get lots of snow around here!! I am getting a new Corvette Z06 this year since I have never owned a big block muscle car.
This is me driving the LP560 (with the nice broken door handle).
Here is my current 400+ All wheel horsepower EVO X MR.
Are LÜM-TEC watch owners car enthusiasts? If so what kinds of cars do they drive?
I know for a fact many of our clients are auto enthusiasts since I see them on the watch and the car forums back and forth. We have a highline group of clients for our brand for the most part. Many own Maseratti, Ferrari, Lambo, Corvettes, and others.
What is the future plan for LÜM-TEC watches?
Every year we want to break out all new models. As far as I have seen, this has never been done before in the industry. All of our models, with the exception of our new divers are made only in small limited numbered series only and will not be made the same again. This is to keep the series numbers low, keep resale values high, and so we will always have new products to show every year. We hope to add more dealers and distributors as we find them and do some advertising to raise brand awareness beyond our circle of forums and watch collectors.
If you could describe LÜM-TEC watches in one sentence what would it be?
Precision crafted, user approved.
Where can one buy LÜM-TEC watches?
Directly from LUM-TEC.com worldwide, or from any of our distributors and dealers listed below:
USA
Distributor / producer of LÜM-TEC
Wiegand Custom Watch, LLC.
PO box 1716
Mentor, OH 44061-1716
Phone: 440-951-1296
fax: 440-951-9461
email: wis913@yahoo.com
website: www.wiegandwatches.com
USA
Sales representitive for Las Vegas, Nevada
Tom D'Arpa
email: Tdarpa@cox.net
phone: 702-245-4537
USA
Authorized dealer
W. Brown Custom Jewelry & Design Inc.
4090 Erie Street
WIlloughby, OH 44094
Phone: 440-946-5938
email: wbrownjewels@sbcglobal.net
website: www.wbrownjewels.com
USA
Authorized dealer
Glorias Jewelry Inc.
178 West Washington St.
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: 630-231-8180
email: speedygwatch@gmail.com
USA
Authorized dealer
The Pear Tree Pen company
200 Huronview Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 1-888-6789-PEN (1-888-678-9736)
email: Sales@PearTreePens.com
website: www.PearTreePens.com
USA
Authorized dealer
Tic-Tok watch co.
Stolaas Company Inc.
7017 Freedom Park Cir.
Big Cove, AL 35763
Phone: 256-518-6145
email: info@tic-tok.net
Website: www.Stolaas.com
USA
Authorized dealer
Kuhn's Jewelers since 1853
107 West Main Street
Salisbury, Maryland 21801
Phone: 410-742-3256
email: store@kuhnsjewelers.com
website: www.kuhnsjewelers.com
USA
Authorized dealer
HONOLULU TIME
1311 Kapiolani Blvd. #101
Honolulu HI 96814
Phone: (808) 591-2611
Toll free: 1-866-591-2611
fax: (808) 591-2738
email: info@honolulutime.com
website: www.honolulutime.com
USA
Authorized dealer
H&H Enterprises
4939 Burgundy Bay North
Medina, Ohio 44256
phone: 330-421-1180
email: watchproducts@yahoo.com
website: www.watchproducts.net
EUROPE
Distributor
K&B time, Spol. s.r.o.
Roznavske Bystre c.227
049 31
Slovakia
Phone/SMS: 00421 918 494 652
Alt Phone: 00421 904 764 705
email: info@kabtime.eu
Alt email: info@lum-tec.eu
website: www.lum-tec.eu
E-shop: www.kabtime.eu
Forum: www.lum-tec.sk
EUROPE
Distributor
Toptime, s.r.o.
Roznavske Bystre c.206
049 31
Slovakia
Phone/SMS: 00421 904 764 705
email: info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu info@toptime.eu
website: www.toptime.eu
ITALY
Authorized dealer
Tempomania
Viale Arrigo Boito, 50
00199, Rome, Italy
Phone/fax: +39 06 97619317
Mobile: +39 329 9455096
website: www.tempomania.it
AUSTRALIA
Authorized dealer
J Time Tec
1/45-47 Calliope Street
Guildford, NSW
Australia
Phone/SMS: 0449 500 238
Email: jtimetec@gmail.com
SINGAPORE
Distributor
Watchwerkz
No. 9 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #02-03 Eunos Technolink
Singapore 415938
Phone/SMS: +65 9834-8147
Fax: +65 6344-8333
email: contact@watchwerkz.com.sg
website: www.watchwerkz.com.sg
SINGAPORE
Authorized dealer
Superchrono
No. 1 Rochor Canal road
#02-03 Sim-Lim Square
Singapore 188504
Email: chrono@starhub.net.sg
Website: www.superchrono.com
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