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Gen 1 X-33 Owners

C
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Hello - haven’t posted in a long time, but recently acquired a remarkable find in the form of a New Old Stock Gen 1 X-33. Yes, it was sitting in a local jeweler for 25 years! I’m really enjoying it, but it seems like they are quite fickle with batteries. The movement is obviously an original 1666, and I have experienced instances where the minute hand will stop for 10-15 minutes, then start up again, leaving the hands and digital readout out of sync. Have other Gen 1 owners experienced this, and has a new battery resolved? It has happened twice in about a month of ownership. Thanks! Battery is currently a Panasonic, but I do have a new Renata CR2320 available.
 
drhex
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Try a new battery, easy enough to change. Omega will insert a new movement if you send it to them. Definitely worth having it serviced if only to get new gaskets.
 
C
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Many thanks! I’ll change it tonight. I ordered a set of Renatas a week ago, and the battery didn’t fit. I read somewhere about the ‘sharp edge’ 2320 v the ‘rounded edge’. Hopefully this newer batch of Renata CR2320s fits. Are you saying that the new battery resolved that exact issue (minute hand stopping periodically) on yours? That would be a great result. Thanks!!
 
dsstephens
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Yep. First it started doing the 5 second jump and the back light not working, Then it extended to the minute hand not moving consistently. So at least similar for guess. Maybe not exactly the same.
 
C
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New Renatas still don’t fit! Just a tick too large. I replaced with another brand, but a CR2320 and it fit. Working well so far, set the time and hands and hoping this does the trick. I also adjusted the covering over the movement below the battery - the small hole was partially blocking the tiny contact spring. Who knows, maybe that had something to do with it. Thanks!
 
Trev
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Congrats on finding one as NOS. Taken any photos of it yet?
 
bsowers34
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Most quartz watches skip by 5 seconds to let you know the battery is getting low. My quartz Constellation does. So do my crap invictas and my Porsche Eterna.
 
C
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bsowers34 bsowers34
Most quartz watches skip by 5 seconds to let you know the battery is getting low. My quartz Constellation does. So do my crap invictas and my Porsche Eterna.
Yep - this wasn’t/isn’t the 5-second skip indicator; it was a periodic stoppage of the minute hand for 10-15 minutes, then continuing to move, causing the hands and digital readout to be out of sync. New battery in, seems good so far - will keep an eye on it!
 
bsowers34
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C Calnan11
Yep - this wasn’t/isn’t the 5-second skip indicator; it was a periodic stoppage of the minute hand for 10-15 minutes, then continuing to move, causing the hands and digital readout to be out of sync. New battery in, seems good so far - will keep an eye on it!
It's an awesome watch, a new one may be my next, but it's probably too big for my wrist.
 
Aidanm
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Gen 1 and Gen 3 Solar Impulse owner here.
That is so cool you found one NOS. Wear in good health 😀
 
C
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Aidanm Aidanm
Gen 1 and Gen 3 Solar Impulse owner here.
That is so cool you found one NOS. Wear in good health 😀
Thanks! Hoping this new battery does the trick! I’m now getting drawn to a current Gen X-33 Skywalker to add to the mix!!
 
padders
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X-33s can be very flakey. If a new cell won’t fix it a full service is realistically your only option. Even a cell change is often best left to a Pro on these since I think they benefit from a reset as well as a change. I know these are professional grade watches for a noble purpose but I got rather tired with owning a supposedly low maintenance quartz watch that seemed to need non trivial intervention every 24-36 months. YMMV.
 
C
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padders padders
X-33s can be very flakey. If a new cell won’t fix it a full service is realistically your only option. Even a cell change is often best left to a Pro on these since I think they benefit from a reset as well as a change. I know these are professional grade watches for a noble purpose but I got rather tired with owning a supposedly low maintenance quartz watch that seemed to need non trivial intervention every 24-36 months. YMMV.
Well said and thanks for the insight. After I bought it, I sent a note to Omega asking them to confirm that it is now under a 5-year warranty, since I purchased it new after June 2018, even though the watch is from 1998! They wrote back that it was covered since it had never been sold before, so I may just send it in for a covered service. If I get a new movement and a refresh of the gasket, etc, seems like it would be worth it!
 
padders
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C Calnan11
Well said and thanks for the insight. After I bought it, I sent a note to Omega asking them to confirm that it is now under a 5-year warranty, since I purchased it new after June 2018, even though the watch is from 1998! They wrote back that it was covered since it had never been sold before, so I may just send it in for a covered service. If I get a new movement and a refresh of the gasket, etc, seems like it would be worth it!
The perfect outcome. 👍
 
bsowers34
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C Calnan11
Well said and thanks for the insight. After I bought it, I sent a note to Omega asking them to confirm that it is now under a 5-year warranty, since I purchased it new after June 2018, even though the watch is from 1998! They wrote back that it was covered since it had never been sold before, so I may just send it in for a covered service. If I get a new movement and a refresh of the gasket, etc, seems like it would be worth it!
It'll take a couple months for the service but would be worth it for sure.
 
redzer007
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Any more info from the AD? Was it on display all that time? Did they keep replacing the battery? How was it priced compared to the current X33? Was it on display?

Love the warranty is valid.

I too have an as new X33, but mine was won in a competition and the.winner stuck it in a drawer until I bought it. Decades

Your find is better, congratulations!
 
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