321 Movement, changes to Omega service policy?

Omegafanman

If correct in hindsight I suppose this is a logical potential outcome from Omega restarting 321 (B) movement production.

‘All calibre 321 watches need to be returned to Omega as these watches are now categorised as a reserve calibre and certified Omega service centres are no longer allowed to carry out any work on these watches’

This leaves me thinking
1) Do Omega have the capacity to deal with the extra amount of vintage movement work?
2) Do they have the capacity to deal with the related sympathetic dial and case work in a cost effective way?
3) Will pushing people away from specialist approved service centres have much impact / how is the parts and spares situation? It is a shame as STS for example did a good job for 321 projects.

Might be a short sighted move or good business as the parts pool slowly drys up (unless more Franken parts appear?)

I picked this up from the thread below.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/donor-321-movement.138779/#post-1889074

Omegafanman

Best practice for right to repair should be....

• That OEMs make repairable products
• That OEMs make parts available that can be used for repairing products
• That OEMs provide repair information with new products, e.g. manuals or guides

M'Bob

Correct, yet every outfit that sells and services high-end things deals with demanding customers. I feel it’s part of the job, they should embrace it, and leave people satisfied and happy.

tyrantlizardrex

Sure.

However, the expectations of all Omega customers are not the same.

There's demanding a high level of service in line with what the brand offers, and then there's demanding some of the things that collectors demand.

I think we often forget that we as collectors account for a tiny percentage of the watch buying market place.

And whilst we might get cross when cases are polished, and crowns and pushers replaced for "incorrect" ones, those services are exactly what most customers expect.

Archer

Omega doesn't prevent any independent watchmaker from working on these. It's only a restriction to Omega service centers. Of course they restrict it by limiting many parts (not all parts actually), so indirectly, but there's no mandate from Omega to me for example that says I'm not allowed to work on these calibers

Archer

There are lots of calibers that are listed as "Bienne only", and Omega doesn't prevent any independent watchmaker from working on these. It's only a restriction to Omega service centers. Of course they restrict it by limiting many parts (not all parts actually), so indirectly, but there's no mandate from Omega to me for example that says I'm not allowed to work on these calibers, as there is in an Omega service center.

If I look at the parts for various Bienne only calibers on the Omega Extranet, many are no longer available, but some are. For those parts that are available, I buy those from Omega all the time.



Yes, sort of. There are three 861 calibers that are listed in the Bienne only category on work instruction 31. The 861 L, R, and S versions are listed as Bienne only.

L - Luxe
R - Pink/Rose plated
S - Skeleton

However, if you look at the local service list, the 861J is still local service, but they also list the 861R as local service, despite listing that same movement as Bienne only (I suspect some sort of clerical error has it listed in both categories).

J - Yellow/Gold tone

All the pink plated parts are still available for purchase, so this is really not a big issue.

tyrantlizardrex

But they have built a brand on strong history and heritage.

And that helps them sell new watches.

There will be practical, non emotional, business reasons for them doing the things they do.

I'd love it if every brand that makes a mechanical device supported it's repair and maintenance for ever and ever... but that's not how any of these businesses are run. They all rely on people buying new products. Again, and again, and again.

Don't even get me started on the brands that are pretending to be "sustainable".