3861 Movement Finish Issue After Service

BMunMuns · Jun 30, 2022

Hi OF, making this post to gather some opinions on what I am seeing to determine if I am making something out of nothing or if my concern is valid.

I recently got my Speedmaster 3861 (sapphire sandwich) back from service, it was having a fairly well documented chronograph movement issue. Upon receiving the watch the issue seemed to be resolved and I was a happy camper.

However since having the watch back in my possession, I have noticed that a few pieces in the movement have what appear to be scuffs/dark markings not consistent with the rest of the finish quality of the movement. Additionally, the screw being used in the same area has a couple of faint dents in the top.

Since this model has a display caseback, it does bother me when I look at the movement. In your opinions, would this be means to send the watch back to Omega to get the surfaces refinished back to the quality of the rest of the movement?

vbrad26 · Jun 30, 2022

I really thought this sort of thing would have stopped once Omega stopped including loupes with Speedmasters lol.
If i were you? I'd leave it alone. It could always come back with yet ANOTHER issue.
I get that its a new watch and it needs to stay perfect and you paid all this money for it etc etc etc...
But still. Once you get the first ding on the FRONT of it, you'll forget about the ding in the back.
Just my $0.02. But I don't know, maybe a better picture would change my mind...

Archer · Jun 30, 2022

It's most likely some grease that has been misapplied to the area in question.

BMunMuns · Jun 30, 2022

vbrad26
I really thought this sort of thing would have stopped once Omega stopped including loupes with Speedmasters lol.
If i were you? I'd leave it alone. It could always come back with yet ANOTHER issue.
I get that its a new watch and it needs to stay perfect and you paid all this money for it etc etc etc...
But still. Once you get the first ding on the FRONT of it, you'll forget about the ding in the back.
Just my $0.02. But I don't know, maybe a better picture would change my mind...

Yeah it's challenging to capture issue clearly in the photo, the resolution looks better on the iphone than how it shows up here on the website. The watch has its fair share of dings and marks already, its no safe queen, and I think brushing it off is a very valid response

skipjack · Jul 3, 2022

I would leave it be too

7enderbender · Jul 3, 2022

I’d be picky about that. If they were sloppy with something obvious and avoidable like this I’d always wonder what else they did wrong.
It’s a shame that the new movement has issues in the first place. Totally unnecessary.
Would you mind sharing which service center this went to? I had some bad experiences with Omega USA recently as well.
I know everyone has a hard time finding any qualified people. Service of my Speedy reduced (which is challenging) on the other hand was outstanding. That was handled by the OB in Munich.

BMunMuns · Jul 3, 2022

7enderbender
I’d be picky about that. If they were sloppy with something obvious and avoidable like this I’d always wonder what else they did wrong.
It’s a shame that the new movement has issues in the first place. Totally unnecessary.
Would you mind sharing which service center this went to? I had some bad experiences with Omega USA recently as well.
I know everyone has a hard time finding any qualified people. Service of my Speedy reduced (which is challenging) on the other hand was outstanding. That was handled by the OB in Munich.

I dropped the watch off at a local AD in Sacramento and they shipped it off to Omega… let me see if I can track down where exactly it went

perks713 · Jul 3, 2022

If they’re going to put a display back on the watch they should be sure the movement looks good.

“Hey guys check out my watch, it’s cool you can see all the bits moving…. What’s that you ask? Some grease that shouldn’t be there, and uh, scratches on the screws… it’s cool though, watches are meant to be worn…”

If they sent the watch back with scratches on the dial people would be annoyed, I think it’s reasonable to bring it up with the AD.

mrmike585 · Jul 3, 2022

This is tough, you’d expect a watch that was already being sent back for defects to come back pristine.. but it’s hard to tell clearly from the photos. If it’s working properly mechanically and keeping good time id try to let it go

Gruesome · Jul 3, 2022

Do you have a better picture, zooming in and focusing on the area around that screw? It's hard to tell whether there are marks or deformations on the screw with that picture you posted.
But regardless, even the grease shouldn't be there. I would send the watch back. You might though run into the same issue as I did with IWC, where they not only refused to fix their own mistakes, but wanted to charge for their second unsuccessful attempt. I hope Omega is better, but I also hope I don't have to find out...

[My new IWC came back from the service center with several screw slots showing distortions from too much torque applied with too narrow a screw driver. The Texas service center also didn't fix the issue it was sent in for, but I now believe that issue is inherent to the design and can't be fixed. In the end, the original AD, Jay Roberts in New Jersey, stepped in and up and replaced the watch with a new one, when they and I were getting nowhere with IWC.]

BMunMuns · Jul 4, 2022

Gruesome
Do you have a better picture, zooming in and focusing on the area around that screw? It's hard to tell whether there are marks or deformations on the screw with that picture you posted.
But regardless, even the grease shouldn't be there. I would send the watch back. You might though run into the same issue as I did with IWC, where they not only refused to fix their own mistakes, but wanted to charge for their second unsuccessful attempt. I hope Omega is better, but I also hope I don't have to find out...

[My new IWC came back from the service center with several screw slots showing distortions from too much torque applied with too narrow a screw driver. The Texas service center also didn't fix the issue it was sent in for, but I now believe that issue is inherent to the design and can't be fixed. In the end, the original AD, Jay Roberts in New Jersey, stepped in and up and replaced the watch with a new one, when they and I were getting nowhere with IWC.]

I can try to get a better photo but there is definitely deformation of the screw and the finishing issue on the two other pieces does not appear to be grease, although my eye is untrained. I will try to track down an iPhone with a better camera and post some more clear photos

mjb · Jul 4, 2022

B BMunMuns
I will try to track down an iPhone with a better camera and post some more clear photos

Or you could use an actual camera with a proper lens. 😉

If it were me and the watch was pristine otherwise, yes, I'd send it back.

BMunMuns · Jul 4, 2022

mjb
Or you could use an actual camera with a proper lens. 😉

If it were me and the watch was pristine otherwise, yes, I'd send it back.

I’d prefer to spend my money on watches at the moment and not cameras! So I’m working with what I got

perks713 · Jul 4, 2022

B BMunMuns
I’d prefer to spend my money on watches at the moment and not cameras! So I’m working with what I got

I find that you can get away with an older iPhone camera (I just replaced my 6s which was from 2015) if you lay the watch flat, and try and get a light source off to one side. Take the photo from a little further away so the focus does its job. Then you can zoom in on the image on the computer.

BMunMuns · Jul 4, 2022

Alright maybe this phot will show up more clearly. It looks like something perfect circular has indented or scuffed those 2 pieces. Plus you can see the indentations on the right side of the screw

Caliber561 · Jul 5, 2022

Yeah if I were you, I'd send it back. The movement is arguably the centerpiece of the sapphire sandwich version, and it should be treated as such. Omega's gotta step up their game with these warranty repairs.

SlCKB0Y · Jul 5, 2022

I wouldn’t put up with that.

PATRICK JP · Jul 16, 2022

I would send it back and ask that it be returned with no marks, damaged screws or grease smears to the movement. Generally the service is an issue with mechanical watches. Companies focus on pushing sales but it seems that servicing remains an afterthought… a hit or miss bumpy ride.

3861 Movement Finish Issue After Service

BMunMuns

vbrad26

Archer

BMunMuns

skipjack

7enderbender

BMunMuns

perks713

mrmike585

Gruesome

BMunMuns

mjb

BMunMuns

perks713

BMunMuns

Caliber561

SlCKB0Y

PATRICK JP

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