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Anyone here had their Planet Ocean or 2254 bracelet modded at a Boutique? Nightmare scenario here.

ReturnOfUltraman
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Jking Jking
So because someone walks into an OB with Omega parts for an omega watch and is willing to pay omega to put together a Franken fully omega bracelet that makes them a prick? Is this the same omega that you guys say has no problem destroying the value of a vintage omega by putting service parts on it even when you have requested they not do so? So they don't mind f**king up your vintage omega but have qualms about the bracelet for an out of warranty watch? Can someone make sense of that for me?
You're talking about two separate topics. The thing is, OMEGA has never done that and never will install something that doesn't meet specifications just because a client wants them; whether that be different hands, dial, clasp, you name it. A service is completely different because it's deem "acceptable" to replace old parts with new ones in order to make the watch function. Never been a case of the former.

Jking Jking
Im surprised by this. If you own the watch, are providing the parts, are willing to pay for the labor for the work and don't mind losing warranty b/c of the modifications then I don't see why they would not do it. After all they are supposed to do what you ask not other way around. That's the nature of retail. It's a simple matter of customer service in my opinion.
They're not "supposed to do" everything you ask for. It doesn't work like that.
 
Jking
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ReturnOfUltraman Livesimply11
You're talking about two separate topics. The thing is, OMEGA has never done that and never will install something that doesn't meet specifications just because a client wants them; whether that be different hands, dial, clasp, you name it. A service is completely different because it's deem "acceptable" to replace old parts with new ones in order to make the watch function. Never been a case of the former.
Ok see now that makes sense to me. What had me confused is that reading the other thread about this mod some OBs have obviously done this for other clients. I suppose this is a case of some clients being more equal than others if they are knowing violating their own policy.
 
tyrantlizardrex
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So because someone walks into an OB with Omega parts for an omega watch and is willing to pay omega to put together a Franken fully omega bracelet that makes them a prick?

Asking them to take a watch off specification because you want it to be different to how it was made, and getting in a huff because they don't bend over when you wave cash - that makes you a prick.


Jking Jking
Is this the same omega that you guys say has no problem destroying the value of a vintage omega by putting service parts on it even when you have requested they not do so?

Can I make sense of Omega taking it back to "as new" spec?

Yes. That's exactly what I would expect them to do.

Do I agree that they should do it, as a matter of course? No not really.

Do I understand why they do it? Yes, because they have to offer a warranty on their work, so they do service/restoration work their way.

Do you have to send your vintage watch to Omega to be given the "treatment"? Nope.

Jking Jking
So they don't mind f**king up your vintage omega but have qualms about the bracelet for an out of warranty watch?

fυcking up is a point of perspective, as I say above.

Modifying a bracelet is not something that is in their interest to do.

So why should they?
 
tyrantlizardrex
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Ok see now that makes sense to me. What had me confused is that reading the other thread about this mod some OBs have obviously done this for other clients. I suppose this is a case of some clients being more equal than others if they are knowing violating their own policy.

I would strongly suspect that it's a watchmaker at an AD that's modified a bracelet rather than an OB - those are two very different kettles of fish.
 
Jking
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ReturnOfUltraman Livesimply11
Every boutique I have talked to has not done this after corporate started cracking down on modifying anything.
Well now that i've been throughly discredited as someone who has no idea wtf he's talking about I'll just go back to minding my own business...not that I'll be buying from an OB anytime soon anyway as my wife and 3 boys have a habit of spending all my extra cash!
 
tyrantlizardrex
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Well now that i've been throughly discredited as someone who has no idea wtf he's talking about I'll just go back to minding my own business...not that I'll be buying from an OB anytime soon anyway as my wife and 3 boys have a habit of spending all my extra cash!

You and the rest of us buddy. 😉
 
ReturnOfUltraman
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Well now that i've been throughly discredited as someone who has no idea wtf he's talking about I'll just go back to minding my own business...not that I'll be buying from an OB anytime soon anyway as my wife and 3 boys have a habit of spending all my extra cash!
Hey, as the saying goes.. "Happy wife, happy life" right?
 
Jking
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ReturnOfUltraman Livesimply11
Hey, as the saying goes.. "Happy wife, happy life" right?
Well it definitely works that way in my house!
 
M'Bob
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Well it definitely works that way in my house!

Please share how to make them happy...
 
Archer
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ReturnOfUltraman Livesimply11
Every boutique I have talked to has not done this after corporate started cracking down on modifying anything.

I think this is the key in this discussion really. Any boutique who is or has done this, is violating Omega corporate policies. You can agree with those policies or not - your decision - but they do exist, and for reasons that Omega deems valid. For example if they fit the clasp, and you are getting on a sailboat in Boston harbor, the watch falls off, and the divers you hired can't recover it, who's at fault?

If fitting the clasp would actually cause this to happen is completely secondary - corporations are by their nature not willing to take such risks (investment banking companies notwithstanding).

In my view as Omega sees a spike in clasp sales for watches that really should not need replacement clasps yet, the light will go off and they will crack down - they may have already started by the sounds of it. I can assure you they track parts sales - I have received calls asking why I've bought so many of certain parts from them for example. And although it was the local country manager that called me, the question was being asked by Omega in Switzerland.

And as noted, if you compare all this to how Rolex (the Big Green bully of the watch world) operates, Omega/Swatch looks like a free for all where anything goes. Just one small example - if I need say a new case back for an Omega, I go on the Extranet, look up the case reference, find the part number, and order it. 1 or 2 days later it shows up at my door - they don't ask me to prove that I have the watch the case back goes on, ask for the watch serial number, or check those claims when they do their next shop inspection, etc., so absolutely zero drama. If a Rolex needs a new case back, the watch has to be sent to them for a full service, and they will install the new case back, and keep/steal the old one.

Lots of Omega fans thought it was great that Omega was going to try to compete with Rolex, but that entails more than just making the watches better and raising prices...it starts to creep into all that they do as a business, which is not something to look forward to.

Cheers, Al
 
ReturnOfUltraman
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Archer Archer
In my view as Omega sees a spike in clasp sales for watches that really should not need replacement clasps yet, the light will go off and they will crack down - they may have already started by the sounds of it. I can assure you they track parts sales - I have received calls asking why I've bought so many of certain parts from them for example. And although it was the local country manager that called me, the question was being asked by Omega in Switzerland.
We've already seen that here at our boutique, and you're completely right. While we're able to provide parts to clients who wish to purchase them separately, there is absolutely no way we can modify any watch on our own without receiving major backlash from the head honchos.
 
TMas
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Wow, point taken. Looks like I'll be keeping my mouth shut from now on. Lesson learned, previous post status: Edited

Corporate shills are just that.....
 
M'Bob
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For example if they fit the clasp, and you are getting on a sailboat in Boston harbor, the watch falls off, and the divers you hired can't recover it, who's at fault?

Ulackfocus
 
msp1518
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I am a little bit offended by some of what is going on in here. There is no need for some of these remarks.

As I stated, I am being put with a watchmaker in Manhattan who will take care of the clasp swap. I am being taken care of here and will be quite satisfied. Govberg jewelers messed up in sending the wrong parts (twice) but are making it right. Actually, beyond right.

Furthermore, I will not be owning a frakenwatch and my warranty will not be invalidated. Removing or changing a bracelet does not void a warranty. Were that the case anyone who swaps in a strap or NATO or mesh on their Planet Ocean.Meanwhile nothing about the watch head will be changed. We are talking about a bleeping clasp here. Sheesh.

By the way, I now know of three different Omega Boutiques that did the swap and this isn't second hand information. I either spoke with via phone or emailed with the gents who had their Planet Ocean clasps swapped out. Clearly I am not going to say which ones for fear of someone acting childish and reporting it.

Now everyone please relax, take a pill, have a drink, do something to feel happy.
 
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