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oddaffinity
·Hey, fellow Omega nerds,
I'm looking for some second opinions on what I should do regarding my recent new acquisition, an absolutely beautiful 2nd generation Aqua Terra quartz, reference 231.10.39.61.02.001. For some background, I picked it up on r/watchexchange about a week ago for just under $2k without box or papers. Based on the serial number, it was made in 2010. That being said, I'm looking to send it in for an Omega complete service over the coming months (no rush), as I doubt this thing has been properly serviced at all in its 16 years of existence, despite the odd battery change here and there.
Here is my issue...
Upon close inspection, the dial has a slight scratch under the 58 minute mark, and the applied Omega logo also appears to have been scratched. These are only visible under certain lighting conditions. I assume these marks were at the hand of a clumsy independent watchmaker, but I will never know. Additionally, my end links are a bit loose. It looks like some of the tabs under the end links aren't flush to the case, or maybe the spring bars have worn out. The bracelet still feels secure and the end links sit mostly flush, but I don't want the issue to get worse. Finally, my AR coating has some scratches on it. Not awful, but noticeable.
A new dial is about $500, new end links are $150, and a new crystal is about $200. Plus the cost of a standard quartz service, I'm looking at over $1,300 for all of that. Ouch!
That being said, the only things that are "needed" are the standard service (this thing probably needs new gaskets; also has a misaligned hour hand, debris on the hands, a bit of debris stuck on the "25" date indicator, and a bit of black dust at the 8 o'clock marker. These are all easy to address during an Omega service) plus maybe new end links/spring bars. This puts me at a more reasonable $700-ish for a service.
I plan on keeping this watch indefinitely. I have no issues paying for the base service, but I'm quite wary of paying nearly 70% of the 16-year-old watch's cost to OPTIONALLY replace a dial and crystal on top of a complete service. What do you folks recommend I do? Just do the standard complete service and leave the dial and crystal alone/address them at some point years down the road, or rip off the very expensive bandaid and do everything all at once? Thanks so much!
I'm looking for some second opinions on what I should do regarding my recent new acquisition, an absolutely beautiful 2nd generation Aqua Terra quartz, reference 231.10.39.61.02.001. For some background, I picked it up on r/watchexchange about a week ago for just under $2k without box or papers. Based on the serial number, it was made in 2010. That being said, I'm looking to send it in for an Omega complete service over the coming months (no rush), as I doubt this thing has been properly serviced at all in its 16 years of existence, despite the odd battery change here and there.
Here is my issue...
Upon close inspection, the dial has a slight scratch under the 58 minute mark, and the applied Omega logo also appears to have been scratched. These are only visible under certain lighting conditions. I assume these marks were at the hand of a clumsy independent watchmaker, but I will never know. Additionally, my end links are a bit loose. It looks like some of the tabs under the end links aren't flush to the case, or maybe the spring bars have worn out. The bracelet still feels secure and the end links sit mostly flush, but I don't want the issue to get worse. Finally, my AR coating has some scratches on it. Not awful, but noticeable.
A new dial is about $500, new end links are $150, and a new crystal is about $200. Plus the cost of a standard quartz service, I'm looking at over $1,300 for all of that. Ouch!
That being said, the only things that are "needed" are the standard service (this thing probably needs new gaskets; also has a misaligned hour hand, debris on the hands, a bit of debris stuck on the "25" date indicator, and a bit of black dust at the 8 o'clock marker. These are all easy to address during an Omega service) plus maybe new end links/spring bars. This puts me at a more reasonable $700-ish for a service.
I plan on keeping this watch indefinitely. I have no issues paying for the base service, but I'm quite wary of paying nearly 70% of the 16-year-old watch's cost to OPTIONALLY replace a dial and crystal on top of a complete service. What do you folks recommend I do? Just do the standard complete service and leave the dial and crystal alone/address them at some point years down the road, or rip off the very expensive bandaid and do everything all at once? Thanks so much!
