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Back from servicing

Scarecrow Boat
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roman9662 roman9662
I thought it was the other way around. The brushed finish shows scratches more readily. Have I had it backwards?
You have it correct. Scratches show easier on brushed finishes. A brushed surface is textured and when you faintly scratch it or deeply scratch it, you are removing part of that textured surface. The scratch will then "contrast" against the brushed surface making it more noticeable. They will still be present on polished but because the texture or a brushed surface is no longer there to act as contrast against the scratch, the scratch will be less apparent, at first glance, on polished.
 
roman9662
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Thanks for the confirmation.
It drives me crazy when you think you have some fact down cold and find out that you've had it wrong for years. Gets you questioning everything again (does the integer 2 really come after 1). 😀😀
 
Sidreilley
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T Tony
As you wish:
WOW, replacing all that must have made for a pricey service. The balance and bridge alone must have cost as much as a cheap Seiko!
 
T
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Sidreilley Sidreilley
WOW, replacing all that must have made for a pricey service. The balance and bridge alone must have cost as much as a cheap Seiko!
They didn't charge any extra - "just" the $550 quoted on their website.
 
Rodentman
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My experience lends credence to polished surfaces showing scratches more readily than brushed ones. The PCL's on my Rolex bracelets are scratch magnets whilst the brushed center links are not. I can be more cavalier with brushed surfaces than with polished ones.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Sidreilley Sidreilley
WOW, replacing all that must have made for a pricey service. The balance and bridge alone must have cost as much as a cheap Seiko!
Fortunately that isn’t how it works. The price you see is what you pay despite what is replaced. Omega makes their money when someone sends in a watch, pays that (let’s say) $550 and nothing is done to the watch except for cleaning/servicing. Edited to add: this happens a lot and this is largely profit for Omega. The quote covers the replacing of parts even if parts are not replaced. Omega keeps that money regardless.

I’ve seen someone get quoted $700 and it seemed like everything was replaced. Case, hands, many moment parts, seals, and more, and the person didn’t pay a dime over the $700. This is just for servicing. It’s different, however, if you induce the damage (say drop a speedy in a lake/pool/ocean and it’s toast) and send it to Omega. That falls outside of a “service” and you will pay for those parts.
Edited:
 
T
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
Fortunately that isn’t how it works. The price you see is what you pay despite what is replaced. Omega makes there money when someone sends in a watch, pays that (let’s say) $550 and nothing is done to the watch except for cleaning/servicing. I’ve seen someone get quoted $700 and it seemed like everything was replaced. Case, hands, many moment parts, seals, and more, and the person didn’t pay a dime over the $700. This is just for servicing. It’s different, however, if you induce the damage (say drop a speedy in a lake/pool/ocean and it’s toast) and send it to Omega. That falls outside of a “service” and you will pay for those parts.
Honestly, I was shocked at how much of my watch they replaced. In the estimate given me back in May, it was indicated that the oil had run dry...I'm guessing this is what wore out so many of the internal parts?
 
Scarecrow Boat
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T Tony
Honestly, I was shocked at how much of my watch they replaced. In the estimate given me back in May, it was indicated that the oil had run dry...I'm guessing this is what wore out so many of the internal parts?
Sorry, I edited to add more to my post above at the same time you quoted me haha. Omega will replace parts to meet their specifications/standards, and so if your watch had run dry and the parts fell out of tolerance, they’d be replaced. I honestly wouldn’t know if that was the specific cause but I’d be inclined to believe it was. Seals, springs, crowns (has seals in it) are typically (if it’s a good watch maker then always) replaced at servicing. If the finish on your hands faded they would replace them. For example with tritium: if the tritium broke down and was out of tolerance (which it would be) they would replace it with super luminova. Basically, omega will make the watch look and run as if it were brand new. This is exactly why you see so many vintage speedy owners rightfully proclaim to never send a vintage watch* to Omega for servicing. You’ll essentially receive a brand new watch back.

*edited for clarification- using vintage speedy owners as an example. Vintage watch meaning: vintage speedy owners often talk about not sending in vintage speedies to omega as they will change everything on it. Not that vintage speedy owners know everything about every vintage watch and that their word is final.
Edited:
 
SkunkPrince
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Scarecrow Boat Scarecrow Boat
This is exactly why you see so many vintage speedy owners rightfully proclaim to never send a vintage watch to Omega for servicing. You’ll essentially receive a brand new watch back.
I disagree with "rightfully". There are many people who are happy to get a brand new watch back, despite the "vintage speedy owners", who do not speak for everyone.

Just sayin'.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
I disagree with "rightfully". There are many people who are happy to get a brand new watch back, despite the "vintage speedy owners", who do not speak for everyone.

Just sayin'.
Sorry, I didn’t mean that as in the vintage speedy owner speaks for everyone. That example was poorly stated as it wasn’t finished correctly. I meant vintage speedy owners trying to preserve the history of vintage speedies and I used them as an example as it’s overwhelmingly present on this forum. I used “rightfully” as many people assume sending in a heavily worn and patinated watch to omega for servicing means they will get that exact watch back with a cleaned up and serviced movement. A lot of people don’t know they will get a brand new watch back. An example is sending a vintage Ed White in for servicing and getting an unrecognizably brand new watch back. Rightfully wasn’t the best word as I didn’t mean it as in the vintage speedy owner is the all knowing source that we should all trust. But as, if someone were to make an innocent/unintentional mistake, they would be rightfully stopped and educated. I don’t know if any of this makes sense lol. Regardless, if someone wants to send in a watch to be refinished any way they want, no one can stop them. All the power to the owner 😀
 
SkunkPrince
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Ah, I get you now. Yeah, depends on your goal. I received a Seamster 166.010 today and I was this close to suggesting to my watchmaker that we send it to Omega and I'm not convinced I shouldn't. The case is really worn and refinished once, the dial is starting to bubble, and the bracelet could stand replacement. But my watchmaker is pretty talented, so I am confident he can take care of all that too, just a question of whether he wants to.

Not to mention there are so few watchmakers trained on coaxial that aren't working for Omega....
 
Scarecrow Boat
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Ah, I get you now. Yeah, depends on your goal. I received a Seamster 166.010 today and I was this close to suggesting to my watchmaker that we send it to Omega and I'm not convinced I shouldn't. The case is really worn and refinished once, the dial is starting to bubble, and the bracelet could stand replacement. But my watchmaker is pretty talented, so I am confident he can take care of all that too, just a question of whether he wants to.

Not to mention there are so few watchmakers trained on coaxial that aren't working for Omega....
Absolutely! I have a Bond Seamaster that I sent in for servicing. It had a faded seconds hand and heavily scratched bezel insert with little wear on the casing. I was thrilled to get a “new” watch back as it meant I could start over with a daily wear/beater. I don’t have anything like an Ed white, 145, or any other piece with fun history, but if I did and it needed service, I would preserve it. Outside of that, I have no issue with replacing parts and making it new. I think it’s awesome that it’s even done like that. I know there is a fair amount of people that would suggest otherwise in your case, but if I didn’t have a watch maker that I trusted or they weren’t confident they could handle it, I wouldn’t have issue sending it to omega. I would probably hunt for a local one so I didn’t have to wait as long haha, but yeah.
 
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