So my Z-33 battery failed and I replaced it myself without problem...until I screwed the last screw of the case back down. It wouldn't go flush. So I didn't want to force it so I tried to back it out to try again, but it's locked in place. Not budging at all.

I tried unscrewing the other screws to take pressure off but to no avail. That screw is stuck.

The watch is totally wearable as the back is secured tightly and the screw is just barely off from being flush, but next time the battery goes, it won't come out to get to battery compartment.

Bigger concern here is due to design of the watch, this might need a case replacement if the threads are messes up or the screw is galled. It being titanium, that could end up costing more than another pre-owned z-33!

Has anyone had this happen? If so what was resolution?

 

Do you have access to a boutique or watchmaker? You could have possibly cross threaded it. For piece of mind, I’d want it flush. Not a lot of Z-33 owners that I am aware of….

 

Given that the case is titanium, there's a chance the threads are galled, in addition to possibly being cross-threaded. If this were mine, I'd send it to Omega.

 

I agree. I'll send it into Omega down the road, but I pretty much think it's going to need a case replacement and that will doom the watch as it won't be worth repairing...bummer.

 

New case is around $3k...

 

Just send it to Omega.

 

Ouch, don't mean to bring salt to the wound, but it could be that you have cross threaded. But on the other hand, Titanium is not that soft and I bet that it takes a lot more force to cross threat the threads on that case. I would send it to Omega just in case, but I think that you just jammed the screw in there

 

In the past i also thought that it can't be very difficult to replace a battery but on some watches it is better for a professional to do it..

 

Some good news…I got the screw out by using a Panerai style screwdriver. I actually think that particular screw is the issue as I swapped screws and a different screw fit fine in the hole I thought was totally buggered. So, now to find an OEM screw

 

Great news. As for the screw, I'm sure @Archer can provide some info/help where to get OEM screws

 

I was on the extranet this morning already when I came across this message thread
SCREW S1.40 ØH2.20 L3.40 TI-GR5
107TI3365
also listed as
107VE3365A this might be a screw kit as the first part number is a component of this part number

It might be hard to find these out in the wild. This the size information:
DIAMETER HEAD D2 : 2.20 MM
DIAMETER THREAD D1 :S1.4
HEAD : CYLINDR SCR DH
LENGTH L1 :2.40 MM
LENGTH L2 : 3.40 MM
SLOT TYPE : FLAT
TIP :FLAT

 

Wow..Great info. Thanks!!

 

Photos would be good at this point....

 

You can find them stacked up next to unicorn poop and orca hair