How much more difficult/expensive is it to service/fix a cal. 321 vs. 861?

In the market for my first Speedy and long-term maintenance is a concern. I prefer the cal. 321, but have been warned that servicing it might be a nightmare. Any guidance/tips would be welcome. Thanks mates!

 

I don't own either a 321 or 861, but I think that many people would tell you that getting parts for a 321 CAN be a problem in some cases. However, if you're going to dump the $$$ on a 321, is extra service costs really a huge concern for you?

I'll let other, more experienced folks chime in.

 

Dan pretty much says it there. You're going to have to pay for a proper service whatever the movement. If the condition is good then the price should be exactly the same. If however, replacements parts are required...things get tough with a 321 and tend to be quite a bit more expensive.

 

I just got my 321 recently services. I had the main spring replaced and overhauled mechanism. It causes me about 900 USD. Hopefully this able to give you an estimation.

 

They're the same base movement. A 321 has a column wheel, while the 861 has a cam lever.

 

I think If you buy 321 in good condition it Wont cost you more than 861 problém are old god knows when serviced movements that need parts replaced. At least Thats the impression I got.

 

Bear in mind some 321 parts are no longer available.

 

No - not at all the same base movement so they didn't take a 321 and stick a cam on it. It was a complete redesign and the vast majority of parts are completely different from a 321 to an 861.

In terms of servicing costs, the potential difference is most likely due to the age and condition of the watch. An older movement will be more likely to need additional work, such as bushing worn holes in the bridges for example. And although the parts that are still available from Omega are not generally more than the similar parts in an 861 would be, once you have to buy parts on the open market, prices go up sharply because the sellers know that these parts are scarce and in demand.

But if you send it to Omega, they will charge more. And of course independent watchmakers are independent, so servicing costs will vary depending on who you use as people set their own pricing.

Cheers, Al

 

@Archer - So the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch calibers are not all based on Lemania chronograph calibers, specifically the 2310?

 

I was under the impression that they are like LS motors. Based on the same layout but very little parts commonality.

 

I don't know what you are really getting at here, but when people say the "base" movement is X for movement Y, it doesn't really refer to movements where the vast majority of parts are not the same. It generally means that the same essential movement is used, but different things are added to it, like additional complications, and only minor changes in the movement are made to accommodate those.

When you said this:

"They're the same base movement. A 321 has a column wheel, while the 861 has a cam lever."

It implies that the primary difference in the movement is that one has a column wheel, and one has a lever, and that everything else is pretty much the same. That is no where close to being true.

I just had a quick look at the Cal. 861 parts guide, and although there are about a dozen parts that are the same from the Cal. 320/321, the other 90 or so are all specific to the 861 series (I didn't bother counting the screws, jewels, or bushings). So yes the third wheel and fourth wheel are the same, as is the dial washer and a few other parts., but the bulk of the movement is not from the 320/321.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks gents, very helpful! General conclusion seems to be that it all depends on the original condition of the movement, which makes sense. Also, on whether spare/new parts are needed, which makes the 321 much harder to service considering the movements' vintage.

Perhaps the 145.022 Transitional is the best of both worlds? Applied logo and stepped dial with the "easier to service" 861.

 

Good luck finding one... correct -68's are not exactly common.

 

Local find earlier this year. Not common but not impossible.



Sorry, felt like the thread needed photos.

 

Is there a concern that eventually replacement parts for the 321's will run out entirely? Are there any parts that do get wear regularly but are hard to replace these days?

 

Well that's the squirrel told.....

 

Replacement parts can always be fabricated. The question is whether that's a cost effective solution for the person wanting the part.

 

It’s ok, substitutes for rare parts can be fashioned out of paperlips

To be fair, you wouldn't really expect him to be an expert on the 321 or 861 movements, the resonances with the Speedmaster give him a headache just pondering them.

 

It’s amazing what you can do with a 3D printer

 

Does Omega still manufacture parts for the 321? Or would a donor have to be found (or something 3D printed) if a piece fails? Thanks.