Community Stories

Condensation Omega Speedmaster FOIS crystal

ezakmoller
Posts
7
Likes
6
Hi All I was hoping you could help me understand wether condensation inside the sapphire crystal of my two year old Omega Speedmaster FIOS is:
  • Operator mistake
  • Faulty watch
  • Normal
My local Omega Boutique tech claims that condensation inside the crystal is normal/operator mistake.
  • I recently took my FOIS to have it serviced after noticing condensation inside the crystal for the second time.
    • The first time it happened was 11 months ago and it was also serviced/repaired.
  • During this recent visit, I was told, by an Omega boutique tech that humidity inside the crystal is normal when a user starts or stops or resets the chronograph function in a humid environment.
    • Like on a humid day in the city, or traveling by plane. This drives humid air into the watch by pushing those chronograph buttons.
  • Extra info: They claim that if they were to place the watch in a pressure test, (to test the gaskets) it would pass.
Is the tech at the Omega boutique correct? Does this mean that I should not engage the chronograph function when around environmental humidity or when traveling by plane?
IMG_7458.JPG IMG_7457.JPG IMG_0241.JPG IMG_0240.JPG IMG_0648.JPG IMG_0258.JPG IMG_0254.JPG
 
Hamish02
Posts
289
Likes
504
Go direct to Omega and they will perform a service. Happened twice to me and they were very helpful. Quite a common issue with the FOIS by the looks of it and plenty of info on here if you do a quick search - it’s been covered a few times already 😀

*By that I mean give Omega a ring direct, cut out the boutique. They’ll send you a pack to post it to them.
 
ezakmoller
Posts
7
Likes
6
Hamish02 Hamish02
Go direct to Omega and they will perform a service. Happened twice to me and they were very helpful. Quite a common issue with the FOIS by the looks of it and plenty of info on here if you do a quick search - it’s been covered a few times already 😀

*By that I mean give Omega a ring direct, cut out the boutique. They’ll send you a pack to post it to them.
Great tip, I thought I was dealing with Omega directly by going to their 5th Ave boutique in New York. I appreciate it.
 
texasmade
Posts
2,389
Likes
2,510
I live in Houston which is a fairly humid place in the summer and this has never been a problem for me.
 
ezakmoller
Posts
7
Likes
6
texasmade texasmade
I live in Houston which is a fairly humid place in the summer and this has never been a problem for me.

Interesting, have you noticed it after flying with it?
 
texasmade
Posts
2,389
Likes
2,510
ezakmoller ezakmoller
Interesting, have you noticed it after flying with it?
I’ve never flown with it so I can’t really say on that one.
 
Evitzee
Posts
6,851
Likes
12,891
I've lived in TX for many years, never have I encountered an internal fogged up crystal on any watch which is water resistant.
 
Donn Chambers
Posts
2,454
Likes
3,325
The tech is full of s**t. If the gaskets are good, operating the chronograph functions in humid air will not cause moisture in the watch. I’ve owned my watch for 6 years in Florida and never had this issue — and it has travelled back and forth to Europe on planes and gone from sea level to 5000 feet elevation several times.

they are just trying to cover their mistake from the bad service 11 months ago, IMO. Bring the main office into it. That should not have happened in only 11 months.
 
alam
Posts
8,136
Likes
19,086
Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
The tech is full of s**t. ...

I wonder what are the requirements to become an Omega Boutique certified Tech ....
 
cvalue13
Posts
3,979
Likes
8,987
There have been several (yours the 4th or 6th) reports of this issue with a FOIS

A google search on omegaforums should pull up some prior experiences
 
Donn Chambers
Posts
2,454
Likes
3,325
alam alam
I wonder what are the requirements to become an Omega Boutique certified Tech ....

I definitely wouldn’t want that particular tech to be doing a pressure test on my watch. But perhaps the OP misunderstood and the tech said operating the pushers UNDERWATER could cause water ingress and would be a user error. That is true. Being underwater is certainly a highly humid condition, but that’s not the same as operating on land with humidity in the air — there shouldn’t be a problem in this case.

got a feeling the tech was the one who “serviced” the watch 11 months previously and is trying to cover their ass because they know they obviously didn’t put a gasket on properly.
 
M'Bob
Posts
6,660
Likes
21,507
Interesting, and I wonder what nuances of this model make it more prone to this.
 
Archer
Posts
27,508
Likes
70,011
alam alam
I wonder what are the requirements to become an Omega Boutique certified Tech ....

A "Boutique Technician" is someone who has been hired off the street for a sales position, and they are given some very limited training - I think it was a couple of weeks from what I recall, and then they are boutique technicians.

This is very different from a "Boutique Watchmaker", who would actually be a properly trained watchmaker.
 
Archer
Posts
27,508
Likes
70,011
Omega considers "temporary fogging" inside the crystal to be normal. However this is very temporary, so in a situation where you are going from one temperature extreme to another and the air that is already inside the watch (that will have some moisture) condenses inside the crystal, and disappears within a minute.

The photos posted by the OP appear to be condensation that is far more than that, so to me this watch has failed.

Cheers, Al
 
alam
Posts
8,136
Likes
19,086
Archer Archer
A "Boutique Technician" is someone who has been hired off the street for a sales position, and they are given some very limited training - I think it was a couple of weeks from what I recall, and then they are boutique technicians.

This is very different from a "Boutique Watchmaker", who would actually be a properly trained watchmaker.

Then Omega will most likely rate me as a highly qualified candidate for those positions once they learn I'm an avid reader of your technical posts! 😜
 
Davidt
Posts
11,407
Likes
19,970
For several years I wore my -65 Ed White Speedmaster pretty much as my daily wearer (say 4-5 days a week). I wore it in the UK year round as well as on various flights around Europe, from the Med to Scandinavia. I’ve never had this issue on my 55 year old watch and I can’t believe it’s acceptable on a modern FOIS when used/worn with general common sense.
 
M
Posts
33
Likes
11
Funny you should bring this topic up again. My fois had the same issue from new. Serviced it under warranty but has happened again 10 months later. Currently got the case back removed and sat it in a sealed bag with silica gel as I can’t be bothered with the hassle of a month returning it. If it persists will be looking get rid after another service as not been impressed which is a pity as I like the look of the watch.
 
Canuck
Posts
14,203
Likes
40,891
The average humidity where I live is (I am told) not much higher than the humidity found in the Sahara desert. We don’t have major problems with watches fogging up, unless there is a leak. Elevation here at the international airport is 3,545 feet above sea level.
 
BlackTalon
Posts
5,377
Likes
9,173
alam alam
I wonder what are the requirements to become an Omega Boutique certified Tech ....
A BS degree in BS
 
15 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

Robert-Jan

Hands-On With The New 2024 Omega Speedmaster FOiS (First Omega in Space)

Robert-Jan Modern Omega Watches
mjb
mjb
Posts
365
Views
45K
bananapeanut

2019 Omega Speedmaster FOIS (modded)

bananapeanut Private Watch Sales
bananapeanut
bananapeanut
Posts
5
Views
4K
R

Omega FOIS - crystal options for a swap

RC.57 Watchmaking
R
RC.57
Posts
0
Views
958
B

Omega Speedmaster FOIS CK2998, Sedna Gold - A good investment?

Bukem Modern Omega Watches
rkny18
rkny18
Posts
27
Views
7K
mbp

Omega Speedmaster FOIS Straps

mbp Watch Parts and Accessories For Sale
mbp
mbp
Posts
1
Views
2K
Candle00

Omega Speedmaster FOIS - under factory warranty

Candle00 Private Watch Sales
Candle00
Candle00
Posts
4
Views
5K