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Dennis C
·Has anyone found it difficult to deal with Swatch Group USA? This has certainly been the case for me. I have two watches being serviced right now. My Speedmaster is getting a full service in the US, and my vintage Seamaster De Ville is getting a full service in Switzerland.
I acquired the Seamaster De Ville without the original strap and buckle. It has a 14K solid gold case and it’s in remarkably good condition. I purchased a solid gold Omega buckle for it, but a standard length strap is too tight for my wrist. I can hardly buckle it. It was sent to Omega with the strap and buckle in place.
The first contact that I received from SGCST was about 4 weeks after sending the watch to them. They told me that it would be a minimum of $900 to service it, and asked for my approval. I granted approval and then I asked them about long strap options and/or gold bracelet options for the watch. I’d prefer a gold bracelet, but I don’t know what bracelet is period correct for the watch. My assumption is that it’s a “beads of rice” bracelet, but I don’t exactly know.
A few more weeks passed and a different representative from SGCST contacted me and informed me that the gold bracelet for this watch is no longer available. I responded and asked for the correct part numbers for the bracelet and end links so that I could pursue a used bracelet on the secondary market. A few weeks later, I received another email from a different person letting me know that the bracelet isn’t available. I responded the same way that I did before.
I then received an email letting me know that the charge will be $600 and the full service will take 27 weeks. I sent my approval.
A few more weeks passed, and a different person from SGCST sent me instructions to ship the watch to Switzerland. I responded and let them know that they already have the watch. I then received a response from a different person at SGCST letting me know that they would add a new black leather strap to the watch as part of the full service.
I’ve responded asking for more details. Will the new strap be longer than a standard strap? Are there other options? I haven’t received a response yet.
This is frustrating because I’m never dealing with the same person, and they will only allow email communication. I still want a gold bracelet, but I have no idea what options are available. Is there a 14K solid gold bracelet, or only gold plated or gold filled options? Which style is correct?
I wish this was easier…
I acquired the Seamaster De Ville without the original strap and buckle. It has a 14K solid gold case and it’s in remarkably good condition. I purchased a solid gold Omega buckle for it, but a standard length strap is too tight for my wrist. I can hardly buckle it. It was sent to Omega with the strap and buckle in place.
The first contact that I received from SGCST was about 4 weeks after sending the watch to them. They told me that it would be a minimum of $900 to service it, and asked for my approval. I granted approval and then I asked them about long strap options and/or gold bracelet options for the watch. I’d prefer a gold bracelet, but I don’t know what bracelet is period correct for the watch. My assumption is that it’s a “beads of rice” bracelet, but I don’t exactly know.
A few more weeks passed and a different representative from SGCST contacted me and informed me that the gold bracelet for this watch is no longer available. I responded and asked for the correct part numbers for the bracelet and end links so that I could pursue a used bracelet on the secondary market. A few weeks later, I received another email from a different person letting me know that the bracelet isn’t available. I responded the same way that I did before.
I then received an email letting me know that the charge will be $600 and the full service will take 27 weeks. I sent my approval.
A few more weeks passed, and a different person from SGCST sent me instructions to ship the watch to Switzerland. I responded and let them know that they already have the watch. I then received a response from a different person at SGCST letting me know that they would add a new black leather strap to the watch as part of the full service.
I’ve responded asking for more details. Will the new strap be longer than a standard strap? Are there other options? I haven’t received a response yet.
This is frustrating because I’m never dealing with the same person, and they will only allow email communication. I still want a gold bracelet, but I have no idea what options are available. Is there a 14K solid gold bracelet, or only gold plated or gold filled options? Which style is correct?
I wish this was easier…
