Disappointed with Omega QC and Swatch Group Support - Misaligned Hand Brushed Off

Posts
4,196
Likes
10,031
When you return it, ask them to clean up the marks that appear to be under the crystal. Looks like a large chunk of dust on the dial, too.
If you use the chrono function often, watch out for the creep. It happens.

 
Posts
193
Likes
150
If it's such a glaring issue, why did it take you so long to notice it?
 
Posts
5,945
Likes
20,456
Has anyone else experienced this kind of issue with Swatch/Omega? Curious to hear if this is a one-off or part of a broader pattern.

Best,
Terry
Definitely a one-off, Terry.
 
Posts
175
Likes
757
I can sort of understand the OP's annoyance. While this one would be within my own tolerances, it is a fact that Omega have raised their prices by thousands of Euros in the window of a few years - to raise their perception of being more luxury grade than they used to be.

I'd say that comes with responsibilities and expectations. You want the right to ask luxury prices? gotta meet those expectations. They can't have their cake and eat it too.
 
Posts
7,510
Likes
13,880
I can sort of understand the OP's annoyance. While this one would be within my own tolerances, it is a fact that Omega have raised their prices by thousands of Euros in the window of a few years - to raise their perception of being more luxury grade than they used to be.

I'd say that comes with responsibilities and expectations. You want the right to ask luxury prices? gotta meet those expectations. They can't have their cake and eat it too.
$7,000 dollar watches aren't luxury, that's just a fact of economics. Omega can say they are 'high grade and precise' but with high automation and their production level they can't spend a lot of time on each watch making sure it is 'perfect'. They are built to a cost. Either accept that or move on to a digital smart watch. I know someone who bought a Roger Smith tourbillion/perpetual calendar pocket watch, a true hand made watch. Perfection is the name of the game at this level. Shortly after receiving it the watch stopped, a screw in the tourbillon mechanism had fallen out and jammed the movement. Back to the Isle of Man it went where it was quickly attended to, Roger said he didn't use enough loctite on the screw when he assembled it. "Sorry about that. It won't happen again." The world is never precise when it comes to man made items, no matter how much care is taken. Either accept that or you'll be perpetually unhappy and unsatisfied, not a good way to go through life.
Edited:
 
Posts
7,510
Likes
13,880
When you return it, ask them to clean up the marks that appear to be under the crystal. Looks like a large chunk of dust on the dial, too.
If you use the chrono function often, watch out for the creep. It happens.

OP better hope that additional 'stuff' doesn't enter the watch while it is open to adjust the minute hand.
 
Posts
10,232
Likes
16,030
Is Terry short for Terrence, Teresa or perhaps Karen? If you are daft enough to take a ~$3k hit because of a misplaced sense of entitlement and indignation then good luck to you. That’ll show em’ Perhaps the pugnacious approach is a way to generate enough posts to make it to 200 and list the watch here. Have another log on the fire from me in that case as I’ll happily take it off you for peanuts.
Edited:
 
Posts
175
Likes
757
$7,000 dollar watches aren't luxury, that's just a fact of economics.

I disagree with that. Just because haute-horology exists doesn't make €7500 not a substantial amount of money for a steel chronograph. It's pretty much the same watch as it was at a €5000 price point not even 5 years ago. The price-increase was many times the economic inflation rate, so the difference must be somewhere. If it's not ownership experience, then what is it?

Don't let brands off the hook too easily when they just raise prices willy nilly.

I wouldn't make a scene about it, but I do hold brands like Omega to high standards*

* acknowledging that production flaws will always occur, with any product, handmade or machinemade
 
Posts
5,945
Likes
20,456
Don't let brands off the hook too easily when they just raise prices willy nilly.
No one is saying let Omega off the hook for mistakes.

But come on, does this really merit all the theatrics?

 
Posts
175
Likes
757
No one is saying let Omega off the hook for mistakes.

But come on, does this really merit all the theatrics?
100% agree. Was just triggered by the suggestion that we shouldn't expect too much from a €7500 watch because €200,000 watches also exist 😉
 
Posts
5,945
Likes
20,456
100% agree. Was just triggered by the suggestion that we shouldn't expect too much from a €7500 watch because €200,000 watches also exist 😉
That's what the OP is counting on. People are trying their best to be empathetic (not me though). Many may agree with him that this hand is as big an issue as he believes. It's not my place to say anyone should believe otherwise. I don't agree that it's a big deal, but who cares what I believe. The OP seems to think people who can't understand how big a quality problem this is are illogical and willing to accept sub par in their lives, which is tiresome, as is his waging a campaign against Omega because he found a hair in his soup. Fix it, don't fix it, just don't expect everyone to think Omega is falling apart.
 
Posts
5,490
Likes
9,392
Take a look at hansmaulwurf's thread on the gold Speedmasters. He has a photo of five Speedmasters that are much more in the higher-end category than a plain Speedmaster. Most of them have a slight misalignment of the chrono hand. For me, it's a non-issue. I don't think any of mine are 'spot-on', and they were all made before the 'price increases that can only be attributed to increased customer service because they exceeded the rate of inflation'
 
Posts
29,075
Likes
75,135
The OP seems to think people who can't understand how big a quality problem this is are illogical and willing to accept sub par in their lives, which is tiresome, as is his waging a campaign against Omega because he found a hair in his soup.
This is a very common theme with this kind of poster. They need validation and when they don't get it, we are all brand shills, or not discerning enough, or whatever. It happens over and over again...



 
Posts
5,945
Likes
20,456
@Archer, forgive my ignorance with this question.

Is it possible that a chronograph hand (or any hand) could get out of alignment during shipping, i.e. after being jostled? Or do you think it left the factory this way after being judged within tolerance?
 
Posts
29,075
Likes
75,135
@Archer, forgive my ignorance with this question.

Is it possible that a chronograph hand (or any hand) could get out of alignment during shipping, i.e. after being jostled? Or do you think it left the factory this way after being judged within tolerance?
Very unlikely that it moved once it weas installed. They are put on very tightly, so unless this was some form of defective hand, I doubt that is what happened.