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Does anyone have service experience with Omega in Switzerland?

eelpie
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I recently parted ways with my long-time watchmaker due to excessive returns, but I have one more Omega that requires attention.

Not too long ago I picked up a quartz Aqua Terra Teak Concept, running, but in need of cosmetic attention.

I am curious about Omega in Suisse as I have some CHF that I picked up, and sending them along with the watch would bring the cost of the work down a bit.

Has anyone here any recent experience with service work done in Switzerland? The way I figure it, if they cannot improve the watch’s looks, who can?

Any insights will be appreciated . . .
 
J
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I had an Aqua terra sent there about 6 months ago. I sent it to the states here three different times trying to fix an issue. After the third time, I sent an email to the ceo of omega and he got a vp in nj involved. They sent it to Switzerland for a full service and repair and I got it back about a month and a half later. It was done very well and the issue I sent it in for originally was fixed. Id say the factory can handle the job very well, by my experience.
 
eelpie
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J jtmo3
I had an Aqua Terra sent there about 6 months ago. I sent it to the states here three different times trying to fix an issue. After the third time, I sent an email to the ceo of omega and he got a vp in nj involved. They sent it to Switzerland for a full service and repair and I got it back about a month and a half later. It was done very well and the issue I sent it in for originally was fixed. I’d say the factory can handle the job very well, by my experience.

Thank you for your response - it addresses both my concern about service in the US, and the abilities of the factory.

If you still have the address to which you sent the watch, could you please provide it by private message?

Since I’d be enclosing a bit of cash in CHF with the watch, I’d want to send it somewhere secure.

Thank you!
 
J
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Sorry, I sent it to the vp in New Jersey and he forwarded it to bienne. They sent it back to him and he shipped it to me.
 
eelpie
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No problem. There can only be so many addresses for Omega in Bienne. I’ll do a little research.

Thank you nonetheless for your insight.
 
Alphasports
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There's the main office at Jakob Stämpfli Strasse 96, but sending cash is not recommended in any case, they will look at it like anthrax powder, seriously they will not have a clue what to do with it, ask me how I know! (I'm married to a Swiss who worked for them for years, as did I!!!)
 
eelpie
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Alphasports Alphasports
There's the main office at Jakob Stämpfli Strasse 96, but sending cash is not recommended in any case, they will look at it like anthrax powder, seriously they will not have a clue what to do with it, ask me how I know! (I'm married to a Swiss who worked for them for years, as did I!!!)

That’s a bit of a shame as I bought some expired Swiss currency during the lock-down, and I have exchanged it for the most recent notes.

I don’t know when I’ll be in Suisse again, and sending a watch to Omega seems the perfect opportunity . . .
 
Alphasports
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"Expired" Swiss currency? Never heard of it. Legal tender doesn't expire unless it gets cancelled and reissued (like when EU countries had to merge into the Euro), but that will never happen in SUI.
 
eelpie
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Alphasports Alphasports
"Expired" Swiss currency? Never heard of it. Legal tender doesn't expire unless it gets cancelled and reissued (like when EU countries had to merge into the Euro), but that will never happen in SUI.

From the Swiss National Bank web site:

Recall of banknotes from eighth series
The Swiss National Bank recalled its eighth-series banknotes as of 30 April 2021.

While the banknotes from the eighth series have lost their status as legal tender, following the amendment to art. 9, para. 3 of the Federal Act on Currency and Payment Instruments (CPIA) which came into force on 1 January 2020, they can be exchanged at the SNB for an unlimited period at their full nominal value.

Banknotes from the eighth series still held by the general public or economic agents, as well as banknotes accepted by the latter, can thus be exchanged at any time and for an unlimited period at the SNB cashier's office in Berne and Zurich or at an SNB agency at their full nominal value. It is important to note that some agencies apply exchange limits.

Many places also accept banknotes from the eighth series for payments into one's own bank or post office account. Financial institutions must exercise the duty of due diligence in connection with combating money laundering and terrorism financing.

This unlimited exchange period also applies to banknotes from the sixth series. Further information is available in the Instruction sheet for exchanging recalled banknotes. Information on each of the banknote series - in particular their design - can be found here.

I believe my notes were issued in 1976, and were thereby no longer legal tender, so I mailed them to the Swiss National Bank, who replaced the notes with up-to-date currency.
 
PATRICK JP
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eelpie eelpie
I recently parted ways with my long-time watchmaker due to excessive returns, but I have one more Omega that requires attention.

Not too long ago I picked up a quartz Aqua Terra Teak Concept, running, but in need of cosmetic attention.

I am curious about Omega in Suisse as I have some CHF that I picked up, and sending them along with the watch would bring the cost of the work down a bit.

Has anyone here any recent experience with service work done in Switzerland? The way I figure it, if they cannot improve the watch’s looks, who can?

Any insights will be appreciated . . .


I dream about having the option to send any of my watches for service to their manufacturer in Switzerland as I believe that they would do a stellar job. The Swiss mentality is fairly special hence I expect higher standards and attention to details on a more consistent basis than elsewhere in the world…
 
eelpie
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Since my original post I have reached a solution that is the best of both worlds - a Swiss-born and Swiss-trained watchmaker here in the US.

I had a wear problem with one of my other watches and he turned out to be the US factory service for the brand.

His approach has been much more orderly than the shop I used before; each watch must be accompanied by a repair form so there are no miscommunications and thus far the work he’s done has been exemplary.

Earlier this year I came across a vintage 14K Longines tank watch I’d forgotten so I sent it to him for service and because he travels regularly, he agreed to take my Swiss Francs. Now I have a running vintage watch instead of a scrap gold donor. Very cool.

One of the first watches I sent in was a friend’s very nice vintage Heuer two-register manual-wind chronograph; our previous shop had allegedly serviced it, but it had never run right and at the time of our parting ways they claimed the warranty had run out!

The nice Swiss gentleman figured out the problem with the Heuer in about an hour . . .

Right now he has my vintage Lucien Piccard automatic, an Ernest Borel Cocktail, Zenith Movado automatic, a funky 70s Hamilton Dorchester automatic, a Raymond Weil tank and the afore-mentioned Omega Aqua Terra for jobs large and small . . .
 
P
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I recently sent my omega seamaster 120 Nimitz to my local OB,they sent it on the omega service centre in the UK who then sent it to Switzerland.after an eight week wait for a quote, I was then told the watch requires work that would mean another 30 week wait for return.as I really love the Nimitz it will be worth it.
 
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