Dust speck inside case (between crystal and dial)

Archer · Oct 7, 2020

3rdstringholder
I live in the Houston area and frequent the OB in the Galleria....Well, maybe not frequent, but I do know those guys. The watchmaker that they employed, is currently furloughed (their term). Joseph, the watchmaker once told me that he was not allowed to open watches. Something about not having a dust free workshop, or something to that effect.

Hmmm, odd. Omega policies allow both boutique technicians and boutique watchmakers to open watches at boutiques. The technician can’t do much more than regulation (they are not formally trained, but are store employees that have had an in house course), but the watchmakers are full blown, trained watchmakers, and can perform full services.

The specs for what is required for a proper workshop are all fully outlined, so it’s puzzling. What is the point of having a watchmaker who can’t do any watchmaking? Guessing this is why he’s been “furloughed”...

3rdstringholder · Oct 7, 2020

Archer
Hmmm, odd. Omega policies allow both boutique technicians and boutique watchmakers to open watches at boutiques. The technician can’t do much more than regulation (they are not formally trained, but are store employees that have had an in house course), but the watchmakers are full blown, trained watchmakers, and can perform full services.

The specs for what is required for a proper workshop are all fully outlined, so it’s puzzling. What is the point of having a watchmaker who can’t do any watchmaking? Guessing this is why he’s been “furloughed”...

Yeah, Al, your points make perfect sense to me. I possibly could have misunderstood what was stated to me as to opening watches, but that's what he said. I know they open cases at the San Antonio boutique.

Professor · Oct 8, 2020

Doesn't Omega have a rule about just how visible a defect has to be before they will correct it, something about the lighting and distance where the defect can be seen by the naked eye?

PS
In the first photo I could not see any speck near the 11 but there was an obvious white rectangular speck just past the 1 o'clock position.
In the second image neither was visible.

YY77 · Oct 8, 2020

Professor
Doesn't Omega have a rule about just how visible a defect has to be before they will correct it, something about the lighting and distance where the defect can be seen by the naked eye?

PS
In the first photo I could not see any speck near the 11 but there was an obvious white rectangular speck just past the 1 o'clock position.
In the second image neither was visible.

Re Omega rule, yeah Al answered that in an earlier post in this thread;

https://omegaforums.net/threads/dust-speck-inside-case-between-crystal-and-dial.120782/#post-1618508

pbz · Oct 8, 2020

3rdstringholder
I live in the Houston area and frequent the OB in the Galleria....Well, maybe not frequent, but I do know those guys. The watchmaker that they employed, is currently furloughed (their term). Joseph, the watchmaker once told me that he was not allowed to open watches. Something about not having a dust free workshop, or something to that effect.

This is very useful intel, thank you for sharing it. I understand the no-dust-free workspace angle, but how frustrating must that be as a watchmaker to not even be able to get inside timepieces?

3rdstringholder · Oct 8, 2020

pbz
This is very useful intel, thank you for sharing it. I understand the no-dust-free workspace angle, but how frustrating must that be as a watchmaker to not even be able to get inside timepieces?

I was in the store a year ago having a bracelet replaced on a Speedmaster....I inquired about having a friend's vintage watch authenticated. I was told that they didn't open watches at that location. Mentioned the dust free environment issue. Was told that at the San Antonio boutique it could be done. I was in this past August purchasing a Seamaster Trilogy and asked if Joseph could adjust the bracelet (he was the gentleman who helped with the Speedmaster) and was told he had been furloughed. In my earlier post, I referred to him as a "Watchmaker", his job title may be "Technician", not sure. Hope this helps, just relaying what I was told.

Dust speck inside case (between crystal and dial)

Archer

3rdstringholder

Professor

YY77

pbz

3rdstringholder

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