Sounds cool.
Report back...

 

Cooooooooooooooooool!

 

PB and Jealous. Have fun!!

 

Super cool! I was directed by an attentive and patient fellow, Victor, one of Omega’s watchmakers who flew in from Toronto. I dissembled the 2201 movement and then put it back together again. I was told I have a very steady hand. The only difficulty came installing the hair spring and balance wheel and getting the damn thing to fit into the ‘mouth’ of the pallet. Between my poor vision (loupe notwithstanding) and thick fingers it took many try’s - I finally gave it over to the master.

Rather than, say, my beloved 2254.50, I wore my ‘63 Seamaster 30 (far and away the least expensive thing in the store!). Like my own watchmaker, Victor raved about the bombproof robustness of the 289.

My appreciation of the design, fine detail, craftsmanship and tolerance of watches is even greater now. It’s mind boggling to consider how these precise and beautiful devices work - and were first developed.

Huge props to the folks at the OB in Vancouver. I’m so not their usual target demographic, yet I’m always welcomed and treated with respect. Talk about brand alignment. Speaking of which, the Omega branded suede business card holder, baseball hat and loupe were nice bits of swag to finish off a very fun afternoon.

 

That would be a blast! Maybe the boutique in Bellevue will have something similar one day..

 

Glad you enjoyed it! Gives you a very small insight into what watchmakers do daily.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks so much, Al. Not only has my appreciation of a watch's delicate internal orchestra increased tenfold, having a glimpse into the almost magical but approaching-the-scientific world of watchmakers was eye opening. As the masterful Victor walked me through the process part by tiny part, I asked him "just how the hell do you remember all of this...?". He laughed and said he has been doing it for many years. Still! And this was just one of literally hundreds of movements I am sure he (and you) need to understand. He also mentioned the examination process whereby Omega watchmakers (and I suspect those working with all quality manufacturers) are timed. Good grief! In the time it took me to (mea culpa - unsuccessfully) insert the hairspring and balance under the one wheel and into the pallet, I reckon folks like you could build an entire movement, shop for groceries and cook a 3 course meal. (Genuflecting): All hail!

 

Well it's a steep learning curve, in particular in the early stages. Omega does have standards for workshop productivity, and for a watch with the movement in it that you did, for a complete service (disassembling, cleaning & assembling of movement, dial/hand setting, casing and timing) the allowed time is 2 hours and 55 minutes. For a watch with that movement, that time is actually quite generous considering that for a Speedmaster Pro it would only be 3 hours and 35 minutes, so only 40 minutes more.

Cheers, Al

 

I will therefore take the advice of those who caution me 'don't quit your day job.'

 

Looks like it was great fun.

 

I think I just got a chubby