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How to tell if a WatchCo is a 'genuine' WatchCo i.e. built by them, or if it's WatchCo 'like'?
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SXP
·Since we’re talking about WatchCo I just want to show off my new purchase from a fellow OF member. Superb condition
Looks fantastic.. but that's got to be the world's smallest foot, or is there a mini-me standing between your legs?😉
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pdxleaf
·Yes, they will service them. .
Having said that, why you would choose Omega is another question - these are very serviceable movements by ay competent watchmaker.
I don't think a person should choose Omega over a reputable private watchmaker.
My question wasn't really about where to service a WatchCo. I was just following the question of how close in detail is a WatchCo to a factory build. Knowing the factory refuses to work on watches with swapped parts, it seemed that if they service a WatchCo then they would be the ultimate arbitrator on whether anyone could tell a WatchCo from a factory build.
Now I want one too 😁
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Dan S
·I don't think a person should choose Omega over a reputable private watchmaker.
My question wasn't really about where to service a WatchCo. I was just following the question of how close in detail is a WatchCo to a factory build. Knowing the factory refuses to work on watches with swapped parts, it seemed that if they service a WatchCo then they would be the ultimate arbitrator on whether anyone could tell a WatchCo from a factory build.
Now I want one too 😁
It's interesting, because I presume that many of the movements were taken from completely different references, but apparently the service center doesn't check.
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pdxleaf
·It's interesting, because I presume that many of the movements were taken from completely different references, but apparently the service center doesn't check.
That's my thought too. But if some had service replacement movements (as opposed to scavaged), then it'd be the same as any watch, e.g. a Speedmaster with a service movement. Omega doesn't refuse further service on a watch that previously had Omega replaced parts. Unless they keep records for each watch with replaced parts, including records for each authorized watchmaker with a parts account, there's no way they'd know.
The only way they'd be able to justify refusing service is if there was something different about the watch. Hence, if they service it, there's no difference.
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Dan S
·That's my thought too. But if some had service replacement movements (as opposed to scavaged), then it'd be the same as any watch, e.g. a Speedmaster with a service movement. Omega doesn't refuse further service on a watch that previously had Omega replaced parts. Unless they keep records for each watch with replaced parts, including records for each authorized watchmaker with a parts account, there's no way they'd know.
The only way they'd be able to justify refusing service is if there was something different about the watch. Hence, if they service it, there's no difference.
Don't the serial numbers suggest that the movements in Watchco SM300s are old? I've always assumed that they were generally scavenged from less desirable references, but I doubt too many people want to pay for extracts to find out. 😁
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JwRosenthal
·An old answer to the question about omega’s complicity in this from someone who asked.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/watchco.62250/#post-779216
https://omegaforums.net/threads/watchco.62250/#post-779216
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerIt's interesting, because I presume that many of the movements were taken from completely different references, but apparently the service center doesn't check.
Checking a serial number is done in two ways. For more "modern-ish" watches, they can be checked easily on the Omega Extranet. I do this for every modern-ish watch that I service, and you see me check these for people all the time on the forum (and about 3X what you see, I do via PM and by email). So on a modern-ish watch, I'm quite sure the service center checks the serial number, not necessarily looking for some sort of infraction of Omega policies, or mixing of models, but simply to look up replacement parts.
But any serial number below 50 million, comes up with "no results found" on the Omega Extranet*. For those, the only way to check the serial number is via an Extract of the Archives, and a service center is not going to do that for every watch they get in that is below 50 million on the serial number. All Watchco SM300's would have movements below 50 million, and therefore these would not be checked routinely.
* - Omega won't give up the revenue that this gives them for extracts.
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sheepdoll
·Back in the day I did not like the design of this sort of watch. Seemed too much like a quartz or electronic. Or it could simply be this was not my style.
Interesting how tastes change. I probably would not wear this sort of watch. However the design seems to have improved with age.
Interesting how tastes change. I probably would not wear this sort of watch. However the design seems to have improved with age.
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JwRosenthal
·Back in the day I did not like the design of this sort of watch. Seemed too much like a quartz or electronic. Or it could simply be this was not my style.
Interesting how tastes change. I probably would not wear this sort of watch. However the design seems to have improved with age.
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SXP
·10 years ago I didn’t own a single diver, only sport or dress watches and a couple chrono’s (my GMT being the only moving bezel watch I owned). Then I got a Bulova 666 and it was downhill from there.
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