My new Speedy stopped. :(

Archer · Dec 2, 2019

mjb
Holy smokes, good eye! Thanks for that, I feel better knowing what the issue is. I'll send it off.

How does something like this happen, just bad luck?

Based on your last note where you said it was running then stopping when you turned it over, I had an idea it was a floating screw. Good eyes aren't really needed if you know what you are looking for.

How does it happen? Well the simple answer is someone didn't properly tighten the screw down. To say why that happened would be more difficult. There are torque values given for tightening the various screws around the movement, and there are screwdrivers that can be set to the proper torque value, but none of that does any good if the screw wasn't gone back over to be tightened after the initial installation.

So bottom line is, people are human, and it was missed.

Cheers, Al

gbesq · Dec 2, 2019

Archer
Here's the problem:

Screw floating around at A, should be in hole at B.

Easily fixed, and should be covered under warranty.

Cheers, Al

You are a magician, Al. Good eye!

mjb · Dec 2, 2019

Archer
So bottom line is, people are human, and it was missed.

True that. Thanks again. I guess I owe you a beer as well.

stevec14 · Dec 2, 2019

mjb
True that. Thanks again. I guess I owe you a beer as well.

Jeez - you are going to have an expensive round!

seriously, glad it’s easy fixed. Hope it’s back with you soon so you can enjoy it

Evitzee · Dec 2, 2019

If it was local I would send it back and request a fresh watch, but since you bought it internationally you'll have to send it in yourself. Bummer, but it can happen. Good luck.

I knew someone who had a true hand made Roger Smith watch and the same thing happened. He was very embarrassed, fixed it and said it wouldn't happen again.

And good catch by Archer.

dennisthemenace · Dec 2, 2019

Archer
Based on your last note where you said it was running then stopping when you turned it over, I had an idea it was a floating screw. Good eyes aren't really needed if you know what you are looking for.

How does it happen? Well the simple answer is someone didn't properly tighten the screw down. To say why that happened would be more difficult. There are torque values given for tightening the various screws around the movement, and there are screwdrivers that can be set to the proper torque value, but none of that does any good if the screw wasn't gone back over to be tightened after the initial installation.

So bottom line is, people are human, and it was missed.

Cheers, Al

Are you saying that these movements are assembled by hand Al?

Vercingetorix · Dec 2, 2019

The fact you call it a "Speedy" has doomed you. Speedy is a Louis Vuitton bag. You have a Speedmaster.

RI Omega Fan · Dec 2, 2019

Vercingetorix
The fact you call it a "Speedy" has doomed you. Speedy is a Louis Vuitton bag. You have a Speedmaster.

Come to think of it, I never refer to mine as a “Speedy” either, but a lot of folks on Speedy Tuesday may disagree.

View attachment 882955 View attachment 882955

gpssti4 · Dec 3, 2019

Depending on how long you’ve had the watch, but I’d be contacting the seller, explaining the issue and requesting a new watch. I’d not want my brand new watch opened up.

Evitzee · Dec 3, 2019

gpssti4
Depending on how long you’ve had the watch, but I’d be contacting the seller, explaining the issue and requesting a new watch. I’d not want my brand new watch opened up.

Dealer is international, returning said watch is cumbersome (shipping, customs) and $$$. Buyer has Omega warranty, more efficient to send it to Omega service. It's one of the tradeoffs of buyimg grey. You lose all the dealer hand holding but you save money.

mjb · Dec 3, 2019

Vercingetorix
The fact you call it a "Speedy" has doomed you. Speedy is a Louis Vuitton bag. You have a Speedmaster.

My sincere apologies. I did not realize that I was committing a faux paus, analogous to referring to the crown brand as a "Roley".

mjb · Dec 3, 2019

Evitzee
I knew someone who had a true hand made Roger Smith watch and the same thing happened. He was very embarrassed, fixed it and said it wouldn't happen again.

And good catch by Archer.

Indeed. He's a jewel.

I've spent a fair amount of time on the Roley forum (LOL, see what I did there?) and it's not uncommon for purchasers of new watches to have issues. And most people would place Rolex above Omega in terms of quality (we here may not, but the common folk do).

I'm really not upset over this - not as much as might have been 10 years ago. Stuff happens. As Archer said, these are assembled by people, and as such, they can make mistakes. I can't blame the seller, as the watch worked fine until you turn it over, and who knows, that screw may have been knocked loose in shipping. My only real pain point is the extra $100 I spent to ship it (highly insured) and again that's because I am too embarrassed to take it to the local AD, where, as a good American, I should have bought it for full retail price plus sales tax.

gpssti4 · Dec 3, 2019

Evitzee
Dealer is international, returning said watch is cumbersome (shipping, customs) and $$$. Buyer has Omega warranty, more efficient to send it to Omega service. It's one of the tradeoffs of buyimg grey. You lose all the dealer hand holding but you save money.

Indeed, but for me, I’d still not want my new watch opened up. Maybe that’s why I usually buy from an AD or boutique. Good luck OP whichever way you go. I’m sure it’ll soon be sorted and you’ll be enjoying a great watch.

gpssti4 · Dec 3, 2019

mjb
I am too embarrassed to take it to the local AD, where, as a good American, I should have bought it for full retail price plus sales tax.

I understand that one! I worked selling ‘tech’ and got frustrated at customers visiting the store, looking at things taking my time up and then saying ‘oh no, I’ll buy it online’. Then it was infuriating when the same customers returned for advice and help in setting said item up with their online purchase grrrrr!

Archer · Dec 3, 2019

dennisthemenace
Are you saying that these movements are assembled by hand Al?

Yes. As much as people do like to believe it's all done by "robots" most assembly is done by humans in an assembly line fashion in watch factories. This is why the Swatch Sistem51 was such a big deal, because it was a completely automated process to build the movement.

For this movement in particular, with the special finishes applied, I don't believe it would lend itself to handling via automation very well.

I can completely visualize how this happened...the screw is one of three that holds the wheel train and barrel bridge down - it's the mains bridge on the base movement that holds all the train wheel except the escape wheel in place. When the bridge is dropped into place, you line all the pivots up in the their respective holes, and then drop in the screws and partially tighten them until you check to make sure everything turns freely, then you go back around and torque all the screws down - this one was simply missed in the second step.

Cheers, Al

scapa · Dec 3, 2019

Archer
Here's the problem:

Screw floating around at A, should be in hole at B.

Easily fixed, and should be covered under warranty.

Cheers, Al

Wow. That is some quick diagnosis! I'm now thinking I must buy exclusively display-back Omegas...

Sorry to hear about this, OP, and best of luck with what will hopefully be a sure and (dare I say) Speedy resolution. Sending off a new piece is never fun but you'll be assured of a perfectly-functioning watch on its return.

mjb · Dec 3, 2019

Thanks all for the replies and comments. I feel compelled to add that I did actually buy my SMP from my AD, largely because the difference between the gray price and their 90% of MSRP was only the cost of a service, so I decided that it was worth it to me for that extra little bit of security. But also because I do, when at all possible, prefer to buy locally because we need to support these business so that a) USA #1 👍 and b) we have a place to go look at stuff before we buy it on the Internet.

absoluteczech · Dec 3, 2019

OP, I bought my SMP from a reseller with warranty card stamped with an AD out of the country and after 30 days it stopped working. Took it to a Omega Boutique at the mall near me and they had no problems taking it in for warranty. Didnt even ask where I got it or why it was purchased from the location stamped on the card. 8 weeks later I got it back.

BlackTalon · Dec 3, 2019

absoluteczech
OP, I bought my SMP from a reseller with warranty card stamped with an AD out of the country and after 30 days it stopped working. Took it to a Omega Boutique at the mall near me and they had no problems taking it in for warranty. Didnt even ask where I got it or why it was purchased from the location stamped on the card. 8 weeks later I got it back.

And that's exactly how it should work! Hell, could be that a relative from overseas bought it for you. International warranty means it doesn't matter what country it came from.

64Wing · Dec 3, 2019

gbesq
While I wouldn’t have Joma - or any other grey market dealer - service any of my Omegas, it’s not accurate to say the savings from buying grey isn’t enough to cover the cost of an Omega service. Joma for example, is currently selling the DSOTM Apollo 8 for $8,850 USD, which is a discount of $950. That’s enough savings to pay for Omega’s $750 full chronograph service. Many other Omega models are much more heavily discounted, often by several thousand dollars.

I made my first watch purchase on Joma when I was a bit younger and didn't really get into the whole watch thing like I am now. I still have my trusty Fortis and I still love it. The price was right.

That said, I fully accepted that if the proverbial turd hit the spinny thing then I would be virtually on my own.

I agree that it should be considered in the manner you suggest: will the savings cover the expense of potentially having to send the beast in for heavy work?

Very sorry to hear of your experience, OP. It's a beautiful piece and hopefully you'll have it running like a top soon!

I wish I had more to offer, I'm just not a watchmaker...

My new Speedy stopped. :(

Archer

gbesq

mjb

stevec14

Evitzee

dennisthemenace

Vercingetorix

RI Omega Fan

gpssti4

Evitzee

mjb

mjb

gpssti4

gpssti4

Archer

scapa

mjb

absoluteczech

BlackTalon

64Wing

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