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New Planet Ocean Bezel Play: Defect or Normal?

bezel modern omega omega planet ocean qc seamaster
Ausonius89
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I posted this on Reddit but wanted to get everyone’s opinion here (assuming it’s not exactly the same audience!)

https://packaged-media.redd.it/keas...00&s=a336401dd8c0e21a4c4fb8928b5bf7e905efdbf8

__

I love most everything about the new PO but wanted to see if other owners are seeing the same kind of side to side bezel play that I am. I’m used to some rotational play - my 8500 PO has that - although my SMP 8900 is bank-vault tight.

But this kind of looseness seems like it does not belong on a $10k watch, like the insert is ever so slightly too large.

My boutique says that every example they have in stock shows the same kind of play, and I checked out another one to confirm. They also said that other customers have remarked upon it.

They are not sure if it is something service would/could fix, and I’m not especially keen on waiting 3 months after just dropping this kind of cash.

Curious to hear from other owners if they’re having the same experience.
 
JimInOz
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That does look loose.
My crappy old Seiko divers have a bezel gasket (O-ring) to eliminate this sort of movement.
Maybe @Archer can confirm, does the Omega bezel use a gasket?

Edit, just realised (thanks to @Meme-Dweller) that the bezel is held by the hendecagonal spring (had to look up 11 sided polygon 😁).
Obviosly a faulty or incorrect spring, should be an easy fix.
Edited:
 
Annapolis
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Can’t add anything on your specific question. But what’s in that video does indeed seem problematic. How hard are you manipulating it?

FWIW, price point and bezel action don’t always coincide. While the new Submariners have by far the smoothest I’ve ever experienced, the second best I’ve felt is on a $500 indie brand diver. I’ve yet to be impressed by the action on an Omega—every one I’ve felt has been clumsy and clicky. It’s not a big deal to me.
 
Meme-Dweller
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Had a similar problem with a 2nd gen Planet Ocean and I replaced the bezel clip with a slightly larger diameter one from a Diver 300M, which fixed the play. Not a real world problem if it isn't causing any other issues other than play when you yank the bezel like that.


Capture.webp
 
Ausonius89
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Annapolis Annapolis
Can’t add anything on your specific question. But what’s in that video does indeed seem problematic. How hard are you manipulating it?

FWIW, price point and bezel action don’t always coincide. While the new Submariners have by far the smoothest I’ve ever experienced, the second best I’ve felt is on a $500 indie brand diver. I’ve yet to be impressed by the action on an Omega—every one I’ve felt has been clumsy and clicky. It’s not a big deal to me.
Quite gently, actually. Not using much pressure at all. It feels quite loose in every direction.

The action itself isn’t great - maybe a step up from my 8500 PO - but significantly less solid feeling and “creamy” (if that makes sense) than my 8900 SMP

But I’m really only complaining about the side to side movement
 
Ausonius89
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
Had a similar problem with a 2nd gen Planet Ocean and I replaced the bezel clip with a slightly larger diameter one from a Diver 300M, which fixed the play. Not a real world problem if it isn't causing any other issues other than play when you yank the bezel like that.


Capture.webp
Thanks for sharing. You did the swap yourself?

It doesn’t necessarily affect the operation of the watch but if they’re telling me it’s within spec it’s extremely frustrating to have dropped so much $ for an imperfect piece
 
dsio
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Definitely a manufacturing defect, it should go back under warranty for sure.
 
ErichKeane
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There is definitely something wrong with that bezel. You should send it back to Omega for service. The whole "all at the OB/AD do it!" isn't a good excuse, chances are they got all their watches from the same batch, so if it is a manufacturing defect, they would all have the problem.
 
Jakeys
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Bizarre. I wouldn't accept that. I've never seen any diver with that much play in the bezel, much less an Omega.
 
Speed2Sea
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That's insane. The bezel on my 3rd Gen PO is absolutely rock solid. As others have noted return your watch to the OB
 
Evitzee
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That ain't right, and you either have a lazy, or inexperienced, boutique who has no idea what the standards should be. Hard to believe that passed the quality phase of Omega in Bienne. Demand better.
 
Sherrill
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That’s pretty bad. I can’t recall any diver model watches I’ve owned that had that much play.
 
Donn Chambers
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Another example of why it’s not a good idea to jump into buying a new product when it is first introduced. Modern day manufacturers use their generous warranty policies to perform the actual quality control that should have been performed when the product is made. It’s not just Omega (or any high-volume watch manufacturer), but cars, electronics, etc.

I always wait a few years for the kinks to be ironed out before purchasing a newly designed product.
 
MtnMarine
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Yeah I would take that one back. Unacceptable for that price.
 
WatchClarity
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Agree - send it back and ask for it to be fixed. Make sure you take a lot of time-stamped pictures of your watch prior to handing it over, just in case - you should be fine though.
 
YVR785
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It’s not acceptable, and I’d ask for a warranty repair or replacement. Others might have similar play.

I’ve had QC issues on every watch I’ve owned. It’s up to you what gets a pass.

Worst they could say is “no”, but Swatch Group customer service is the best in the game. I say that from experience.
 
MG-Speedy
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IMG_6725.webp

I have new PO and the bezel has no play in any direction, not even up-down. So definitely not all watches have play, like your boutique says.
 
IMG_6793.mov - 13.9 MB
Ausonius89
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MG-Speedy MG-Speedy
IMG_6725.webp

I have new PO and the bezel has no play in any direction, not even up-down. So definitely not all watches have play, like your boutique says.
Thanks for sharing - super helpful (and I’m jealous of yours…). Just reinforces my belief that mine is defective.
 
D
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I have a tiny bit of give in mine but I would not have noticed if I didn’t read this thread.
 
Ausonius89
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D DoricSpiker
I have a tiny bit of give in mine but I would not have noticed if I didn’t read this thread.
Would you say it’s about the same as mine or less noticeable?
 
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