No Omega movement, but ETA

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Kenrick

·Jul 19, 2023

In December 1987 my father bought an Omega Constallation day-date from an official Omega dealer in the Netherlands, with international warranty and instruction manual for caliber 1444. This he has now given to my son. After a year he stopped running it. The jeweler sent it to Omega importer in Eindhoven. Now it appears that there is no original Omega movement in it but an ETA 255.471. And that's why they don't want to repair the movement.

Can some one explain how this happened and if you also have experience with it?

My father never had it repaired and on the invoice/guarantee card the movement number is already mentioned.

 

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Dan S

·Jul 19, 2023

I think the answer is that the original story is probably not totally correct. Sometimes family history gets distorted over time.

 

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RevZMan123

·Jul 19, 2023

I mean, from what I've quickly searched, the Omega 1444 is the same thing as that ETA ...

"Yes, caliber 1444 (ETA 255/471), used from the early/mid 1980s." - XJR350R

Do you have any pictures?

 

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gatorcpa

·Jul 19, 2023·ΩF InvestiGator

https://watchguy.co.uk/cgi-bin/file...72.pdf&dir=Technical Manuals&action=documents



The movements are the same, but the Omega version will have brand specific markings.
gatorcpa

 

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Dan S

·Jul 19, 2023

RevZMan123

I mean, from what I've quickly searched, the Omega 1444 is the same thing as that ETA ...

"Yes, caliber 1444 (ETA 255/471), used from the early/mid 1980s." - XJR350R

Do you have any pictures?

Generic/unbranded movements would often be swapped in to make a repair.

 

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DON

·Jul 20, 2023

Maybe your father forgot and got it repaired. Omega wouldn't have placed an unsigned movement inside

How old is your dad?

 

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kaplan

·Jul 21, 2023

My suggestion is to just buy the cheapest ETA 255.471 you can find, and find a competent watchmaker to do a swap, continue the cycle

Sad that the original movement wasn't stored with the watch, but not surprising

It will cost less than Omega's service and get the watch working, but I suspect with no experience, it will cost $600 ish in total for you

 

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DON

·Jul 21, 2023

Based on a search. ETA version is discontinued. Omega may have stock, but that will cost you.

watchmaker with Omega parts account could order if available, but who knows the cost for the movement

 

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kaplan

·Jul 21, 2023

There is one on eBay for $350 open to offers, I suspect $200 could do it

Before discontinuation it seems to have sold for $85 ish, so it could pop up occasionally on eBay as well

I didn’t check website part sellers, some might still have stock

 

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Archer

·Jul 22, 2023·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

DON

Based on a search. ETA version is discontinued. Omega may have stock, but that will cost you.

watchmaker with Omega parts account could order if available, but who knows the cost for the movement

About $200