Omega 3861 -- intermittent loud "tink" noise every 30 seconds

ErichKeane

A little bit of envelope math as it gets fuzzy, because Swatch 'charges' eachother for watch dials/etc:

Swatch annual report: https://www.swatchgroup.com/sites/d.../en_swatchgroup_2024_financial_statements.pdf

Shows 2024 had ~ 6.4 BILLION CHF in 'net' WATCH sales. Morgan Stanley estimates (according to this: https://gulfnews.com/business/retai...es-as-other-swatch-brands-struggle-1.96834101) that 1/3 of Swatch profit is from Omega, though everything I see in the annual report shows that each of the swatch watch groups make roughly the same profit margins, so I'm going to consider that they probably get ~1/3 of net sales as well, so ~2.1 Billion CHF in Omega sales.

I know the stores have ~30%+ margin based on discussions with ADs, so I consider an average 'net sale' price of ~$5000 (since that 'net' doesn't include dial cost, which Rubattel makes many of their dials, Universo makes a lot of the hands/etc). I'll bet that this $5000 net-per-watch is high, so this biases my final number low, but again, envelope math.

That makes ~420,000 watches per year by Omega. I've been told by my OB that their store (and most of the OBs in the US) get about 40+% of their sales per-watch from Moonwatches, with ATs, other Speedmasters, and 300m making up the majority of the difference.

That gives ~168k/year. Rounded down for envelope-error-margins, got me to ~150k a year.

THAT SAID: If Omega made 100,000 3861s total in ~7 years (about 1/10th of my estimate), SEVEN of these isn't a blip.

Pastorbottle

To be fair of those guestimated million + 3861 moments the most of the owners will have never even heard of this esteemed forum, let alone be members of it..........But of those that are members, I'd still say that 7 tinks is most likely a statistically small sample from which to base claims of it being a big quality control issue.

That is not to say that the tink problem doesn't exist, obviously it does as the one member (we know of) that has sent theirs in to be rectified has established, as since returning from Omega service, the problem has gone away.
And a big thanks to that member for bothering to keep us updated.
As a result we now know there is a fix.
It's a pity they weren't told what exackly the problem was or what the fix was, but that's not all that unusual.
As the tecnician who fixed it, probably couldn't be arsed trying to explain the whats and hows of it to the staff at the OB or AD as it would be like trying to read Shakephere to a dog..... the dog will know you talking to him but will soon loose interest and engage in something he does understand....like licking his balls!

Not being unfair to the staff at the OBs or ADs but it's about putting aces in their places, I doubt the aforementioned tecinician would be as good as them at their jobs.

ErichKeane

That said, "goes to Switzerland" is actually closer to 8-10 months 😀

Pastorbottle

you persisted in banging on about it like you were trying to drum up some great conspiracy.
Well.....it all comes across as a bit entitled and needy.

hen

Your Speedys are trying to tell you something;

"just tink if you had a Seamaster instead, you would not hear these damned tink noises"

bsowers34

OP does have a sense of humor though, didn't get mad when I started with cat pictures...

hen

They are all wondering if you all are done now.

bigtriangle68

😀

"I took my hesalite 3861 to the Omega Boutique in Zurich. They confirmed hearing the tink sounds every 20 seconds or so, and agreed to fix it under warranty. " -- VizslaFriend

PurpleSkyz

Created an account because to mention that I have this exact same problem with a release day 3861 Heselite speedmaster that has 3 months left on warrenty.

Every 15 to 20 seconds, a crisp sharp "ping". I timed it over five minutes.

Contacted Omega Warrenty, let's see what happens