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ErichKeane
路A few years ago, I bought this watch here, sold as 'recently serviced'. I wore it in my rotation, and frankly, loved it! However, as I wore it, little things piled up that annoyed me, the most of which was that when changing the time, the minute totalizer would move(and sometimes just when time passed!).
My local watchmaker didn't really have time when I reached out, and despite the common feedback on sending 'vintage' watches to Omega, I opted to anyway. My thoughts were: 1- This is not a particularly 'vintage' watch. 2-I don't particularly care bout collect-ability, I care mostly about 'wear-ability'. I wanted a watch I could add to my rotation and wear without concern.
SO, I shipped it through my OB. I got an estimate of 'December', which I was OK with, and that was it. I gave the guidance I mentioned above: I wanted it to be wearable above all, and not 'change it too much'.
Here's the picture I have handy before it left:
It came back last week, so I went in yesterday to pick it up. Frankly, I'm amazed in a number of ways. First, the watch I got back is basically a brand new feeling watch. Every component of it looks/feels like I got transferred back in time to buy it off the shelf. Here it is as it sits today! Please forgive how it fits, I had swapped on a strap that is the wrong length for my deployant before it left, and never ordered a replacement. Also, now as I look at the photos, the crystal was pretty dirty after feeding my daughter (so the spotting is marionberry jam I suspect).
Second, the absolute massive pile of parts I got back. For some of the parts, I can see some amount of wear or corrosion on it that makes the replacement at least sensible. Others, I have absolutely no idea. I have a whole pile of screws that look immaculate, and the only thing I can think of is the watchmaker couldn't figure out where they went so just replaced them all 馃榿 The whole jewel set is pretty interesting, as it doesn't appear broken as far as I can tell! It is a watch that was running quite well already. The hands were pretty worn, and there was some missing paint on the outer white ring. However, otherwise the watch was in pretty good shape.
BUT it seems they basically replaced the whole watch! In that pile it seems there is most of the keyless works, a full set of hands, a balance, pallet fork, and pallet bridge, plus escape wheel AND both parts of the regulators. Quite a few other various wheels, including center wheel and seconds wheel. Many parts look absoltuely perfect as far as I can tell! I have a click that looks flawless, plus quite a few others that are great. There is a ratchet wheel seemingly for no reason which is a little strange too! For some reason the case ring got replaced, but that looks brand new as well!
They DID seem to knock some paint off the seconds hand since it looked pretty good in the original photo, but is missing some paint now.
Most of the above is for curiosities sake! Those will go into the bag and stay with the watch should I ever move on from it. BUT I thought it would be interesting to see what was replaced!
NOTE: I paid ONLY the $900 'base' chronograph service fee for this. I didn't pay for ANY of these parts, Omega did.
In the end, I got back a watch I was so-so on/annoyed with, and got back one that I am definitely going to wear in my rotation for years to come! So in the end, a great $900 well spent. I hope you guys enjoy the photos!
My local watchmaker didn't really have time when I reached out, and despite the common feedback on sending 'vintage' watches to Omega, I opted to anyway. My thoughts were: 1- This is not a particularly 'vintage' watch. 2-I don't particularly care bout collect-ability, I care mostly about 'wear-ability'. I wanted a watch I could add to my rotation and wear without concern.
SO, I shipped it through my OB. I got an estimate of 'December', which I was OK with, and that was it. I gave the guidance I mentioned above: I wanted it to be wearable above all, and not 'change it too much'.
Here's the picture I have handy before it left:
It came back last week, so I went in yesterday to pick it up. Frankly, I'm amazed in a number of ways. First, the watch I got back is basically a brand new feeling watch. Every component of it looks/feels like I got transferred back in time to buy it off the shelf. Here it is as it sits today! Please forgive how it fits, I had swapped on a strap that is the wrong length for my deployant before it left, and never ordered a replacement. Also, now as I look at the photos, the crystal was pretty dirty after feeding my daughter (so the spotting is marionberry jam I suspect).
Second, the absolute massive pile of parts I got back. For some of the parts, I can see some amount of wear or corrosion on it that makes the replacement at least sensible. Others, I have absolutely no idea. I have a whole pile of screws that look immaculate, and the only thing I can think of is the watchmaker couldn't figure out where they went so just replaced them all 馃榿 The whole jewel set is pretty interesting, as it doesn't appear broken as far as I can tell! It is a watch that was running quite well already. The hands were pretty worn, and there was some missing paint on the outer white ring. However, otherwise the watch was in pretty good shape.
BUT it seems they basically replaced the whole watch! In that pile it seems there is most of the keyless works, a full set of hands, a balance, pallet fork, and pallet bridge, plus escape wheel AND both parts of the regulators. Quite a few other various wheels, including center wheel and seconds wheel. Many parts look absoltuely perfect as far as I can tell! I have a click that looks flawless, plus quite a few others that are great. There is a ratchet wheel seemingly for no reason which is a little strange too! For some reason the case ring got replaced, but that looks brand new as well!
They DID seem to knock some paint off the seconds hand since it looked pretty good in the original photo, but is missing some paint now.
Most of the above is for curiosities sake! Those will go into the bag and stay with the watch should I ever move on from it. BUT I thought it would be interesting to see what was replaced!
NOTE: I paid ONLY the $900 'base' chronograph service fee for this. I didn't pay for ANY of these parts, Omega did.
In the end, I got back a watch I was so-so on/annoyed with, and got back one that I am definitely going to wear in my rotation for years to come! So in the end, a great $900 well spent. I hope you guys enjoy the photos!
