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Omega SMPc service advice

Giovannii
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Hello OF,

I think it's time for my 2017 smpc to get a well deserved first service. I think maybe something's wrong with the winding mechanism because sometimes it's difficult to get it running again after coming to a stop. Maybe just oils being dry? Had it as my daily for 7+ years now. I wind it 60+ turns, and nothing happens, try to give it a gentle shake and nothing happens, eventually after doing that procedure a couple of times it gets going again.

Most times I wind it and it gets going right away, still 48h power reserve and approx. -10spd so it's running okey for most of the time, but i know it's due for a service regardless, at least that's what the watch is trying to tell me! 😉

Would you suggest sending it to Omega/Swatch Group, or independent watchmaker? I prefer sending it to Omega.

How about polishing a modern watch? I know vintage is a big NO, but what about a modern Omega?

I will hopefully never sell the watch, it's my first omega and it's a bit sentimental to me and it will be passed on to my son in the future if that matters to the above questions.

Sorry if this has been discussed many times before.

Thank you guys, and girls 😀
 
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YY77
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Yes I would send it to Omega, polishing shouldn't really be an issue on such a modern watch.
 
Pastorbottle
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One day it won’t be a modern watch, and someone will be cursing the bloke that polished it!
::stirthepot::😁
 
YY77
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
One day it won’t be a modern watch, and someone will be cursing the bloke that polished it!
::stirthepot::😁
I would rather enjoy a pristine watch in my lifetime instead of the next owner being able to say he/she has a beat up unpolished watch.😗
 
coffee
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For servicing, 100% factory service. Would not trust an independent working Co-Axial (unless that person is Omega certified).

Regarding polishing, I am in the unpolished camp. Sure, a polished watch will look "new", but I'd know at the back of my head that the original architecture that it had from factory was modified. But, maybe my OCD is a bit extreme .
 
Giovannii
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
One day it won’t be a modern watch, and someone will be cursing the bloke that polished it!
::stirthepot::😁
Haha exactly what I was thinking!
 
Giovannii
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Pastorbottle Pastorbottle
But the next owner will be his son
He's only 2 years old so this watch will probably be a vintage piece by the time he's 18-20 years old, and I can almost see the future forum posts hating on the previous owner (me) for having it polished back in the day 😁 Leaning towards the NO POLISH-camp.
 
Giovannii
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YY77 YY77
I would rather enjoy a pristine watch in my lifetime instead of the next owner being able to say he/she has a beat up unpolished watch.😗
Valid point. But if my son is giving me a hard time about it i'll just take it back 😉
 
Jones in LA
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On the topic of polishing a relatively new watch: I had two watches purchased about seven years ago from an Omega Boutique, which each had mechanical issues that required repair and service from Omega. The watches were in excellent condition so I didn't see any harm in having them "buffed up" a bit as part of the service. I was surprised and dismayed at how much that "buffing" softened the edges of the lugs. My decision was a mistake.
 
Aroxx
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I’d go with no polishing. Shouldn’t need it. But will Omega listen? I have the same watch and it’s also about due for service. I’m planning to bring it to an independent for movement service only.
 
coffee
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Aroxx Aroxx
I’d go with no polishing. Shouldn’t need it. But will Omega listen?
This is my concern as well. At the least, I'd try for them to confirm in writing this request.
 
Giovannii
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Jones in LA Jones in LA
On the topic of polishing a relatively new watch: I had two watches purchased about seven years ago from an Omega Boutique, which each had mechanical issues that required repair and service from Omega. The watches were in excellent condition so I didn't see any harm in having them "buffed up" a bit as part of the service. I was surprised and dismayed at how much that "buffing" softened the edges of the lugs. My decision was a mistake.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Really leaning towards no polishing. Would be nice to have it look brand new again, but not worth the risk of what you mention. My watch is in decent shape, and I don’t mind the small dings I collected over the years. I will send it in with the bracelet though and ask for polishing just for the bracelet.
 
Giovannii
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coffee reverbtime
This is my concern as well. At the least, I'd try for them to confirm in writing this request.
I did contact swatch group here in Sweden and asked about no polishing. They said it’s no problem, but I sure do want that confirmed in writing before sending it in
 
Giovannii
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Aroxx Aroxx
I’d go with no polishing. Shouldn’t need it. But will Omega listen? I have the same watch and it’s also about due for service. I’m planning to bring it to an independent for movement service only.
Probably easier on the wallet with an independent, but I think I would scratch my head for a long time wondering if Omega would have been the better choice regarding change of worn parts or something like that. If you can trust that omega will listen to you I will probably go with Omega, feels a little bit more “right”
 
flw
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I had my SMPc, purchased in 2014, serviced in 2020 by Omega. I sent it through my local Boutique (which has sadly closed since then), and requested no polishing. It came back within four weeks, unpolished as requested, and my sales associate at the OB said that polishing would have delayed the rapid turnaround. Shouldn't be a problem.
 
Giovannii
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flw flw
I had my SMPc, purchased in 2014, serviced in 2020 by Omega. I sent it through my local Boutique (which has sadly closed since then), and requested no polishing. It came back within four weeks, unpolished as requested, and my sales associate at the OB said that polishing would have delayed the rapid turnaround. Shouldn't be a problem.
Great info, thank you!
I guess they do a deep cleaning of the watch that makes it look nice again even if you don't want it polished?
 
padders
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In my experience unless a watch case is dinged up badly, a factory polish removes very little and is nigh on undetectable. Where it goes wrong is if they have to hide a larger ding or edge damage as necessarily more material is taken away and you can lose definition. The best solution there is to use a good independent who can laser weld to add material and then refinish back to the original dimensions. Such places do exist and would give a better result than a simple Omega polish. Omega’s own solution for a more damaged piece is a new case, they don’t weld.

On a recent watch (such as post 2000) refinishing isn’t a dirty word IMO, you just need to know what you are doing.
 
flw
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Giovannii Giovannii
Great info, thank you!
I guess they do a deep cleaning of the watch that makes it look nice again even if you don't want it polished?
Exactly. They disassembled and cleaned everything, and it came back looking really clean, but not exactly brand new. Just what I wanted.
 
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