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OMEGA Speedmaster 105.012 (pre buy question/help)

JohnSteed
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馃榾

Feeling the love and support!! Do appreciate these comments. Knew it would take a while for Speedmaster gods to put down the 3rd cup of coffee : )

Oh, BTW hands off my (soon to be) timepiece ya'll ::stirthepot::

Im in discussions with one of the guys ... Wish me luck but I do feel like a fish out of water


Thanks Thanks ya'll
 
Darlinboy
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
They (the dealers) can mean well, but omega has really shafted them all in the non supply of 321 parts. Yes I speak from experience. This company is very good at Rolex, but hobbled when it comes to Omega.

I am curious why ABC would be hobbled on Omega vs any other independent, or perhaps you mean vs Omega service?

Rolex is far worse than Omega when it comes to restricting availability of parts.

In the U.S. who are considered the "top" watchmakers when it comes to vintage Omega, and how are they successfully sourcing vintage parts, or are they?
 
Time Exposure
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JohnSteed JohnSteed
馃榾

Feeling the love and support!! Do appreciate these comments. Knew it would take a while for Speedmaster gods to put down the 3rd cup of coffee : )

Oh, BTW hands off my (soon to be) timepiece ya'll ::stirthepot::

Im in discussions with one of the guys ... Wish me luck but I do feel like a fish out of water


Thanks Thanks ya'll
let us know if you need us to Make Offers around $2.300...
 
Spacefruit
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Darlinboy Darlinboy
I am curious why ABC would be hobbled on Omega vs any other independent, or perhaps you mean vs Omega service?

Rolex is far worse than Omega when it comes to restricting availability of parts.

In the U.S. who are considered the "top" watchmakers when it comes to vintage Omega, and how are they successfully sourcing vintage parts, or are they?

ABC is in the same boat as all independents when it comes to 321's or any other "Cat 4" watches.
 
Archer
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
ABC is in the same boat as all independents when it comes to 321's or any other "Cat 4" watches.

I've said this before, but maybe you have not seen it - the situation with access to parts has not changed for independent watchmakers. Only those service centers that do warranty work on behalf of Omega are affected by this. No one tells me what I can and can't service.

I can buy all the Cal. 321 parts I used to be able to buy - nothing has changed for me.

Cheers, Al
 
Spacefruit
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Archer Archer
I've said this before, but maybe you have not seen it - the situation with access to parts has not changed for independent watchmakers. Only those service centers that do warranty work on behalf of Omega are affected by this. No one tells me what I can and can't service.

I can buy all the Cal. 321 parts I used to be able to buy - nothing has changed for me.

Cheers, Al


yes I am sorry poor choice of words.

my frustration gets the better of me.

as I understand it, in UK, possibly Europe, Omega approved service centres will not be supplied 321 parts as the instruction, initiated by swatch UK, is to send cat 4 watches to the factory In Bienne.

STS in UK is in this situation, an independently owned Omega approved workshop, now banned from servicing my 321 speedmasters.

Non omega approved workshops can of course work on what they like, but in UK, and I believe elsewhere, those not in the omega network have difficulties obtaining these older parts.

ABC in LA is was unable to work on my 321's, as they told me, they cannot get parts they need.

i am very happy to hear Al Archer is still getting all the parts he needs, and long may this last. I have a feeling this is a local UK situation, possibly exacerbated by personalities in management in Swatch UK head office.

My apologies for being misleading.
 
JohnSteed
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LoL it certainly did. Just took a look and its SOLD

Soooo funny a day I'm having
 
JohnSteed
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Literally was getting the kids sorted for bed. So a great reason to miss that one 馃槈

....but with the guys here at OF there's always a nice deal to be had, with a bit of patience.

There's fun in the hunt
 
JohnSteed
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Think I can start to change out of these noobie diapers now.

Taken a few bumps along the journey 馃槈
 
Archer
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Spacefruit Spacefruit
Non omega approved workshops can of course work on what they like, but in UK, and I believe elsewhere, those not in the omega network have difficulties obtaining these older parts.

What do you mean by "non Omega approved" workshops, and being in or out of "the Omega network"?

To buy parts from Omega, you need to have a parts account with them. This means by definition you are approved by Omega. They just don't sell parts to anyone, so you must have met their requirements for education, experience, the equipment in your shop must meet their standards, and in some locations you must attend specific training with Omega. All of this gets you access to buy whatever parts Omega sells.

The only real "restriction" on a parts account is on some Limited Edition parts, where you must send the old dial in for exchange to get a new one, for example.

You can have all this while still being a completely independent shop. I know because this is what I have and what I am. And I have bought Cal. 321 parts from Omega since this whole change with places like STS has happened...

Cheers, Al
 
Spacefruit
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Al, I think, (hope!) i am trying to say the same thing, you however being more eloquent and concise, with the correct use of the nomenlcature.

Omega approved - with an Omega account

independant - without an Omega account, sourcing parts from watch supply houses, eg Cousins, Ofrei.

i find myself quite often in little workshops who say they can work on omegas, and they do, but I am pretty sure they don't have an Omega account.

Perhaps I chose the wrong word for a workshop without an account.
 
Archer
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There is a middle ground you are missing....my point is that you can be completely independent and still have an Omega account.

To me an independent watchmaker is one who works for themselves, and charges what they feel is appropriate. They may have parts accounts with one or more manufacturers, or they may not - that is not part of their independence in my view.

My understanding is that places like STS in the UK or say Nesbit's in the US are (or was in the case of Nesbit's as I think they are no longer official) are satellite services centers, so they "officially" represent the brand, and charge the same prices as the brand does for their work. They also are told what to do by the brand, so these places do not have a choice when Omega says "send these watches to Bienne for service and stop working on them."

I am completely independent - I work for my self, I set my own pricing, and I don't answer to the brand, other than meeting their requirements for a parts account.

So I am independent, but I have an Omega parts account. Omega does not dictate what watches I work on.

Hope this clears it up.

Cheers, Al
 
Unwound
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Archer Archer
So I am independent, but I have an Omega parts account. Omega does not dictate what watches I work on.





Cheers, Al


This is likely the most often overlooked aspect of purchasing a vintage speedy. Having an appropriate watchmaker available to do the work to your requests, not Omega's requirements. I always want the movement to have a comprehensive overhaul at time of purchase. How else would you ever know what truly lies under the hood?
 
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