Omega Speedmaster GSOTM chipped lug

chirojared · Feb 26, 2016

Al

alford78
I am one of those that protect it when putting it on and taking it off. I do it in two or three different spots all which I've carefully chosen and it's become an easy habit. Sitting on the bed, in the sink with a hand towel laying in there, and on the kitchen counter over dish towel lol. It may sound funny but I take it off by the shower so the sink is right there and the kids can't accidentally knock it off the vanity since its down in the sink covered with my boxers and will put it back on after shower right there sometimes. If I'm changing watches I'll grab it out of watch case on dresser right beside bed and do my deed over the bed and place watch took off in the case. Now if I woke up without a watch on and grabbed it from case on way to kitchen for an espresso then I'll do my deed while machine is heating up.

I know y'all didn't NEED to hear/read any of that but just felt compelled to share how differently I act when taking off/putting on a ceramic watch compared to all my steel and 2-3 hand gold watches. I may over do it but it only takes a few extra seconds and is worth it to me until Omega decides they want to sell us the grey Ti/Ceramic deployant buckles.

The OPs case was just one of them times where he tried keeping his watch/band dry and slipped up big time. Doesn't sound like something that couldn't happen to anyone of us with kids honestly. Won't happen to me now after reading this thread though even though I normally take it off before getting near really wet situations.

I always do the same thing putting on and taking off all my watches I even store them all in a combination of watch rolls and Oakley watch vaults. This was a situation where I didn't have that option due to the circumstances but was shocked when I saw the chip in the corner after a small slip. I wonder now if maybe the springbar punched through the ceramic case since the leather band came off on the fall as well.

alford78 · Feb 26, 2016

C chirojared
Al

I always do the same thing putting on and taking off all my watches I even store them all in a combination of watch rolls and Oakley watch vaults. This was a situation where I didn't have that option due to the circumstances but was shocked when I saw the chip in the corner after a small slip. I wonder now if maybe the springbar punched through the ceramic case since the leather band came off on the fall as well.

The band came off but it seems like it's tight and in place now correct?

Now that is something a watchmaker would need to see I would guess. I'm an engineer but not going to speculate;although, that is rather interesting for sure. If the spring bar is strong enough for a point load from its tip to do that then I would just have to guess that it's a design issue. They know that's a week point in the ceramic to begin with so.........

Their comments/actions are going to be crucial for future owners that have this type of failure or if it ever happens again.

Once again good luck.
Al

larryganz · Mar 5, 2016

Any news?

chirojared · Mar 6, 2016

larryganz
Any news?

I am still waiting to hear back from Omega. Last week they forwarded my issue to Switzerland so I am waiting to hear back their response. Due to the location of the chip they are researching whether or not it should be covered under the warranty as a point defect in the case. I will definitely let everyone know when I hear back from them They told me that I should get a response sometime this week

CMG23 · Mar 8, 2016

Maybe they will be nice and work with you on this and do it for free, or maybe they will do it at cost?

chirojared · Mar 11, 2016

UPDATE!!!!

Just wanted to first thank everyone on here for your support and valuable insight. After numerous conversations and inquiries, Omega has decided to replace my case for free as a one-time courtesy. They are doing it as goodwill for my brand loyalty and for the feedback that I received on the forums and they plan to investigate why the case chipped inside the lug. I should be receiving my watch back in approximately 4-6 weeks. They are sending it to Switzerland for the work and then they will inspect it and send it back to me. I am very relieved obviously and have a great deal of respect for the people in both the New Jersey service center and in Switzerland. They were very professional and helpful in my dealings with them.

Once again thank you to everyone who helped me with their advice and support. I am proud to be part of watch forums with such helpful and kind people.

watchknut · Mar 11, 2016

Great news 👍 Omega did the right thing, as this appears to be an isolated incident. So happy it turned out well for you.

Nobel Prize · Mar 11, 2016

Amazing!! what a great outcome! Kudos's to the Omega team!

al128 · Mar 11, 2016

doesnt get better than that...👍

say, now aren't you happy you bought that Omega ?

Bushido · Mar 11, 2016

Thanks for the update and excellent news! As a new DSOTM owner, I added the watch to my homeowners policy the same day it arrived. This added knowledge will afford me an even more restful night's sleep.

Make sure you post some pics of your GSOTM upon its return!

chirojared · Mar 11, 2016

I am going to get that watch on my homeowners policy the day that I get it back. I wonder if the omega service center would be able to do an appraisal for the insurance.

Mr Bing · Mar 11, 2016

I love a happy ending. 😀

Badwolf · Mar 11, 2016

From what you've said they should replace it, otherwise they are using a material not fit for purpose. I'm optimistic they will do the right thing.

off · Mar 11, 2016

Awesome news! Glad to know they are putting the customer first and doing the right thing.

karalhoin · Mar 16, 2016

Good outcome, that's what a premium brand should do.

No doubt this thread will become another favorite of the ceramic-avoiders. 😀 At least it's a change from seeing the same DSOTM with a broken lug and that Panerai that keeps showing up. Other than this, I only remember one other case of a damaged DS. Doesn't seem so bad.

I'm very careful with my current (and only) watch. It's stainless steel, but I will try to pickup that habit of always putting it on in the same location (on a couch, for instance). Not too difficult to get used to.

I've babied this particular watch since I've bought it 6 months ago (literally handling the thing as if it was made of thin glass) and last week noticed that it already has a couple of scratches on the case and the metal part of the bezel. I have no idea how that occurred, but it shows that scratches are unavoidable even with a lot of care. That's one of the reasons why I have a DSoTM on order... I want something that can keep looking new for a long time.

I'm looking at my wrist now (It's a TAG Aquaracer btw) and that little scratch on the metal part is right next to the ceramic bezel. There's no doubt that whatever scratched the metal also impacted it, but the bezel looks absolutely flawless/shiny as if just came out of the box.

So the DSoTM is a bit of a gamble. If you're careful (where you put it on, deployant, basic care, etc) it is probably an awesome watch that will look brand-new after several years (impossible with a SS). If those conditions are met, damage is highly improbable. However, it's still possible and in those cases the result might be total loss or close to it.

I'm waiting for the .007 version (only difference is the deployant) exactly because it's a lot less likely to be dropped. (+500 Eur, but looks nicer and it's a bit of insurance). Putting almost 8k Eur in that is quite a gamble, but I find the benefits cancel the risk. In the case of the OP, with a deployant clasp this wouldn't have happened, most likely the watch would get left hanging on your hand even if it slipped.

A warning on the manuals like some of you suggested sure wouldn't hurt, but to be realistic, I think people who are paying this much for these models already know them quite well and know their pros and cons. Someone who would buy it by impulse on the first look probably can buy a second one without giving it much thought. It's also a watch for a certain type of user. If you know you'll use it in sports, like a tool watch, etc, it just doesn't match the profile.

Anyway, good outcome OP, good luck from now on 😀

Archer · Mar 16, 2016

karalhoin
No doubt this thread will become another favorite of the ceramic-avoiders. 😀 At least it's a change from seeing the same DSOTM with a broken lug and that Panerai that keeps showing up. Other than this, I only remember one other case of a damaged DS. Doesn't seem so bad.

Thank you for editing the inflammatory language. 😀

Anyway, I have no problem being called a "ceramic-avoider" (certainly much more appropriate than your first wording was) and I have to decide to avoid or not on 2 levels. As a buyer it's a no-brainer for me - they have zero appeal aesthetically for me, or based on the size and thickness, and lastly based on case material.

As watchmaker I also have to decide if I will take these in for servicing. When I logged on to the Omega Extranet yesterday, they had posted a "reminder" of how to properly remove the snap on case back from the ceramic watches to avoid chipping the cases. I've never seen them issue such a reminder before, so it makes me wonder if they are seeing damage at service. Leaning towards "send it to Omega" as my canned response to anyone who asks me to service one...risk (handling in the shop and shipping, etc.) is just not worth the reward...

Cheers, Al

karalhoin · Mar 16, 2016

Archer
Thank you for editing the inflammatory language. 😀

Anyway, I have no problem being called a "ceramic-avoider" (certainly much more appropriate than your first wording was) and I have to decide to avoid or not on 2 levels.

Hehe, no worries Al. I'm not a native English speaker so sometimes it's just a matter of writing the first word that you can come up with, there are less in the vocabulary. It pretty much meant "people who do not believe it is a good material for this use and wouldn't spend on it/recommend"

Archer
As a buyer it's a no-brainer for me - they have zero appeal aesthetically for me, or based on the size and thickness, and lastly based on case material.

That's perfectly valid since it is a matter of personal taste. As with other models, some people like them and some don't. I like all the aspects you mentioned, except perhaps the thickness (but found it to be acceptable/tolerable, maybe because of the color and weight).

Archer
As watchmaker I also have to decide if I will take these in for servicing. When I logged on to the Omega Extranet yesterday, they had posted a "reminder" of how to properly remove the snap on case back from the ceramic watches to avoid chipping the cases. I've never seen them issue such a reminder before, so it makes me wonder if they are seeing damage at service. Leaning towards "send it to Omega" as my canned response to anyone who asks me to service one...risk (handling in the shop and shipping, etc.) is just not worth the reward...

This part is perfectly understandable. It's a material requiring different care and indeed, damage might be improbable but if it happens it's definitely high-impact and potentially costly. I don't have the watch yet, but wouldn't feel comfortable having it repaired/opened unless I was sure that the service/person would cover any damage.

Would be nice to know more about how many damaged units show up (due to users or failed repairs) but I guess Omega does not share that information. Maybe it's a lot, or maybe it's negligible.

Archer · Mar 16, 2016

karalhoin
This part is perfectly understandable. It's a material requiring different care and indeed, damage might be improbable but if it happens it's definitely high-impact and potentially costly. I don't have the watch yet, but wouldn't feel comfortable having it repaired/opened unless I was sure that the service/person would cover any damage.

Would be nice to know more about how many damaged units show up (due to users or failed repairs) but I guess Omega does not share that information. Maybe it's a lot, or maybe it's negligible.

There is zero upside for Omega to release such information, so I doubt you will ever see it. It would only be a negative for them to do so.

Although it's nice that they are replacing the OP's case, keep in mind as I predicted it is a "courtesy repair" and not a warranty repair. Big difference. These will be one off decisions and not policy to replace user damaged cases.

As for me and taking them in for service, it's a risk/reward issue and a pure business decision. Perhaps if Omega offered specific training on these I might consider it, but the prospect of having to replace a $7k case if something happens doesn't make sense for what I make on the service. For sure I service watches with far more delicate parts (dials and hands) that are worth a lot more than one of these watches, but just the thought of hearing a "snap" when I am pressing on the case back gives me the willies.

It's not about my skill level, but it's about the unexpected and unseen flaw that rears it's ugly head while the watch is in my possession. For example, I have pressure tested countless watches without any problems at all, including at least a half dozen of this exact model of Panerai (112) prior to this one, but still one day, 20 minutes into the high pressure portion of the test, I heard a very distinct "tink" sound. I knew what it was immediately, even though I'd never heard it before. Walked into the room where this equipment was and saw this:

I always inspect every watch visually for nicks or scratches in the crystal, and this one was perfect, but for whatever reason it still failed, and I was on the hook. Just bad luck, so I made zero dollars on this service, and I can live with that. Not sure I could live with a $7k fault showing itself while the watch is in my possession...

karalhoin · Mar 16, 2016

Wow, that's a good example of the occasional unexpected damage. I'm not in the business but would expect Omega to have training/documentation/tools available for people to service the watches in a standardized, reliable way. The same way a car manufacturer provides documentation/tech guides/tools.

And also to help cover any damages that occur if one of the units fails while being serviced properly.

If that's not the case and they are tricky to open, then I can see how it might not be worth risking it.

Canuck · Mar 16, 2016

These cases (or any watch case) are exposed to several types of external stress. Abrasion- these ceramic cases are quite resistant to abrasion which is predicated on resistance to scratching from another similar ceramic material. Indentation- gradually applied, focussed pressure from the same or similar ceramic material. These cases are far and away more resistance to these types of surface interference than any metal case. Shock- a sudden, focussed, hard, sharp blow, even from something softer than the ceramic material. Obviously, this is where these cases are far more prone to damage from shock than metal cases.

Omega Speedmaster GSOTM chipped lug

chirojared

alford78

larryganz

chirojared

CMG23

chirojared

watchknut

Nobel Prize

al128

Bushido

chirojared

Mr Bing

Badwolf

off

karalhoin

Archer

karalhoin

Archer

karalhoin

Canuck

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