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Omega Watch Condition Upon Receiving

N
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Hello everyone, I just bought my first Omega watch (a Chronograph 39.7mm, direct from Omega), and wanted to ask about the condition it arrived in. Perhaps I'm being overly paranoid, but since it's my first purchase, I figured I'd ask and worst case scenario I learn something that may help in the future.

So to start off with, the watch itself seems fine. However, I was a little surprised upon opening the box that the watch was loose in its holder. When I originally got the box I opened it upside down (the cardboard containing box, not the actual case itself), so perhaps it simply got dislodged from that motion (but in that case, it could have just been from the motion during shipping)? Additionally, it came with a loose red "Sealed Do Not Remove" tag. Here is an image: https://imgur.com/a/J4J3HfE

In unboxing videos I've seen online some of the watches seem to have white hard plastic oval labels attached to the watch with golden strings, which mine certainly didn't have. But perhaps those are only present if you buy them second hand or from a retailer. Image here (apologies for the quality of this one, couldn't get anything better at the moment): https://imgur.com/a/hRBvbn8

Anyways, the red cards were in there and the watch had protective plastic stickers on it, but just wanted to confirm since again I am new to this.
 
Evitzee
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Watches often get dislodged from their display boxes during shipping....nothing you can do about it. Omega watches are shipped in a clear plastic coffin to the dealers and the hangtag is attached to the case. They remove them from the coffin to put them in the display case along with the hang tag. The coffins usually don't come with the watch if you are buying out of a dealer's showcase as they really aren't part of the official package, they are for shipping protection only. You normally won't get the outer brown cardboard shipping box either, and the hangtags aren't always given unless you ask. If you buy from Omega off their website you certainly won't get the coffin and probably not the hangtag either. That's just their policy.

As long as the watch has the stickers on it, including the one on the back with the watch number, the red cards, holder, and the instruction manual, you have the complete package that you would normally get if you bought at a bricks and mortar retailer.

I'm not sure what purpose that red tag does, my eCommerce Omega had it loosely attached to the strap. It really serves no purpose that I could see.

Anyway, welcome aboard, and post some pics of the new arrival.
Edited:
 
DaveCollins
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When I purchased a Speedmaster a few weeks ago, I requested that the watch be shipped to me without it having ever been opened after leaving the factory. I had to wait a couple of weeks, but when the watch arrived it was in a plastic shipping container. It was obvious that it had not been handled since it left the factory. Also, the display box and stuff it comes with are stilled sealed in their original cardboard box. If I am going to purchase new, I would like something that hasn't been handled by potential customers.
 
Evitzee
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DaveCollins DaveCollins
When I purchased a Speedmaster a few weeks ago, I requested that the watch be shipped to me without it having ever been opened after leaving the factory. I had to wait a couple of weeks, but when the watch arrived it was in a plastic shipping container. It was obvious that it had not been handled since it left the factory. Also, the display box and stuff it comes with are stilled sealed in their original cardboard box. If I am going to purchase new, I would like something that hasn't been handled by potential customers.
OP ordered it off the Omega eCommerce website, those watches have not been handled by anyone other than Omega people who ship them out to the new owners. They've never seen unwashed masses (that's us) grubby little hands.
 
3nicewatches
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Evitzee Evitzee
OP ordered it off the Omega eCommerce website, those watches have not been handled by anyone other than Omega people who ship them out to the new owners. They've never seen unwashed masses (that's us) grubby little hands.
Usually, but it is not 100% guaranteed. The Omega website has a 14 day return policy (at least in the USA), so if you get one of those, at least one member of we unwashed masses might have touched it.
 
STANDY
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Unless you ask, Omega will have the watch in the box so when you open it it’s a full unboxing in display.
Most collecting guys prefer the coffin box and watch box to be untouched.

In delivering they ship the watch and the box it comes with to the store you bought it from seperate.
 
Evitzee
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3nicewatches 3nicewatches
Usually, but it is not 100% guaranteed. The Omega website has a 14 day return policy (at least in the USA), so if you get one of those, at least one member of we unwashed masses might have touched it.
Nothing is guaranteed, but I would wager that most returned watches bought from Omega's site are those bought as gifts (like lady Constellations). They aren't Speedmasters or Seamasters bought by the goons who post here.
 
Archer
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Evitzee Evitzee
Nothing is guaranteed, but I would wager that most returned watches bought from Omega's site are those bought as gifts (like lady Constellations). They aren't Speedmasters or Seamasters bought by the goons who post here.

All you have to do is look at any thread where someone has had a new Omega come with some sort of minor problem, and the chorus of "return it for a new one!" from all subsequent posters, to realize that your assumption is likely not correct...
 
jsducote
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Evitzee Evitzee
Nothing is guaranteed, but I would wager that most returned watches bought from Omega's site are those bought as gifts (like lady Constellations). They aren't Speedmasters or Seamasters bought by the goons who post here.

3nicewatches 3nicewatches
Usually, but it is not 100% guaranteed. The Omega website has a 14 day return policy (at least in the USA), so if you get one of those, at least one member of we unwashed masses might have touched it.
I work for a regional-US retailer and when someone orders something from our site there is a back-end system which decides whether to ship the item from one of our 3 distribution centers or to send instructions to one of our 250 stores to have it picked off the shelf, packaged, and sent to the customer. It's all about shipping efficiency and getting it to the customer as quickly as possible, so it would not surprise me if SG has similar supply chain processes.
 
Evitzee
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Archer Archer
All you have to do is look at any thread where someone has had a new Omega come with some sort of minor problem, and the chorus of "return it for a new one!" from all subsequent posters, to realize that your assumption is likely not correct...
True, but ordering one factory fresh, in its coffin, does not guarantee perfection either. So it has a little problem and owner takes it back and wants a new one. What happens to the one in the coffin? It eventually ends up back on the market. There is no guarantee any watch is 'untouched by human hands' after it leaves the factory.

jsducote jsducote
I work for a regional-US retailer and when someone orders something from our site there is a back-end system which decides whether to ship the item from one of our 3 distribution centers or to send instructions to one of our 250 stores to have it picked off the shelf, packaged, and sent to the customer. It's all about shipping efficiency and getting it to the customer as quickly as possible, so it would not surprise me if SG has similar supply chain processes.
Except if you order off the USA website it gets sent out the next day from NJ with Warranty Card imprinted by machine with Reference number, serial number, date and retailer (Omega eCommerce).....no hand printing. It would appear that these watches are in Omega's USA distributor's stock and they aren't redirected from a boutique or AD. Could they be returned watches that someone didn't like, sure. But probably not likely.
Edited:
 
Archer
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Evitzee Evitzee
True, but ordering one factory fresh, in its coffin, does not guarantee perfection either. So it has a little problem and owner takes it back and wants a new one.

Yes...that's exactly what I just said...😵‍💫
 
DaveCollins
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If it shows up in a plastic case and it appears untouched, who cares if it was returned handled, or whatever. I you can't tell and the impression is that no one touched it, it will most likely make you feel good. I purchased from a jewelry store and it arrived in a plastic case. My unverifiable impression was it was untouched. That made me feel good. So I am happy.

If it shows up in a display box, instead of the plastic case, it would make me feel like I was purchasing something that was on display. I don't want to feel like my new watch has been worn, wound, and handled by the masses. So the display box isn't my preference.
 
jsducote
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Evitzee Evitzee
Except if you order off the USA website it gets sent out the next day from NJ with Warranty Card imprinted by machine with Reference number, serial number, date and retailer (Omega eCommerce).....no hand printing. It would appear that these watches are in Omega's USA distributor's stock and they aren't redirected from a boutique or AD.
Fair enough. TIL Swatch Group is not as efficient as my employer. 😉
 
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