Pls help solve! Curious Case of a Missing Crystal

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

Hello OF -- Some of you may recall my flailing novice efforts to obtain a Constellation about a month ago. I narrowly escaped a frankenwatch (with your help, thanks), and finally managed to buy off eBay a very pretty 568.014 from about 1969. The seller (in Tokyo) assured me that it had been overhauled about two years ago, by the elderly watchmaker from whom he had bought it when said watchmaker went out of business. The watch arrived, it was beautiful, seemed to run fine (about 15 seconds fast/day), all well. Until now.

The first signs of trouble were that once or twice it stopped in the small hours of the morning, even though I had worn it the previous day and been reasonably active. I decided it was probably best to have it serviced, in spite of the seller's assurances, and began slowly looking around for a reliable watchmaker. Then yesterday, a truly mysterious double crisis:
1. at about 3 pm I noticed the watch had stopped at 2 pm. This was new, and with some disquiet I reset it and wound it about 10 times. It started again, but when I looked some time later, I saw that it had stopped after only a minute or so.
2. then, to my horror, I realized that the CRYSTAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE!! It had definitely been on the watch in mid-morning, and at some point between about 11 and 3 or 4, came off! I looked everywhere at home, and even went back to my office to look there, without success. Who knows, it might have come off in the street, since I walked home.

What is going on?? I can swear that the watch received no trauma whatsoever during that time, or really at any time since I received it in early August. No drops, no blows or collisions, no poking or prying or twisting, nothing. I messaged the seller, who replies that he is baffled. He claims that I must have done something like drop it on pavement, since the crystal was original to the watch. His only suggestion is that I send it back to him, so that he can take it to a watchmaker in Tokyo. This doesn't really make sense to me, as I'm assuming I would have to pay for both shipping and any repair there.

Anyway, some photos. First, the watch, the crystal, and me in happier days (about one month ago):

Next, the watch today, stopped and missing crystal:

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions. I am really unhappy about this!

Dan S · Sep 17, 2021

It sounds likely to me that the crystal was a poorly fitting replacement. Perhaps the seller isn't telling the entire truth, or perhaps there was a communication error when he purchased it from his watchmaker.

The bottom line is that the reasons for these issues don't really matter. In your place, I would bring the watch to my watchmaker and have him service the watch while fitting a new crystal. Perhaps if you ask one of the watchmakers on the forum, they can let you know if Omega still supplies the crystal for this watch. If not, you may have to use a generic replacement.

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

OK, thank you--that sounds very sensible. Fingers crossed the crystal is still available. I am thinking of sending it to an Omega specialist in Arizona. This will cost almost as much as I paid for the watch, but I assume that is just par for the course?

SkunkPrince · Sep 17, 2021

If you can avoid the Miami service center, a factory service might be OK. I use Nesbit's in Seattle, their prices so far to me have been similar to Omega's service prices.

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

Thanks for the recommendation. I am in NYC, btw. As a New Yorker it’s hard for me to believe that the best watchmakers aren’t right here in the center of the universe 😉, but have been getting the sense that maybe this is not the case?

perks713 · Sep 17, 2021

loveslemon71
Thanks for the recommendation. I am in NYC, btw. As a New Yorker it’s hard for me to believe that the best watchmakers aren’t right here in the center of the universe 😉, but have been getting the sense that maybe this is not the case?

haha, I'm positive there are excellent watchmakers in the city. I'd guess though that given how expensive NYC is, while I'm sure being a watchmaker can be a lucrative gig, the best watchmakers in NYC are probably going to cost you significantly more than a watchmaker that's just as good or better that lives in Alabama (no offense to any of our members from Alabama) 😉

You need someone who can do the job right, not someone who can charge you twice as much as someone else because they commonly service $100,000 watches.

Here are a few options in a recent thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/watchmaker-recommendation-in-brooklyn-ny.126780/

SeaMSTR · Sep 17, 2021

What a shame about the missing crystal. Not exactly an easy thing to spot when you retrace your steps, either!

Regarding the ‘overhaul’, I would take any ‘overhauls’ with a pinch of salt, unless backed up by an invoice, and even then I think it’s safe to budget for a service, for your own piece of mind, unless it’s from a trusted seller on here.

The watch I bought runs, but stops occasionally too, so I’ve booked it in with a well regarded watch maker in the U.K.- I’m not too fussed as I always expected to have it serviced.

I hope you get it sorted, I can tell how much you love that watch!

Archer · Sep 17, 2021

The crystal you need is part number 063PZ5172.

Cheers, Al

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

Many thanks to everyone!
- Al, your knowledge and expertise are awe-inspiring.
- SeaMSTR, sympathy and counsel much appreciated—and good luck with your new C-shape!
- perks713, you are absolutely right, and thanks for the thread.

gatorcpa · Sep 17, 2021

SkunkPrince
If you can avoid the Miami service center, a factory service might be OK.

The Miami Swatch Service Center doesn’t touch older Omega watches. They simply ship them to Switzerland.

@loveslemon71, welcome to the wonderful world of vintage watches. Did a blow-up of your watch without the crystal:

Looks to me like the seconds hand is slightly bent and is catching on the minutes hand. Very easy issue for a watchmaker to fix.

Here’s a suggestion for you before you start shipping the watch around the country. Call your closest Omega Boutique. See if they have a watchmaker on duty. I know that the Manhattan Boutique has a couple on duty. If so, they should be able to order and install the crystal for you.

If you go to Omega for the crystal, they should be able to at least open the watch and inspect it to see if it has been recently serviced and possibly test the timing as well. If nothing else, they may be able to “unstick” the hands to allow the watch to run.

At that point, you will have a decision to make.

Good luck,
gatorcpa

SkunkPrince · Sep 17, 2021

gatorcpa
The Miami Swatch Service Center doesn’t touch older Omega watches. They simply ship them to Switzerland.

Huh no kidding. Do you happen to know the cutoff date or whichever criteria they use?

gatorcpa · Sep 17, 2021

Mostly warranty work. Swatch has their watchmaking school here, so they are getting trained only on current models.
gatorcpa

Archer · Sep 17, 2021

gatorcpa
Mostly warranty work. Swatch has their watchmaking school here, so they are getting trained only on current models.
gatorcpa

No idea what Miami accepts of not, but the Cal. 682 is a "local service" caliber, so wouldn't likely be sent to Bienne. They may send it to Secaucus if they don't service it in Miami.

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

Thank you @gatorcpa for the very sharp-eyed observation about the second hand. I just took the watch out of the little coffin—I mean Omega box—where it is currently laid to rest, and you are 100% correct! Amazing you were able to see that.

I loved your idea about the Omega boutique and called them—but it seems they only have “technicians” there now, and no watchmaker. (They did have a watchmaker for some years.) They also insisted that if I need a new crystal the watch will have to be sent to Switzerland for a full service, sigh.

SkunkPrince · Sep 17, 2021

You might write or call Nesbit's and see what they say. They have a parts account and will do some vintage, but not necessarily all, based on what I've been reading around here.

gatorcpa · Sep 17, 2021

Looks like CousinsUK has these in stock:

With this information, you can at least find a local watchmaker and have them order it from Cousins.
gatorcpa

watchyouwant · Sep 17, 2021

And Michael here on the forum is well known for hoarding Omega Crystals ( short: HOC Disorder )...... Ask him as well.

loveslemon71 · Sep 17, 2021

Wow, super helpful. Thank you, all! (Who is Michael?) So much drama with vintage watches—who knew?! 🤪

gatorcpa · Sep 17, 2021

watchyouwant
And Michael here on the forum is well known for hoarding Omega Crystals ( short: HOC Disorder )...... Ask him as well.

Paging @michael e .
gatorcpa

Out of TIME! · Sep 17, 2021

loveslemon71
Hello OF -- Some of you may recall my flailing novice efforts to obtain a Constellation about a month ago. I narrowly escaped a frankenwatch (with your help, thanks), and finally managed to buy off eBay a very pretty 568.014 from about 1969. The seller (in Tokyo) assured me that it had been overhauled about two years ago, by the elderly watchmaker from whom he had bought it when said watchmaker went out of business. The watch arrived, it was beautiful, seemed to run fine (about 15 seconds fast/day), all well. Until now.

The first signs of trouble were that once or twice it stopped in the small hours of the morning, even though I had worn it the previous day and been reasonably active. I decided it was probably best to have it serviced, in spite of the seller's assurances, and began slowly looking around for a reliable watchmaker. Then yesterday, a truly mysterious double crisis:
1. at about 3 pm I noticed the watch had stopped at 2 pm. This was new, and with some disquiet I reset it and wound it about 10 times. It started again, but when I looked some time later, I saw that it had stopped after only a minute or so.
2. then, to my horror, I realized that the CRYSTAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE!! It had definitely been on the watch in mid-morning, and at some point between about 11 and 3 or 4, came off! I looked everywhere at home, and even went back to my office to look there, without success. Who knows, it might have come off in the street, since I walked home.

What is going on?? I can swear that the watch received no trauma whatsoever during that time, or really at any time since I received it in early August. No drops, no blows or collisions, no poking or prying or twisting, nothing. I messaged the seller, who replies that he is baffled. He claims that I must have done something like drop it on pavement, since the crystal was original to the watch. His only suggestion is that I send it back to him, so that he can take it to a watchmaker in Tokyo. This doesn't really make sense to me, as I'm assuming I would have to pay for both shipping and any repair there.

Anyway, some photos. First, the watch, the crystal, and me in happier days (about one month ago):

Next, the watch today, stopped and missing crystal:

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions. I am really unhappy about this!

Yep, wrong crystal fitment.
A lot of pepole flying, with cheaper watches, have a surpise.
They find this round glass piece and somtimes plasic ring in their lap.
Puzzeled, they haven't a clue where it came from.
They look around checking the aircraft ( Is the plane falling apart? )
Plane lands, they give the parts to the flight attendant on the way out.
They get to their destination, eventualy checking their watch & the crystal is gone.
Pressure change poped it out..... ::facepalm1::

***###****
Maybe there was a big change in barometric pressure that day......
It also sounds like the watch may have other issus.
Once straightened out you'll have a sweet watch.
That's it for now.
Mike

Pls help solve! Curious Case of a Missing Crystal

loveslemon71

Dan S

loveslemon71

SkunkPrince

loveslemon71

perks713

SeaMSTR

Archer

loveslemon71

gatorcpa

SkunkPrince

gatorcpa

Archer

loveslemon71

SkunkPrince

gatorcpa

watchyouwant

loveslemon71

gatorcpa

Out of TIME!

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