Problem seamaster 600 ploprof

houdretp · Mar 24, 2021

Hello I just bought seamaster 600 proprof from 74 .I am from new caledonia .I think the watch has never been opened before .It is nor working.
My clockmaker did open the watch bur IMPOSSIBLE to take off the step ring .It is now a week that we try to take it off but nothing.
Who had this problem already?
Any idea?
Do I have to cut it and is the step ring available ??
Thanks for your answer.

joe band · Mar 25, 2021

looks like that baby went for a swim....

Dash1 · Mar 25, 2021

The step ring is hard to get, unless you send the watch into Omega for full overhaul.

watchyouwant · Mar 25, 2021

These 2 holes for unscrewing at 6 and 12 are no good after numerous attempts. If you want to save the ring, carefully drill them a bit deeper and make a special tool to safely unscrew or use an inside caliper. After that rework that ring on the lathe for future use. If you are not careful, you will damage your dial..... Good luck ! Kind regards. Achim

michael e · Mar 25, 2021

I have just had the same problem.
The old gasket glues the step ring to the case and movement so this is what I did.
I pulled the crown out (split stem) and then got a small steel rod with a small curve on the end, I pushed it down the case tube and gently levered the step ring up from outside, it was solid at first, I found putting the watch face up on a warm radiator for 5 minutes helped ease things up a little. Take it slowly and gently.
My brass ring had lost its black in a few places so I brushed it with a fibre pen and then dropped it into Brass black which turned it back to black almost instantly. The finish it just like factory now. If you have dings on your step ring use wet and dry on a very flat surface to get them out, sanding in a circular fashion is best, clean it furiously with a fibre pen and finish with panel wipe, then drop it in brass black.
The gooey gasket had got onto the movement and even on the date wheel stopping it working correctly. It cleans off with gentle perseverance.

The gaskets on your watch look drier than mine so a tiny bit of silicone free lube might help on the outer edge of the ring furthest away from the dial, I would be very careful though.

Good luck and show is when you finish please.

Here’s mine which I did a couple of weeks ago.

houdretp · Mar 25, 2021

Thanks Achim and Michael for your answers .
Nice watch Michael did you change the dial ? I hesitate to change mine because I would like to keep it as close as possible to original
Do you know if omega is selling parts or if you are oblige to send the watch to their watch makers?
regards
Philippe

michael e · Mar 25, 2021

H houdretp
Thanks Achim and Michael for your answers .
Nice watch Michael did you change the dial ? I hesitate to change mine because I would like to keep it as close as possible to original
Do you know if omega is selling parts or if you are oblige to send the watch to their watch makers?
regards
Philippe

I used the original dial again, I was very careful not to get the gasket goo anywhere near the surface as it would have been very hard to remove.
Cheers, Michael

Dash1 · Mar 26, 2021

H houdretp
did you change the dial ? I hesitate to change mine because I would like to keep it as close as possible to original
Do you know if omega is selling parts or if you are oblige to send the watch to their watch makers?

Omega will not sell parts, you have to send the watch to them for refurbishment. I think your dial could be a candidate for a quality relume.

Archer · Mar 26, 2021

H houdretp
Do you know if omega is selling parts or if you are oblige to send the watch to their watch makers?
regards
Philippe

Omega sells parts to qualified independent watchmakers, so you don't have to send it to Omega if you can find a watchmaker with parts access to do the work.

houdretp · Mar 26, 2021

Dash1
Omega will not sell parts, you have to send the watch to them for refurbishment. I think your dial could be a candidate for a quality relume.

Hello Dash1 Yes I was thinking of having a restoration of the dial .Who can do that? I have seen one in hong kong ??

houdretp · Mar 26, 2021

Archer
Omega sells parts to qualified independent watchmakers, so you don't have to send it to Omega if you can find a watchmaker with parts access to do the work.

Ok I will see which my watchmaker if he is able to order parts to OMEGA

Dash1 · Mar 27, 2021

H houdretp
Hello Dash1 Yes I was thinking of having a restoration of the dial .Who can do that? I have seen one in hong kong ??

James Hyman here in the uk is highly recommended.

watchyouwant · Mar 27, 2021

Talk to Michael young in HK.

houdretp · Mar 27, 2021

Thanks for your replies I will contact them as soon as my dial is free because for the moment still impossible to remove the step ring...

houdretp · Mar 29, 2021

Hello I built a tool and the step ring turned but it seems that the ring (see the arrow) is moving too ! Why ...

watchyouwant · Mar 29, 2021

Be careful. Too much pressure there might shear off your dial feet.....

michael e · Mar 29, 2021

Turning the ring will grind against your dial.

The tool you made scares the shit out of me. 😁

houdretp · Mar 29, 2021

Me too ,but no choice before cutting the ring.🙁

ChrisN · Mar 30, 2021

I've only serviced one of these but that one had a two part ring here. I think, from your photos, that you're turning both parts as they are stuck together with the old seal, which is between them.

Regardless, why are you turning this part? It isn't screwed into the case, you need to lift it out. Turning it will turn the lower part that is contacting the dial and possibly damage the dial. If you've moved it a little then you should have broken the initial bond because, as Michael says, the O rings turn to goo and stick everything to the case.

You could try the method Michael has used or protect the dial and get a tool or piece of pegwood in to lift the ring. You might be able to use the holes with modified case back opener bits (the tool you used to undo the crystal retaining ring) as then you could lightly squeeze the ring with that and it will be gripped so can be lifted.

Good luck, Chris

houdretp · Mar 30, 2021

Thanks Chris for your answer.I restaure this watch in New Caledonia with a friend clock maker now retired with a great experience and if we decide to make holes in the ring and turn it is because we could not find any other solutions. I know that it not screw but it was so stuck I even heat the ring which a soldering iron to soft the o ring that probably linked. Even with the 2 holes and the case back opener nothing was moving .Thats why I built a stronger tool the I used very softly. Now it is turning easily and the dial is not damage .The dial is not anyway in a good condition I will probably send it for restauration. Now I have to pull up the ring but it don't seem so easy as the 2 parts are stick together.
We will carry on tomorrow .
Regards
Philippe

Problem seamaster 600 ploprof

houdretp

joe band

Dash1

watchyouwant

michael e

houdretp

michael e

Dash1

Archer

houdretp

houdretp

Dash1

watchyouwant

houdretp

houdretp

watchyouwant

michael e

houdretp

ChrisN

houdretp

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