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Seamaster - mind of it’s own

M
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Hello all,
I have a beautiful Seamaster (Electric blue) 2255.80, that I replaced battery at a Swatch approved watchmaker. After the battery replacement the watch has started behaving abnormally. It seems to work fine while in the box or a steady surface but starts skipping seconds or losing time when I wear it.
I am hesitant to take it to the same watchmaker after seeing their recent reviews from other customers.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
 
Annapolis
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Take what I say with a grain of salt, but my sense is that with quartz watches such issues are usually to do with circuits not making contact properly once your body heat changes things a bit. (So it works just fine when it’s in the box, but gets wonky once you put it on.)

Seems like more than a coincidence that this happened right after someone replaced the battery—but that’s tough to prove.

I don’t know how serviceable this is. I’ve always been under the impression that the entire point of quartz watches is that besides battery replacing, they don’t really need service and aren’t designed to be serviced—at least not in a cost effective way. Mechanical watches can be maintained indefinitely. Quartz watches last decades, but then they’re kinda done. Short of swapping in a whole new quartz movement.

Maybe this is something simple—a contact that got jostled..? It could be a weird battery issue—a mistake he made with the install. Otherwise, it could be a choice: a service that might exceed the cost of the watch (perhaps replacing the entire movement if you can source one?) or selling it off for donor parts.

But others might have better info. I’m Dr. Google here, when it comes to quartz. (Having recently bought a quartz Seamaster beater myself. I’ve told myself not to get too attached to it.)
 
josiahg52
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Maybe the movement wasn't serviced or serviced properly. Or the watchmaker made a mistake.

Also, you don't have a 2255.80. Since it's a quartz, you have a mid-size 2263.80 or 2063.80, or a full-size 2265.80 or 2065.80.

I also disagree with the above poster. The Omega cal. 1538 is a very high-quality quartz movement designed to be serviced and for a long service life.
 
Spruce
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I change my own batteries. On occasions, a problem has arisen because I haven’t seated the battery properly.
 
M
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Thanks all for your valuable replies. I plan to take it to another watchmaker (someone my friend services his watches at) in the Detroit area.
@josiahg52 you are 100% right. I am checking the papers and cards that came with the watch and it is a 22638000.
 
M
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Spruce Spruce
I change my own batteries. On occasions, a problem has arisen because I haven’t seated the battery properly.
This could very well be the case, I tap on the crystal and the watch starts working fine sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for couple days.
 
M
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Annapolis Annapolis
Take what I say with a grain of salt, but my sense is that with quartz watches such issues are usually to do with circuits not making contact properly once your body heat changes things a bit. (So it works just fine when it’s in the box, but gets wonky once you put it on.)

Seems like more than a coincidence that this happened right after someone replaced the battery—but that’s tough to prove.

I don’t know how serviceable this is. I’ve always been under the impression that the entire point of quartz watches is that besides battery replacing, they don’t really need service and aren’t designed to be serviced—at least not in a cost effective way. Mechanical watches can be maintained indefinitely. Quartz watches last decades, but then they’re kinda done. Short of swapping in a whole new quartz movement.

Maybe this is something simple—a contact that got jostled..? It could be a weird battery issue—a mistake he made with the install. Otherwise, it could be a choice: a service that might exceed the cost of the watch (perhaps replacing the entire movement if you can source one?) or selling it off for donor parts.

But others might have better info. I’m Dr. Google here, when it comes to quartz. (Having recently bought a quartz Seamaster beater myself. I’ve told myself not to get too attached to it.)

I plan to take it to another watchmaker close by who services my friends watches and get a second opinion. Hope it is something minor. I am afraid to take it to the other place in Birmingham, MI bcoz of what I read about them after the fact.
 
Archer
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The battery in this should be a 371. In the past there may have been a different battery used, but several years ago the battery manufacturer changed the shape of the battery slightly, which caused problems with the battery maintaining contact. This will lead to intermittent stoppages, and loss of time, just as you are describing.

If the watchmaker you took this to didn't know about this change, or just used the same spec battery that was in the watch, that may be why you are having this problem.

So whoever you take it to, have them check the battery that is in there, and make sure it's a 371. If not, then it should be as simple as a battery swap.

Cheers, Al
 
M
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Archer Archer
The battery in this should be a 371. In the past there may have been a different battery used, but several years ago the battery manufacturer changed the shape of the battery slightly, which caused problems with the battery maintaining contact. This will lead to intermittent stoppages, and loss of time, just as you are describing.

If the watchmaker you took this to didn't know about this change, or just used the same spec battery that was in the watch, that may be why you are having this problem.

So whoever you take it to, have them check the battery that is in there, and make sure it's a 371. If not, then it should be as simple as a battery swap.

Cheers, Al
Thanks a lot Archer, this is very good information. I can ask the watchmaker to check this.
 
M
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Hello all,

Thanks for your responses. I finally had some time to take it to a watchmaker I trust. The person is semi-retired so need to work around his schedule. He found the following issues and let me know:
1. Wrong battery used
2. Battery used had a rust spot.
3. Found some dirt and had to clean it.

After replacing the correct battery, he has asked me to closely observe for the next couple weeks. Might need a new movement if this does not fix the issue. So far so good, keeping my fingers crossed.

thanks again and will keep you posted.
Regards.
Michigander.
 
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