Seamaster Polaris - are they repairable?

I have a 1992 Seamaster Poliaris steel body multifunction, SR59, 2540.50. Box, paperwork, original strap and everything. It's the only 'posh watch' I own and even then it's not that fancy - some would say its not a 'proper' Seamaster. Neverthless it was a 40th birthday present from my wife - she had just got a promotion at work and wanted something special by our standards.

Anyway, 33 years on it's pretty much dead. About a year ago the crownwheel time and function setting went awry, the usual big quick turn to move an hour and little nudge to move a minute and similar in other functions was impossible to control. I did manage to get the hands in roughly the right place so carried on using it for special occasions. Now, even with a new battery, some of the digits are invisible and the seting control is pretty much absent. Even with the crownwheel pushed in you can't move between functions.

I'm guessing that a mechanical watch can be repaired but a quartz one is beyond hope. I could send it to Omega for service (I'm in the Noth West of the UK) and send about £450 with it, probably as much as that model is worth, but unless they have a box full of spare 'innards' what can anyone do? 33 years is a long time to carry spares for a watch in the lower end of their range and I wouldn't blame them for not doing so.

Does anyone have experience of getting a Polaris fixed? Can it be done?

(Meanwhile my Avia Swissonic, a 21st present in 1973, hums along nicely: gains about 2 minutes a week but it is over 50 years old)

It may not be beyond hope. I believe it takes a 1665 movement, same as the 2521.81.00 model - see this thread https://omegaforums.net/threads/seamaster-with-1665-movement.95579/ and https://omegaforums.net/threads/opinions-on-a-seamaster-multifunction-quartz.56626/

Hi Richard, depending on your attachment to the watch and how deep your pockets are, Omega can still repair or replace the movement for if my memory serves £600. Please speak to Omega for confirmation and I do hope you keep your watch alive.

Thanks all. The word "boutique" helped, a search got me to a service center (in Switzerland initially) who confirmed that parts were available, took some details by exchange of emails and a mailing bag and protective case arrived within a few days. I sent it off to the UK service agents today, noting that the quoted lead times are 18 weeks - no rush on my part. It looks like the cost will be c. £600, it seems strange that the listed cost for watches with precious metal in them is £120 more than those that don't and the embedded gold in the body of the Polaris will move it up into that category even though the servicing will take no more time or materials. That's an observation rather than a complaint, I've had a very positive experience with Omega so far.

Even though the watch won't be worth much more than the service cost (if anything) I decided to get it fixed, its not all about money and it was a gift 33 years ago. It's not like I bought it pre owned as an investment or part of a hobby, I chose it because I liked it. And I don't think I could get myself a bettter new watch for £600. Thinking back to 1992, we didn't all carry phones around and a small elegant watch that did countdown timing, a second time zone, days in multiple languages, stopwatch and so on was pretty magic.

When I was looking for my receipt and serial number I found the original 1992 UK Seamaster Polaris brochure and price list. I will post images on here when I get the scanner working again (A win 11 update rendered it unusable) - it might be of interest to somebody.

Here we go, might interest some. Mine is listed in the brochure as SR59. £475 back then would be £1055 today just applying cpi inflation, and we got 1.8 USD to the GBP, today its closer to 1.3.

It came back a few days ago - really happy with it and the Omega service. Total cost was GBP 450 significantly less than I had expected from their price list a,d just over 10 weeks not the 18 they were quoting. So now the previosuly worthless watch is now likely to be worth a bit more then the service cost. But it never was about £££. 33 years old, a 40th birthday gift, and much better than anything I would get for that money now.

It all works, the 2 time zones, various day/date/timer/countdown/alarm/language functions work as they should and you can turn it all off and just have hands showing which I prefer. It came back nicely cleaned and a bit polished - not overdone and it always was a brushed finish. It came back in a proper Omega presentation box, I still have original but its deteriorating in the cupboard - that slightly sticky old plastic feel you get.

To put the 'multifunction' features in context, back in 1992 a few of us carried basic 1st generation analogue mobile phones mostly for work, but few people did. To have those functions in your proper smart serious looking watch was good.

My wrist is small, the polaris would't suit everyone, but I am happy with it. I've got a half link that I can pop back in the strap, looks a bit too tight as it is.

Note to self - wear it lots more. Not in the workshop perhaps (I don't wear a watch anyway when I'm cutting or turning wood) but why 'keep it for best'.

Outstanding! Glad to hear they got it back in service and it looks awesome. I recently had both of my Bond Seamasters restored (one auto and one quartz) and it was like turning the clock back to 1995-97. I have fond memories of those days so I really enjoy wearing them.

That is so cool, what a fantastic watch.👍

Some nice watches there, I think the gold inserts in the strap more than doubled the price which was beyond us at the time (and now probably).

Just to round this off, to add a half link I had to go find things. I thought some might like a pictureof a 1992 Omega box. The cardboard outer looks good still, the inner plastic one is delaminating a bit as the 'mock leather' falls apart even though its been in the outer box in a dry cupboard.

The more I wear the watch the more I like it 😀 Well worth the service cost.



The other watch I wear often is an Avia Swissonic, a 21st birthday present so 52 years old. It may be interesting to some so I will put pictures in the 'other brands' section of the forum.