Service for "Vintage" Omega Watches

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Newbie, again.

Two questions:

1. When it comes to taking your Omega to a watchmaker for service, at what age of watch do you start to run into problems related to "vintage watch" issues, e.g. parts are no longer available? When I think of vintage, as it pertains to watches, older than 1930s is what I am thinking. It seems that the realm of "vintage" comes quite a bit sooner when it comes to watch repair.

2. Does anyone know of a reputable watchmaker in Cincinnati, OH area that services Omega watches?

If I have asked these questions in the wrong forum, please, admonish me.

Best,

Wayne
 
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a buddy wrote me a few weeks ago regarding a similar question and here's what he wrote re: question #1. I know it's not exactly what you're looking for and I'm sure a more seasoned watch guy will post a more specific response, but fwiw, here's something to think about:

"Regarding service--- People on the forum have different philosophies on this. Some wear watches down until they stop working and then send them in for service. Others get them regularly serviced. I believe in something in between. If you overdo it with an old watch with rare parts you run the risk of breaking a hard to find part. However, I have quite a few vintage watches and I could never afford to have them all professionally serviced. For that reason, there are some that I wear very sparingly (maybe once or twice a month in rotation). It is also the reason I learned how to service them and spent a lot of money amassing tools, parts, and practicing. However, I try not to mess with them unnecessarily..."
 
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What parts? If you are referring to movement parts, for the most part they can be had. For watches from before the 50's, it will be relying more on the open market than on Omega. But for watches after that, Omega has a good supply available, with some exceptions. If the watchmaker you are using is Omega certified, they will be able to tell you more based on the specific movement.

For case parts (dials, hands, crowns, etc.) it will depend on how original looking you want the parts to be. If you aren't too bothered with the new part being an exact replacement, they have lots of parts going back to the 40's and before. If you want "exact" replacements, then past the 1990's is good, but before that you will often only get something similar.
 
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Newbie, again.

Two questions:

1. When it comes to taking your Omega to a watchmaker for service, at what age of watch do you start to run into problems related to "vintage watch" issues, e.g. parts are no longer available? When I think of vintage, as it pertains to watches, older than 1930s is what I am thinking. It seems that the realm of "vintage" comes quite a bit sooner when it comes to watch repair.

2. Does anyone know of a reputable watchmaker in Cincinnati, OH area that services Omega watches?

If I have asked these questions in the wrong forum, please, admonish me.

Best,

Wayne
Welcome, Wayne!
I’m about to take my new to me vintage (1953) Omega Seamaster down to Cleves and Lonnemann to have them look at it for service. If they can’t service it, they will know someone who can. This info comes from a whiskey friend who has a fairly large collection of watches with many vintage pieces and he only takes his stuff to them.

They’re right across the river from Cincinnati in Bellevue, KY. They’re always the first place I start at.


Alternatively, there’s Stoll and Co up here in Dayton where I’m at, but I’m not sure they service vintage models like we are discussing. They do pretty much everything else though.