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Davidt
·Strange. I’ve had the tubes and pins replaced on a 2531.80 bracelet during Omega service before.
Service question
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josiahg52
·C cl206it is worn as in a "stretched/sag" out if that makes sense, and they said if they polish it, it might break during the process so i told them dont polish it and ill worry about that later. the current bracelet still works so ill worry about it later when it does break. not exactly like brakes and rotors on a vehicle lol
also it looks like the pins are possibly a little bent from wear and tear so i asked them if they can just change those but they declined. the links are fine. I might just diy a fix or get a bracelet at a later time at an AD or GM
Okay. If you're happy, I'm happy. Just seems odd given what I know of the general modern Omega bracelet construction. Those pins and collars are completely replaceable. An OB even comped me a few on an old titanium chronograph bracelet that I took in for a quick timing and water test. At worst, I'd have expected a new clasp have been quoted as some of the individual parts aren't available and so aren't always repairable.
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gbesq
·Yeah, the service center’s response on the bracelet makes no sense to me. They should be able to replace the pins and tubes easily and give it a light polish if needed. No need for a new bracelet.
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cl206
·Strange. I’ve had the tubes and pins replaced on a 2531.80 bracelet during Omega service before.
better than before. I guess changing times and along with other disciplines/fields they rather do what is easiest and quickest but more costly instead of the "correct" way. Thanks for your feedback!
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josiahg52
·C cl206Interesting. Hopefully it will come back
better than before. I guess changing times and along with other disciplines/fields they rather do what is easiest and quickest but more costly instead of the "correct" way. Thanks for your feedback!
Oh, the watch head will be beautiful. It'll probably take your breath away. I hope it comes back quickly.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerJust FYI - the pins and tubes are not always going to solve the issues with a worn bracelet. When the wear is severe on those, like this tube:
Or this pin:
Wear can extend to the bracelet link itself, like this one:
So it's very possible that the bracelet is beyond repair.
Cheers, Al
Or this pin:
Wear can extend to the bracelet link itself, like this one:
So it's very possible that the bracelet is beyond repair.
Cheers, Al
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cl206
·Just FYI - the pins and tubes are not always going to solve the issues with a worn bracelet. When the wear is severe on those, like this tube:
Or this pin:
Wear can extend to the bracelet link itself, like this one:
So it's very possible that the bracelet is beyond repair.
Cheers, Al
Hi Al! Thanks for the info! Really appreciate it. I should have taken a pic of the bracelet before I sent it off. But I remember my FIL asking me
(3 TIMES) to send it in for repair b/c he claims it stopped when he was wearing it! The first 2 times, when I got it from him, I actually wore the watch for several days. A little loose b/c his wrist is bigger than mine and I didn't adjust the bracelet (and I am capable of doing that 😀 )
The watch ran and kept very good time so I told my wife why can't he just wait. The 3rd time I got it, I wore it for about 2 days and literally the watch was running fine. The watch never stopped when it was in my possession. I just don't get it. I will post pics when I get the watch back and I will resize the bracelet as though I am wearing it myself and also post pics of the pins/tubes. Can't wait 😀
Again if the bracelet is truly FUBARED, we will replace it ofc.
Having said that, I am going to conjecture that the fine and well meaning folks at Omega Secaucus probably did not take the tubes and pins out to examine the bracelet in depth like someone who truly knows what they are doing (not taking shortcuts and actually repairing things right) I would imagine like someone mentioned earlier, some parts of the bracelet can be replaced, pending how many ofc.
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KeithP
·If it helps, I had a similar experience with the bracelet on my SMP 300 when serviced at the UK service centre, but with what sounds like better customer feedback. I’d been sent an email itemising the standard service charge, plus a new titanium bracelet. Before I’d even read the first email I had a second email explaining the reason behind the quote for the replacement bracelet and then a phone call from the service centre explaining why the bracelet couldn’t be repaired. I declined the replacement, which in titanium and at Omega retail price, was far more than I was willing to add to value of the watch. When I collected the watch, they showed me exactly what the problem was and it was as per the photo Archer posted - after wearing the watch pretty much every day for 25 years, the link had worn towards the outer edge. They said not likely to fail anytime soon, but not something they could either repair in the service centre or garuntee, and so beyond the ‘as new’ condition they turn out following a service. I know titanium can be a difficult material to work, so haven’t yet gone to an independent to see if they could repair, but have now ‘retired’ the bracelet whist it still has some life left and gives me an excuse to try some different straps, and currently liking the a Zulu Diver Kingsand blue rubber strap, which is a great match and passably similar to the OEM rubber strap.
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cl206
·If it helps, I had a similar experience with the bracelet on my SMP 300 when serviced at the UK service centre, but with what sounds like better customer feedback. I’d been sent an email itemising the standard service charge, plus a new titanium bracelet. Before I’d even read the first email I had a second email explaining the reason behind the quote for the replacement bracelet and then a phone call from the service centre explaining why the bracelet couldn’t be repaired. I declined the replacement, which in titanium and at Omega retail price, was far more than I was willing to add to value of the watch. When I collected the watch, they showed me exactly what the problem was and it was as per the photo Archer posted - after wearing the watch pretty much every day for 25 years, the link had worn towards the outer edge. They said not likely to fail anytime soon, but not something they could either repair in the service centre or garuntee, and so beyond the ‘as new’ condition they turn out following a service. I know titanium can be a difficult material to work, so haven’t yet gone to an independent to see if they could repair, but have now ‘retired’ the bracelet whist it still has some life left and gives me an excuse to try some different straps, and currently liking the a Zulu Diver Kingsand blue rubber strap, which is a great match and passably similar to the OEM rubber strap.
If it helps, I had a similar experience with the bracelet on my SMP 300 when serviced at the UK service centre, but with what sounds like better customer feedback. I’d been sent an email itemising the standard service charge, plus a new titanium bracelet. Before I’d even read the first email I had a second email explaining the reason behind the quote for the replacement bracelet and then a phone call from the service centre explaining why the bracelet couldn’t be repaired. I declined the replacement, which in titanium and at Omega retail price, was far more than I was willing to add to value of the watch. When I collected the watch, they showed me exactly what the problem was and it was as per the photo Archer posted - after wearing the watch pretty much every day for 25 years, the link had worn towards the outer edge. They said not likely to fail anytime soon, but not something they could either repair in the service centre or garuntee, and so beyond the ‘as new’ condition they turn out following a service. I know titanium can be a difficult material to work, so haven’t yet gone to an independent to see if they could repair, but have now ‘retired’ the bracelet whist it still has some life left and gives me an excuse to try some different straps, and currently liking the a Zulu Diver Kingsand blue rubber strap, which is a great match and passably similar to the OEM rubber strap.
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Jakeys
·Hi Archer, out of interest how common is this type of wear? Is this something that would be caught early to avoid permanent wear to the links if serviced on schedule?
I always assumed Omega removed and inspected pins and tubes on bracelets returned for factory service, but I had bought a used watch factory serviced by Omega that I then tried to resize and discovered I couldn't budge the pin in the half link. Took it to my local watchmaker (Omega certified) who discovered someone before me had jammed an incorrectly sized pin into the link and it needed a special jig/vice to remove. I was surprised that wasn't picked up by the service center.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerHi Archer, out of interest how common is this type of wear? Is this something that would be caught early to avoid permanent wear to the links if serviced on schedule?
I always assumed Omega removed and inspected pins and tubes on bracelets returned for factory service, but I had bought a used watch factory serviced by Omega that I then tried to resize and discovered I couldn't budge the pin in the half link. Took it to my local watchmaker (Omega certified) who discovered someone before me had jammed an incorrectly sized pin into the link and it needed a special jig/vice to remove. I was surprised that wasn't picked up by the service center.
Wear is common - not after 7 years, but yes I've seen a number of bracelets that are worn in the links. The best thing you can do to avoid this, is to keep the bracelet clean. Using an ultrasonic cleaning tank is the best method, so you can get them fairly cheap now, remove the bracelet, and run it in the tank - even if it looks clean, you will be surprised at the dirt that comes out.
What Omega will do is check the pins to see if any are loose - I do the same on every bracelet that comes into my shop:
I replace the pins and tubes on any that are loose with new Omega parts. If the pin in your bracelet was jammed it wasn't loose, so they would have left it. Bracelets aren't automatically disassembled, just checked for loose parts.
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