SM 300 First Service, sorry

Paulmw · Sep 29, 2021

I have a Seamaster 300 that is coming up for its first service. I recall a post that recommended an independent watch store in the UK for service, but cant find the post. Also, many on here say get it serviced at Omega, but is this really necessary considering it probably needs a clean and lube only.

SkunkPrince · Sep 29, 2021

You don't know what it needs. Omega will replace parts that an independent might call "good enough", and if there is an engineering change, you will have the updated parts instealled.

Omega charges a flat rate for most of that, which includes refinishing the case and bracelet as appropriate.

For a new watch like yours, there really isn't a good reason for not going to Omega.

gbesq · Sep 29, 2021

SkunkPrince
You don't know what it needs. Omega will replace parts that an independent might call "good enough", and if there is an engineering change, you will have the updated parts instealled.

Omega charges a flat rate for most of that, which includes refinishing the case and bracelet as appropriate.

For a new watch like yours, there really isn't a good reason for not going to Omega.

Agreed. I would never send a vintage watch to Omega for service, but there really isn’t any reason not to send them a newer model particularly given that many independents charge about the same for a full service.

Donn Chambers · Sep 29, 2021

Don’t know what you think a “clean and lube” entails, but it should include taking apart the entire movement, inspecting pieces for wear, replacing those, cleaning all, then reassembling and oiling as needed. As others have said, An Omega service will replace a lot of parts as part of the service whether they are truly worn or not, primarily because they have the parts and it is easier and quicker to do this on every service than to spend time checking for wear. So if you go for an Omega service, you will get a lot of new parts included.

Paulmw · Sep 29, 2021

Great advice, but still smarts that my Omega store in Canada charges $950 CAD for a service. I can buy a nice watch for that

8100_RPM · Sep 29, 2021

Paulmw
Great advice, but still smarts that my Omega store in Canada charges $950 CAD for a service. I can buy a nice watch for that

Instead of servicing the watch, you could also sell it and buy a new one.

Evitzee · Sep 29, 2021

Paulmw
Great advice, but still smarts that my Omega store in Canada charges $950 CAD for a service. I can buy a nice watch for that

This is a trap many people fall into with expensive things like houses, cars and watches. Service for more expensive products tends to be higher, sometimes for no better reason than it is an expensive item and people are more willing to pay a higher price. That's the way the world of luxury items works.

tikkathree · Sep 29, 2021

If you haven't been fatigued by this whole debate, also in GB I have used and will use again Simon Freese and Omega (through my local Omega retailer rather than direct).

I've also used luxurywatchrepairs dot com who I will not use again. They did good work but irritated me with with "wouldn't you like us to also do ....." requests. I'd agreed a full strip/clean/mechanical service and sent them a watch head without bracelet and clear instructions not to replace either the bezel insert or the crystal. The latter they would not let go of and wanted me to believe that they couldn't possibly test and verify the WR of a watch with micro scratches on the crystal because "it might crack under pressure".

Omegafanman · Sep 30, 2021

If your go for the full Omega service why not stretch out the time a bit as all parts are included for normal wear and tear How long have you had the watch? If you go with a cheaper local option get the watch serviced more often to catch issues before parts wear. After 7 years and a lot of use I felt Omega service was very good value for my 2254 (new Crown, seals hands and replacement parts as needed for the movement). It came back like new and factory tested.
.

ckhaing · Sep 30, 2021

Omegafanman
If your go for the full Omega service why not stretch out the time a bit as all parts are included for normal wear and tear How long have you had the watch? If you go with a cheaper local option get the watch serviced more often to catch issues before parts wear. After 7 years and a lot of use I felt Omega service was very good value for my 2254 (new Crown, seals hands and replacement parts as needed for the movement). It came back like new and factory tested.
.

I would like to share my experience of two Seamaster Cosmic 2000 (weird, not so popular Banana casing) serviced (his and her sort of), sent to Switzerland via local OB. Here are the photos of components they replaced. I guess some of those parts are almost not available in US.

Costing service fee over a grand for each.
Those are kind of quasi-vintage pieces, not of the high price for sure.
So there is big question about value-for-the-money of Omega service.
But I would like those funky 70s watches back to life again to enjoy as practical, reliable, wearable ones for yeas to come, and happy to pay for that.

Having said that, my 145.022-71 is needing service and cannot decide yet where to send.
For that particular watch, Omega factory may or may not be a right place.

Tad · Sep 30, 2021

As mentioned already, Simon Freese is very reliable and professional. I would not hesitate to use his devices whether it’s new or vintage. I guess it might depend on you selling the watch at some point in the future and prospective buyers wanting to see a Omega service record.

gbesq · Sep 30, 2021

ckhaing
I would like to share my experience of two Seamaster Cosmic 2000 (weird, not so popular Banana casing) serviced (his and her sort of), sent to Switzerland via local OB. Here are the photos of components they replaced. I guess some of those parts are almost not available in US.

Costing service fee over a grand for each.
Those are kind of quasi-vintage pieces, not of the high price for sure.
So there is big question about value-for-the-money of Omega service.
But I would like those funky 70s watches back to life again to enjoy as practical, reliable, wearable ones for yeas to come, and happy to pay for that.

Having said that, my 145.022-71 is needing service and cannot decide yet where to send.
For that particular watch, Omega factory may or may not be a right place.

If your '71 Speedy still has a tritium dial and hands, and you want to keep the watch in its original condition, Omega is definitely not the place to have it serviced as the dial and hands will almost certainly be replaced with superluminova service parts.

Yehoshua · Sep 30, 2021

Paulmw
Great advice, but still smarts that my Omega store in Canada charges $950 CAD for a service. I can buy a nice watch for that

Omega nevertheless. Or perhaps an experienced authorized Omega watch maker. Nothing less. I don't know what guarantees they give after work.

ckhaing · Sep 30, 2021

Paulmw
charges $950 CAD for a service.

vc charges me about 3.4k for a service for a time only vintage watch

i know it is a little different segment from omega but still somewhat close enough for comparison between those swiss entities range of servicing fees they are expecting

Archer · Sep 30, 2021

Paulmw
Great advice, but still smarts that my Omega store in Canada charges $950 CAD for a service. I can buy a nice watch for that

Not sure where you arrived at that price. Omega lists the price of a steel 3 hand watch at $680 Canadian on their web site. Even a steel chronograph is $930, so the watch you have shown won't cost anything close the $950 for a straight service.

Archer · Sep 30, 2021

ckhaing
I would like to share my experience of two Seamaster Cosmic 2000 (weird, not so popular Banana casing) serviced (his and her sort of), sent to Switzerland via local OB. Here are the photos of components they replaced. I guess some of those parts are almost not available in US.

All of the parts are still available to anyone anywhere in the world who has an Omega parts account...

BAJJ · Sep 30, 2021

@Paulmw can I ask how old,? I have the same watch bought new in 2016 and also thinking its around time for its first service too, although I think I will leave until next year, I plan to send to Omega, I'm struggling to find someone here in Ireland that I would trust.

Paulmw · Sep 30, 2021

BAJJ
@Paulmw can I ask how old,? I have the same watch bought new in 2016 and also thinking its around time for its first service too, although I think I will leave until next year, I plan to send to Omega, I'm struggling to find someone here in Ireland that I would trust.

Hi. I checked my documents and I bought it new in 2013. I honestly didn’t think it was that old, so will get it serviced with Omega ASAP. Omega say 5-8 years for the service so should be good. To be fair though it hasn’t missed a beat and still looks brand new

Dan S · Sep 30, 2021

ckhaing
vc charges me about 3.4k for a service for a time only vintage watch

i know it is a little different segment from omega but still somewhat close enough for comparison between those swiss entities range of servicing fees they are expecting

$930 for a buckle. 😲

Nobel Prize · Sep 30, 2021

Here’s the advice I was given by a very experienced watch maker that has passed ( he was also old). He serviced watches for me from vintage walthams (1912) to omega, Rolex and even a Genta.

he said:
“ If it’s working well, don’t worry. When it doesn’t service it.”

I have preemptively serviced some of my watches but I do admit some services ( IWC, omega, Rolex) are overpriced if it is just a tune up and there’s no issue to begin with.

I have also waited until there was an issue with watches on the same brands before servicing.

Cost was the same pretty much. Parts here and there that need changing would need changing either way sooner or later.

If you are cash flow conscious wait until there a an issue.

I am sure this is not the most popular advice you will get here.

SM 300 First Service, sorry

Paulmw

SkunkPrince

gbesq

Donn Chambers

Paulmw

8100_RPM

Evitzee

tikkathree

Omegafanman

ckhaing

Tad

gbesq

Yehoshua

ckhaing

Archer

Archer

BAJJ

Paulmw

Dan S

Nobel Prize

Similar threads

Seamaster 300 with Extract.