So… should I swap the hands on this new Seamaster?

YVR785 · Mar 28, 2025

Hey all - long story short, took my watch to a service centre for an unrelated repair and they dinged the hour hand. See below pics. They apologized and offered to replace the hands with a new set. Are there any downsides to doing this? (My thinking is it’s not vintage and I should go ahead, but thought to ask you fine people beforehand. Thanks!)

YY77 · Mar 28, 2025

Doesn't really matter, either take them up on their offer now, they will be swapped anyway at the next service.

502 to right · Mar 28, 2025

Can you see it without magnification?

Speed2Sea · Mar 28, 2025

If it's going to bother you every time you wear the watch, I think you should have them change it.

Donn Chambers · Mar 28, 2025

I’m surprised they even asked. They should have just replaced them so that you never knew. There’s absolutely no reason not to get replacement hands — they are identical to the one that are on there now.

502 to right · Mar 28, 2025

Donn Chambers
I’m surprised they even asked. They should have just replaced them so that you never knew. There’s absolutely no reason not to get replacement hands — they are identical to the one that are on there now.

I strongly disagree. No parts like this should ever be replaced without the owner knowing ahead of time.

ErichPryde · Mar 28, 2025

502 to right
I strongly disagree. No parts like this should ever be replaced without the owner knowing ahead of time.

My understanding is that it is omega's standard procedure to replace high polish hands with every service for exactly the reason the original poster came here: it's almost impossible not to scratch the high polish. I understand this may not be the standard procedure for an independent watchmaker as it adds additional cost.

I do agree with you that on a vintage piece where the (no longer) luminous material has patina'd in a particular fashion, NOT replacing the hands should be the norm. But here it really does not matter- new hands with modern lume will be identical.

YVR785 · Mar 28, 2025

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

502 to right · Mar 29, 2025

ErichPryde
My understanding is that it is omega's standard procedure to replace high polish hands with every service for exactly the reason the original poster came here: it's almost impossible not to scratch the high polish. I understand this may not be the standard procedure for an independent watchmaker as it adds additional cost.

I do agree with you that on a vintage piece where the (no longer) luminous material has patina'd in a particular fashion, NOT replacing the hands should be the norm. But here it really does not matter- new hands with modern lume will be identical.

I get that hands are normally replaced with an Omega service. In fact, I just had a GoldenEye 2541.80 come back from service that had the hands replaced. But you are informed ahead of time that will happen, before you pay for the service and before the work is done. If you want to object you can. I agree that in most cases people will not object to replacing the hands on a modern Omega. But they should be informed beforehand.

So… should I swap the hands on this new Seamaster?

YVR785

YY77

502 to right

Speed2Sea

Donn Chambers

502 to right

ErichPryde

YVR785

502 to right

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