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Speedmaster bent hands
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zeiter
·Good knowledge, thanks for that. Mine indeed is a 77 serial number and was purchased with flat hands. I've gone back to the jeweller to discuss.
Should any formal paperwork be returned along with tbr watch post service? None of that either!
Personally, I would be quite unhappy with this handling were it my watch. I hope you are able to work out a satisfactory result..
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gpssti4
·When I have my watches serviced I usually get the old parts back. Did you not?
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Laurbach
·From a horological point of view, the distance between all the hands should be the same. If the hands are fitted correctly, with the same distance between each other, then a straight chrono hand is likely to rub on the inside of the glass.
The solution is either to push the hand on too far or make the hands follow the inside shape of the glass. If you push the hand a bit further down it will still work just fine, but it will look like it's been done by an amateur.
And as someone else said, if the dial is curved then the hands should follow that curve.
However, I wouldn't be too concerned about the shape of the hands when the watch is fitted with a bracelet like the one on the pictures.
The solution is either to push the hand on too far or make the hands follow the inside shape of the glass. If you push the hand a bit further down it will still work just fine, but it will look like it's been done by an amateur.
And as someone else said, if the dial is curved then the hands should follow that curve.
However, I wouldn't be too concerned about the shape of the hands when the watch is fitted with a bracelet like the one on the pictures.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerOmega disagrees with you on that. As noted for watches over serial number 50 million, the hands are left straight. Having serviced more Speedmasters than I can count, I can tell you the hands fit fine (with proper division) and do not rub on the underside of the crystal.
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Tigeranteater
·Aesthetically looks much better with bent hands in my opinion.
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Laurbach
·Omega disagrees with you on that. As noted for watches over serial number 50 million, the hands are left straight. Having serviced more Speedmasters than I can count, I can tell you the hands fit fine (with proper division) and do not rub on the underside of the crystal.
I think that depends where in the world you ask Omega. I worked for Omega up to around 5 years ago, and the way we did it was to make the hands follow the dial and glass. I’m aware that the hands will fit straight and they will have enough gap between them, but they won’t have the same gap between all of them. To most people that will be a good result, but for a picky eye it will look wrong and sloppy. I know from my time with Omega that you have to service a lot of watches (10 chronoes a week when I left). So obviously it’s quicker to slap on a set of hands straight out of the box, as that is enough to pass quality control. But in my opinion the fastest solution is not always the nicest. I would like if someone would spend a little extra time on my watch when it’s in for a service. But if he doesn’t like the bent hands, then I would suggest to go back and ask for them to be replaced.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified Watchmaker- Posts
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Laurbach
·So you are claiming it's impossible to have the correct division with the hands straight, and not touch the underside of the crystal?
No, I'm just saying that the gap does not look right. There will be a gap and it will work, and if that's all you want then that's ok. But having the hands curved a bit and everything fits so much nicer. Really great for watchmakers with a little ocd like me.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI don't think you know what division means then...anyway, where in the world did you work for Omega?
If you still have access to Work Instruction 14, please read section 2.15:
Speedmaster Moonwatch Serial No. up to 4******* - Curve
Speedmaster Moonwatch Serial No. starting from 5******* - Do not curve
Further information can be found in Work Instruction 43, which outlines that proper division must be maintained.
Speedmaster hands can be fitted with the correct division when they are straight, and not have the hands hit the underside of the crystal - I do it all the time.
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Laurbach
·I don't think you know what division means then...anyway, where in the world did you work for Omega?
If you still have access to Work Instruction 14, please read section 2.15:
Speedmaster Moonwatch Serial No. up to 4******* - Curve
Speedmaster Moonwatch Serial No. starting from 5******* - Do not curve
Further information can be found in Work Instruction 43, which outlines that proper division must be maintained.
Speedmaster hands can be fitted with the correct division when they are straight, and not have the hands hit the underside of the crystal - I do it all the time.
I'm aware that this is what the working instruction is saying. That doesn't mean that it's the best solution. What I was trying to get across is that my tolerances might be a bit stricter than Omega's. They set the working instruction up so that it's straight forward and easy to do. But somethings are done different in service centres. You should always do at least the job they describe, but if a service centre decides they can do better, that's only great in my opinion.
Edited:
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI'm aware that this is what the working instruction is saying. That doesn't mean that it's the best solution. What I was trying to get across is that my tolerances might be a bit stricter than what Omega's. They set the working instruction up so that it's straight forward and easy to do. But somethings are done different in service centres. You should always do at least the job they describe, but if a service centre decides they can do better, that's only great in my opinion.
You keep trying to indicate that bending the hands is necessary to do the job right or "better" - it isn't.
To clarify, correct division means all the things you are trying to imply - the hands spaced evenly between all hands, hands parallel to the dial, and be spaced properly away from the dial (equal gap between the dial and the first hand, which is the same gap between the remaining hands). Division is a word that encompasses all that...
This can all be accomplished while leaving the hands straight. The gaps "look right" without bending the hands at the tips, and without having the tip of any hand touch the underside of the crystal. Bending the hands is simply not needed to make them fit properly...that means correct division. There is no "better" than having proper division.
Note that bending hands is covered in Work Instruction 43. Bending hands is easy...in fact hands aren't even typically set on in a service center setting by a trained watchmaker, but by someone hired off the street and given a bit of instruction to do the job.
What Omega service center did you work at?
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Laurbach
·You keep trying to indicate that bending the hands is necessary to do the job right or "better" - it isn't.
To clarify, correct division means all the things you are trying to imply - the hands spaced evenly between all hands, hands parallel to the dial, and be spaced properly away from the dial (equal gap between the dial and the first hand, which is the same gap between the remaining hands). Division is a word that encompasses all that...
This can all be accomplished while leaving the hands straight. The gaps "look right" without bending the hands at the tips, and without having the tip of any hand touch the underside of the crystal. Bending the hands is simply not needed to make them fit properly...that means correct division. There is no "better" than having proper division.
Note that bending hands is covered in Work Instruction 43. Bending hands is easy...in fact hands aren't even typically set on in a service center setting by a trained watchmaker, but by someone hired off the street and given a bit of instruction to do the job.
What Omega service center did you work at?
Still this is how we did it, and I can see the difference so that's why I like them bent down a bit. I guess it's one of those personal opinions where both ways might work.
I like my privacy (not interested in doing any work on the side) so not going to post where I work/worked. We did fit our own hands though...
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerStill this is how we did it, and I can see the difference so that's why I like them bent down a bit. I guess it's one of those personal opinions where both ways might work.
I like my privacy (not interested in doing any work on the side) so not going to post where I work/worked. We did fit our own hands though...
It does make the job easier. Bending the hands gives you more clearance under the crystal, so the stack doesn't have to be as tight to make it fit without anything contacting the crystal.
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