Speedmaster Racing - repeated moisture issues for 5 Years, now Omega says crown tube damaged

Linas · Apr 7, 2026

BlackTalon
You are likely correct. There was likly moisture in the watch, and contract with the snow caused condensation on the inside of the crystal.

Well, here’s the thing - the detailed story doesn’t really fit the idea that this was just “cold weather causing condensation" i.e. there was moisture inside, cold crystal just condensed it.

I flew abroad and before landing, I adjusted the time for the new timezone as I usually do. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but most issues with this watch have happened within a week of flying. I have wondered whether cabin pressure changes could affect the crown seal, depending on when it’s opened or closed - maybe creating a slight vacuum or pressure difference that pulls moisture in. But I was never able to find an answer to that, I have asked Omega and searched everywhere, and I can’t find any reference to this being a known issue, so it may just be something specific to my watch or just this model, or completely unrelated. But that was the last time the crown was opened and closed.

While I was there, the temperature ranged from –17°C to –36°C. I wore the watch outside for hours on multiple days and there was no condensation at all. So if the cold alone were the cause, I would expect it to have happened then, but it didn’t.

The only time it steamed up was after going from a warm car (around +20°C) straight into snow at about -20°C that time of the day. So that is a sudden 40°C drop and I also considered whether that could have been an issue, but again, that temperature was -20°C, which does not mean the watch got to -20°C as well. Especially considering I was out of the car for a total of maybe 5-10 minutes and the watch fogged up right away - basically immediately. I was digging snow with gloves, the gloves got wet and when I got back inside the car and removed gloves, the watch was already fully steamed up.

If this were a one‑off, I would chalk it up to bad luck or maybe the crown not being fully pushed in or whatever. But it isn’t the first time. It’s happened repeatedly over the years, under different conditions and always...

That’s why I don’t think this was just a simple cold‑weather condensation event. If cold alone were the issue, you would expect the condensation to disappear almost immediately once the watch warmed back up. If there were only a tiny amount of moisture inside - the kind that only becomes visible at extreme temperatures, then it should become invisible again at room temperature. But that’s not what happened.

The watch steamed up heavily - the entire crystal was covered, not enough to make a puddle, but large droplets were forming. That’s not a trace amount of moisture, that’s a significant amount of water inside the case.

ErichPryde · Apr 7, 2026

BlackTalon
You are likely correct. There was likly moisture in the watch, and contract with the snow caused condensation on the inside of the crystal.

I agree- I was just explaining this principle to my kids this weekend in regards to our tent while camping.

Gruesome · Apr 8, 2026

I'm just now reading this thread for the first time. My interpretation/opinion:
1. Yes, Omega service is screwing with you. Their communication with you, and handling of this case, as described by you, is completely ridiculous and unacceptable. My guess is that this is due to time pressure and lack of interest in looking up the service history of your watch, not malevolence.
2. I believe, again just based on your description, that your condensation problems can be explained without assuming any liquid water ingress. They are probably instead due to moist air (i.e. air with relatively high dewpoint) ingress when cabin pressure increased back from the reduced cabin pressure at altitude, of about 3/4 standard normal pressure, to ground level air pressure after flying, and the often high cabin air humidity after landing. Condensation would then later appear due to subsequent cooling of the watch crystal (and possibly other watch parts) below the dew point of the air in the watch. In other words, there was probably nothing physically wrong with your watch when you sent it in the first three times. You had just managed to quickly put more than a normal amount of almost saturated air into your watch, and later cooled the watch slightly more than normal, before the high moisture content had a chance to diffuse out again.

Maybe @Archer can comment on this back-of-the envelope math:

watch case air volume ~10 cm^3
difference in water content of saturated air at 25°C vs 10°C: ~10g/m^3 or 10 microgram per cm^3 or 0.1mg=0.1mm^3 of liquid water per 10 cm^3.
0.1 cubic millimeter of water correspond to a total droplet area of 1 by 1 mm (i.e. pretty large) at 0.1mm thickness, or ten half-spherical droplets of 0.33mm diameter; 1/4 of that, the air volume replaced when landing, is still a few good sized droplets.

3. Now of course it sounds like they destroyed/seriously damaged your watch. I don't know whether it is too late to get the AD you originally bought the watch from involved, to have them contact Omega and hopefully increase the chances of getting somebody at Omega to actually spend two minutes on trying to understand the case history. That's what I would try. I had a similar ridiculous experience with the Dallas IWC service center; in the end the AD actually replaced the watch.

Archer · Apr 8, 2026

L Linas
That’s why I don’t think this was just a simple cold‑weather condensation event. If cold alone were the issue, you would expect the condensation to disappear almost immediately once the watch warmed back up. If there were only a tiny amount of moisture inside - the kind that only becomes visible at extreme temperatures, then it should become invisible again at room temperature. But that’s not what happened.

The watch steamed up heavily - the entire crystal was covered, not enough to make a puddle, but large droplets were forming. That’s not a trace amount of moisture, that’s a significant amount of water inside the case.

If it's "normal" condensation, it should disappear within 1 minute or two when you return it to room temp.

BTW did you get the number to follow the job on the CIS? If not you should ask for it because that may give you details that the people you are talking to are not giving you.

Linas · Apr 8, 2026

Archer
If it's "normal" condensation, it should disappear within 1 minute or two when you return it to room temp.

BTW did you get the number to follow the job on the CIS? If not you should ask for it because that may give you details that the people you are talking to are not giving you.

That was my understanding too - if it’s just “trace humidity”, then I would expect a tiny amount of fogging in extreme cold and it should disappear as soon as the watch warms up again. It should also be repeatable - go out into very low temperatures > slight fog > go back inside > it clears. That’s not what happened here -my watch got wet and stayed wet for days. The total time between it fogging up and being sent to Omega was about 5 days and the condensation never cleared.

I have a 9‑digit Estimate/Service reference number and a 7‑digit E‑Tracking number. Not sure if either of those is the CIS number you’re referring to.

@Gruesome thanks for your input. I am planning to speak with the AD, but before I do that I want to understand what Omega is actually claiming is wrong with the watch, because right now their explanations are all over the place. I would rather go to the AD with a clear, consistent story and say ""look, here is the situation".

Technically, I can sue the AD for up to six years, but that’s absolutely a last resort and I would rather not do it unless somehow it turns even worse. If this were just a case of paying for a discounted service, I would have done it already. The issue is the contradictions - an oxidised dial suggests years of moisture exposure, which would mean the problem existed well within warranty. Yet Omega’s position is that nothing was wrong with the watch and still nothing is wrong with it, apart from a scratched crown tube... well... and somehow dial markers falling off now.

Giving them maximum benefit of the doubt, I can imagine a scenario where I asked them to look at the dial again to see if it could simply be cleaned and maybe during cleaning a marker fell off. Okey... that is something I could understand, but that’s not what they are telling me...

Rocketeer61 · Apr 8, 2026

L Linas
That is what they told me, how true it is - that is another question. They have not sent me pictures, just said there is a scratch on it.

Not sure how that would benefit me if it leaks right away, unless you mean - because of the extended warranty. But then what is the plan - it leaks again, I send it out for free service and then sell it later rather than selling it right away?

I don't know any independent watchmakers that can work on it, nevermind one I would trust.

Try Aaron Recksiek at Mt. Olympus Clock Shop in Millcreek UT. He's a first rate watchmaker trained on Omegas. He serviced my Relaunch and it's perfect.

Linas · Apr 15, 2026

Ok so they sent me this picture:

I asked which hour marker the detached piece came from so I could compare it with my own photos and see whether it was already starting to lift before the watch was sent in.

They replied that since taking the photo, the lume strips at 2, 8, 10 and 11 o’clock have also fallen off - all while the watch was just sitting on a shelf with the case closed. I genuinely don’t understand how that can happen.

To me, this can only be one of two things:

a long‑term issue that would have started years ago and therefore is within warranty, or
something that happened during handling or cleaning at the service centre.

I might be wrong, but the dial looks mint, I can’t see how this is “oxidation” issue. It looks much more like the adhesive under the lume strips has failed. Wouldn’t the logical fix be to glue the markers back onto the dial? I appreciate Omega’s authorised solution may be to replace the whole dial, but the failure mode doesn’t look like "oxidation" to me.

Please tell me if I’m going mad here?!. What would an independent watchmaker normally do in a case like this?

Archer · Apr 15, 2026

The applied markers themselves have not come off, just the lume. This makes much more sense than what they told you previously, because applied markers just don't fall off.

When luminous material gets wet, it can affect the bond that holds it in place. This is likely the result of repeated exposure to moisture. You could argue that because the watch has been wet and repaired under warranty this should be an extension of that.,

It's not really glued in place - the luminous material is a liquid slurry when first applied and the marker is filled with it. Omega wouldn't relume it, because they get the dials fully completed from another factory in the Swatch group, so they would just replace the dial. An independent watchmaker can relume, but they would have to match the colour exactly, and the affected markers may not look 100% the same.

Linas · Apr 15, 2026

So I spoke with AD... and that is, they take on it -

WR - is not warrantable at all. Even if during the warranty, if the dial were to fail, it would not be warrantable, even if it is proven that dial damage was caused during the warranty due to water ingress, because dials are not warranted anyway, so nothing I have an issue with would be covered under warranty. And therefore, there is nothing they can do, especially as it is now out of warranty.

And here is the line that I know will upset some people, but that is exactly what I am talking about when I say "there is uncertainty". They said "Water Resistance is not waterproof", given the examples I had issues with (just sitting in the sea with the watch, not getting deeper than say 10 inches, cycling in the rain, washing the car and spray getting on it and snow melting under the glove)... they said - yes "Speedmaster can't handle that". That is obviously personal oppinion of service adviser - "I would not get speedmaster near the water, it can't handle it at all and we would never advise to get it in the water, I am sorry that you been told when buying it that you can swim with it, that is not the advise we would give". Basically, he is saying classic line of "50m WR = had wash safe at most".

I told him that is not how Omega advertises the watches etc. and he said "yeah obviously advertising is just not realistic". And then I am being accused of spreading "misinformation".

Basically, AD said, they can't help me with it, they would send it to the same repair centre, and they would take advice from them anyway.

YY77 · Apr 15, 2026

L Linas
Basically, he is saying classic line of "50m WR = had wash safe at most".

I told him that is not how Omega advertises the watches etc. and he said "yeah obviously advertising is just not realistic". And then I am being accused of spreading "misinformation".

They should read the information from their intranet

https://omegaforums.net/posts/1880167/

Archer · Nov 1, 2021

Ah yes, my least favourite topic comes up again. So to provide even more evidence (that I'm sure will be ignored) Omega recently published some training materials on the Omega Extranet for their sales staff. I can't show it directly because it's internal documentation, but I will quote from it, It starts off with this:

HOW DEEP CAN YOUR OMEGA REALLY GO?

Water resistance remains one of the most complex questions in watchmaking. This is why we are taking you below the surface to reveal what our timepieces can truly withstand in the aquatic environment. This knowledge will ensure a...

Archer · Apr 15, 2026

L Linas
So I spoke with AD... and that is, they take on it -

WR - is not warrantable at all. Even if during the warranty, if the dial were to fail, it would not be warrantable, even if it is proven that dial damage was caused during the warranty due to water ingress, because dials are not warranted anyway, so nothing I have an issue with would be covered under warranty. And therefore, there is nothing they can do, especially as it is now out of warranty.

And here is the line that I know will upset some people, but that is exactly what I am talking about when I say "there is uncertainty". They said "Water Resistance is not waterproof", given the examples I had issues with (just sitting in the sea with the watch, not getting deeper than say 10 inches, cycling in the rain, washing the car and spray getting on it and snow melting under the glove)... they said - yes "Speedmaster can't handle that". That is obviously personal oppinion of service adviser - "I would not get speedmaster near the water, it can't handle it at all and we would never advise to get it in the water, I am sorry that you been told when buying it that you can swim with it, that is not the advise we would give". Basically, he is saying classic line of "50m WR = had wash safe at most".

I told him that is not how Omega advertises the watches etc. and he said "yeah obviously advertising is just not realistic". And then I am being accused of spreading "misinformation".

Basically, AD said, they can't help me with it, they would send it to the same repair centre, and they would take advice from them anyway.

AD's are not Omega, and are idiots most of the time, including this one. If you want to believe idiots, that's up to you, but they are 100% lying to you.

Dials are absolutely warranted. Water resistance is absolutely warranted - you know this as you have had it repaired under warranty previously. So you clearly know that the AD is lying to you because your own previous experience tells you so.

Essentially you want to believe that a Omega has made a watch that does not have water resistance, advertises that it does, and then when the watch fails because it doesn't have water resistance, they pay for it to be repaired. That's one nonsensical business model.

If what the AD told you is true, Omega would have never fixed the previous water intrusions under warranty.

The service center is absolutely screwing you around - the problem lies 100% with this service center, not some false advertising fantasy you keep wanting to come back to for some reason. If you have not already done so, you need to escalate this beyond some customer service rep, and speak to someone who can look this whole thing over and get the situation sorted. Continuing to focus on advertising and WR specs is not helping you solve this...

Archer · Apr 15, 2026

From Omega's Customer Care Policy (this is not advertising) - water resistance:

"Our water resistant watches are perfectly suited for aquatic activities (showering, snorkeling, water-skiing, etc.) to their specified depth. Pushers should not be used underwater unless the watch model is designed for this purpose (Seamaster Diver 300m and Planet Ocean). A watch's water resistance might be affected by ageing of its components. OMEGA recommends to perform a water resistance check once a year.

If a watch comes in for water resistance problems during its warranty (sales and service) or extended warranty period, the service will be performed under warranty unless signs of abuse or an intervention by a non-authorised third party can be doubtlessly proven and consequently void the warranty. The above does not apply to declassified vintage watches."

Linas · Apr 15, 2026

It’s not a matter of what I “choose to believe”. I’m describing the practical outcome in reality. Whatever WR is supposed to mean in theory, whatever Omega says in marketing or customer care policy (same thing), and whatever anyone thinks should happen doesn’t change what actually did happen with my watch.

You said I “want to believe” Omega made a watch that isn’t water resistant and then repaired it under warranty. I don’t want to believe anything of the sort. I’m telling you what the outcome has been:

The AD says water resistance effectively isn’t warranted and they can’t help.

Omega says nothing was ever wrong with the watch, so there is nothing to warrant.

Yet the watch repeatedly took on moisture during warranty and now the lume is falling out.

This isn’t me inventing a narrative or believing it, just the situation I’m left with.

And to be clear, in this case - the Omega Service Centre is the Omega. There is no separate “real Omega” behind them, they are official Omega representatives. Unless I fly to Biel and knock on the door, the service centre is the only Omega entity I can speak to.

I am sure you quoted Omega’s Customer Care Policy about water resistance with best intentions, but there are no entity that stands behind those words in practice. The policy is clear in theory, but in practice, the watch is not water-resistant and nobody is taking responsibility for it.

That’s why, no matter how technically wrong the advice “50 m WR = hand‑wash only” may be, or how absurd “never take your Speedmaster near water” sounds, it ends up being the only honest, practical advice. In reality, if your watch gets wet during the warranty period, they will clean it and send it back as "a goodwill gesture" and once the warranty expires, you are on your own and paying thousands every time moisture gets in. It may not happen to every owner, but if it happens to you, that becomes your reality. So the "best practice" becomes simple - "if you are out of warranty, don’t take it near water".

That’s the entire point I’m making about the ambiguity of WR on Speedies.

Linas · Apr 15, 2026

Also, just to be clear, this isn’t a personal attack on you or anyone else here. This is simply the reality in my case. I don’t want this to be the reality, I wish it wasn’t, and I have tried everything possible to change it. But at this point, the only option left to me under the law where I live is to sue the AD.

...and if the choice is either paying Omega thousands to fix a “water‑resistant” watch that isn’t water‑resistant, or taking the retailer to court, then sadly that’s where I’m heading next. I hate that is the outcome, but it is what it is.

So yes - in a strange way, you are right. Putting “50 m WR” on the case does make it legally enforceable, so it must be true then... "50m WR = 50m WR"! Just in practice, that also means sending the watch back 4 times for service, be without it for months and then taking the AD to court.

ErichPryde · Apr 15, 2026

L Linas
It’s not a matter of what I “choose to believe”. I’m describing the practical outcome in reality

For yourself, for your current outcome.

What's your narrative thread here? What's the point, on your end? Other users here have been engaging patiently and in good faith, but we can't make this right for you, and turning the water resistance topic into a clay pigeon- does it genuinely help you feel better?

Edited to add: I disengaged from this conversation several weeks ago because there was something about your insistive posts that made me nearly certain the conversation would string along in a "no solution but small new variations of the problem" sort of way.

At this point, you've gotten plenty of advice, none of which seems to have helped. Sounds like you've got your own solution figured out, and I wish you luck.

Archer · Apr 15, 2026

It's simple - there was some sort of defect with your specific watch.

Omega repaired it under warranty more than once - therefore there is warranty as your own experience illustrates.

For whatever reason they are not honoring that warranty this time around - they should be by their own policies and procedures.

You have said that you sent this in directly to the service center, not through the AD. The AD is not involved in this repair because you didn't send it in using them. The AD is not Omega.

The service center is Omega - this is who your argument is with, not the AD.

I posted the information from the customer care manual, which is what Omega gives their own people to provide direction on how to deal with situations just like this, so that you could use it as leverage in your conversations with the service center. You appear to want to take me trying to help you as some sort of argument or point I'm trying to make, so I'm done.

None of this has anything to do with water resistance ratings, advertisements, and all the other side things that have been brought into this - it's just a defective watch.

Porteroso · Apr 15, 2026

L Linas
It’s not a matter of what I “choose to believe”. I’m describing the practical outcome in reality. Whatever WR is supposed to mean in theory, whatever Omega says in marketing or customer care policy (same thing), and whatever anyone thinks should happen doesn’t change what actually did happen with my watch.

You said I “want to believe” Omega made a watch that isn’t water resistant and then repaired it under warranty. I don’t want to believe anything of the sort. I’m telling you what the outcome has been:

The AD says water resistance effectively isn’t warranted and they can’t help.

Omega says nothing was ever wrong with the watch, so there is nothing to warrant.

Yet the watch repeatedly took on moisture during warranty and now the lume is falling out.

This isn’t me inventing a narrative or believing it, just the situation I’m left with.

And to be clear, in this case - the Omega Service Centre is the Omega. There is no separate “real Omega” behind them, they are official Omega representatives. Unless I fly to Biel and knock on the door, the service centre is the only Omega entity I can speak to.

I am sure you quoted Omega’s Customer Care Policy about water resistance with best intentions, but there are no entity that stands behind those words in practice. The policy is clear in theory, but in practice, the watch is not water-resistant and nobody is taking responsibility for it.

That’s why, no matter how technically wrong the advice “50 m WR = hand‑wash only” may be, or how absurd “never take your Speedmaster near water” sounds, it ends up being the only honest, practical advice. In reality, if your watch gets wet during the warranty period, they will clean it and send it back as "a goodwill gesture" and once the warranty expires, you are on your own and paying thousands every time moisture gets in. It may not happen to every owner, but if it happens to you, that becomes your reality. So the "best practice" becomes simple - "if you are out of warranty, don’t take it near water".

That’s the entire point I’m making about the ambiguity of WR on Speedies.

You need to ask to escalate beyond the AD. And I would look up Omega's general contact email, and email a concise explanation of where you are, primarily the AD denying Onega's warranty. Go ahead and try that too.

Archer · Apr 15, 2026

Porteroso
You need to ask to escalate beyond the AD. And I would look up Omega's general contact email, and email a concise explanation of where you are, primarily the AD denying Onega's warranty. Go ahead and try that too.

The AD is not involved - he sent it in directly to Omega. The AD is not denying him anything, other than their assistance in pressuring Omega. They have an easy out - this is with Omega and out of their hands.

He does absolutely have to escalate this, as I've already said.

Porteroso · Apr 15, 2026

Archer
The AD is not involved - he sent it in directly to Omega. The AD is not denying him anything, other than their assistance in pressuring Omega. They have an easy out - this is with Omega and out of their hands.

He does absolutely have to escalate this, as I've already said.

Maybe I misread, but it seems he asked the AD, so it seems the AD is involved. The faster he can get the AD uninvolved the better.

Linas · Apr 15, 2026

ErichPryde
For yourself, for your current outcome.

What's your narrative thread here? What's the point, on your end? Other users here have been engaging patiently and in good faith, but we can't make this right for you, and turning the water resistance topic into a clay pigeon- does it genuinely help you feel better?

Just saying it is not my opinion or something I "want to believe", yes, it is my outcome - not sure how common it is, nor frankly do I care.

Archer
The service center is Omega - this is who your argument is with, not the AD.

I posted the information from the customer care manual, which is what Omega gives their own people to provide direction on how to deal with situations just like this, so that you could use it as leverage in your conversations with the service center. You appear to want to take me trying to help you as some sort of argument or point I'm trying to make, so I'm done.

Not at all, I agree with everything you said, I just don't like the framing of "if you wish to believe it", because I don't, neither wish, nor believe it. Also, the implication here is simply wider than “a defective watch.” The implication is that when it comes to WR, the policy becomes ambiguous in practice, because the written statements are either unenforceable through normal customer‑service channels or there is nobody to escalate them to.

Legally, my issue is with the AD, which is exactly why I dislike the situation so much. Under the law where I live, I have no contractual relationship with Omega. I bought the watch from the AD and my contract is with them. They are the party responsible for ensuring the goods are as described and I have statutory rights for up to six years to enforce that. That is the only legal route available to me. Whatever arrangement exists between the AD and Omega is their internal matter - they would have to recover their costs from Omega afterwards.

Porteroso
You need to ask to escalate beyond the AD. And I would look up Omega's general contact email, and email a concise explanation of where you are, primarily the AD denying Onega's warranty. Go ahead and try that too.

What would that be? "Omega's general contact email" > that is Omega Repair Centre that I am dealing with and have my watch. Same number, same e-mail - as I said, they are "the Omega". There is nothing to escalate to, beyond that.

Speedmaster Racing - repeated moisture issues for 5 Years, now Omega says crown tube damaged

Linas

ErichPryde

Gruesome

Archer

Linas

Rocketeer61

Linas

Archer

Linas

YY77

Archer

Archer

Linas

Linas

ErichPryde

Archer

Porteroso

Archer

Porteroso

Linas

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