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Speedmaster Service near me? NY/Northern NJ

B
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Hello all!

I am the proud new owner of a 1998 Speedmaster Pro, with the 1861 movement. I'd like to get it serviced right away. I'm looking for someplace near me, both to support local business and spare the shipping cost/hassle. I live in Westchester County, NY, but work in the Trenton NJ area and would be willing to go up to 30-40 minutes out of my commute along I-95/Route 1. Any recommendations?

I'd also be open to somewhere in Westchester/Western CT--I saw a video on Youtube of somebody at Manfredi in Greenwich servicing a Speedy, has anybody used them?

Thanks!
 
Dan S
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If you already had a relationship with an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account, that would be one thing. But since you apparently don't, and since this is a common relatively modern Speedmaster, I think that the easiest path would be to send it to an Omega Service Center. There is one in NJ.
 
B
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Dan S Dan S
If you already had a relationship with an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account, that would be one thing. But since you apparently don't, and since this is a common relatively modern Speedmaster, I think that the easiest path would be to send it to an Omega Service Center. There is one in NJ.

That's definitely an option, though the watch is unpolished with original tritium dial, and I would hate for either of those to be disturbed. If it's a "building a relationship" issue (a la Rolex Steel Sports), I do have some other older Omegas that are due for a service as well, and could add them to the deal.
 
Dan S
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I don't think there's necessarily a need to build a relationship by offering more business, but it's not easy to find a good watchmaker, and there is always a risk with an unknown quantity. You can get recommendations from people on the forum, but how do you know you can trust our recommendations? We are strangers to you.

Omega Service Center will do a satisfactory job, and you can decline case polishing or dial replacement.

If it were a vintage watch, I would have a different opinion.
 
asrnj77
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B bungee2012
Hello all!

I am the proud new owner of a 1998 Speedmaster Pro, with the 1861 movement. I'd like to get it serviced right away. I'm looking for someplace near me, both to support local business and spare the shipping cost/hassle. I live in Westchester County, NY, but work in the Trenton NJ area and would be willing to go up to 30-40 minutes out of my commute along I-95/Route 1. Any recommendations?

I'd also be open to somewhere in Westchester/Western CT--I saw a video on Youtube of somebody at Manfredi in Greenwich servicing a Speedy, has anybody used them?

Thanks!

That’s a heck of a commute although you’re mostly going against traffic. You can also explore watchmakers in Philly. Do some searching and expect to pay around $600-750.
 
B
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asrnj77 asrnj77
That’s a heck of a commute although you’re mostly going against traffic. You can also explore watchmakers in Philly. Do some searching and expect to pay around $600-750.

It's temporary as work was remote until a few weeks ago and is now on a hybrid "come in when you can" model. Traffic can depend on which bridge I end up taking 😉

Philly is a bit too far, unless you know of somebody particularly good.
 
janice&fred
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B bungee2012
That's definitely an option, though the watch is unpolished with original tritium dial, and I would hate for either of those to be disturbed. If it's a "building a relationship" issue (a la Rolex Steel Sports), I do have some other older Omegas that are due for a service as well, and could add them to the deal.

http://www.tempvsfvgit.com/

You won't go wrong with George's service. 👍
 
janice&fred
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Redwes25 Redwes25
I thought they were just a dealer? He is a watchmaker as well?

He takes in the repair and service jobs at his store and his watchmaker-partner does the work. George mostly handles the sales end of things. The nice thing is they offer a great guarantee for their watch service as well. 👍
 
Redwes25
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janice&fred janice&fred
He takes in the repair and service jobs at his store and his watchmaker-partner does the work. George mostly handles the sales end of things. The nice thing is they offer a great guarantee for their watch service as well. 👍

thanks. Good to know.
 
gbesq
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Dan S Dan S
Omega Service Center will do a satisfactory job, and you can decline case polishing or dial replacement.
Are you sure about that? My understanding is that Omega service will do what they deem is necessary to restore the wstch to factory specs. Many a tritium dial has been replaced by Omega without them having been asked to do so. I wouldn’t trust them to follow instructions.
 
Dan S
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gbesq gbesq
Are you sure about that? My understanding is that Omega service will do what they deem is necessary to restore the wstch to factory specs. Many a tritium dial has been replaced by Omega without them having been asked to do so. I wouldn’t trust them to follow instructions.

We hear a lot of rumors, but I'd like to hear a first-hand report where someone's dial was swapped out without approval. Usually this is someone saying that the watch was serviced 40 years ago and their uncle doesn't remember asking for the dial to be replaced. A dial is expensive and wouldn't be changed as part of the cost of a routine service. It would be included as an extra line item in the estimate and only done after approval. If it is deemed necessary, the owner could decline the service and take the watch back.
 
SkunkPrince
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gbesq gbesq
Are you sure about that? My understanding is that Omega service will do what they deem is necessary to restore the wstch to factory specs. Many a tritium dial has been replaced by Omega without them having been asked to do so. I wouldn’t trust them to follow instructions.
Once it's newer than a certain date, does it really matter? I know to some of you any cosmetic intervention is anaethema, but OP might not mind the upgrade.
 
gbesq
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Once it's newer than a certain date, does it really matter? I know to some of you any cosmetic intervention is anaethema, but OP might not mind the upgrade.
You may be right about that. I’m simply suggesting the possibility that Omega might elect to replace the tritium dial without being told to do so. Entirely up to the OP, of course.
 
SkunkPrince
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gbesq gbesq
You may be right about that. I’m simply suggesting the possibility that Omega might elect to replace the tritium dial without being told to do so. Entirely up to the OP, of course.
I'm just wondering where the Speedmaster fans draw the lines, these days? How old does it have to be where a standard factory service makes the watch "less collectable"?
 
asrnj77
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
I'm just wondering where the Speedmaster fans draw the lines, these days? How old does it have to be where a standard factory service makes the watch "less collectable"?

I say nice tritium lume is the “line”. Once it’s gone it’s hard to replace. The risk is higher when you don’t know the watchmaker doing the service
 
SkunkPrince
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asrnj77 asrnj77
I say nice tritium lume is the “line”. Once it’s gone it’s hard to replace. The risk is higher when you don’t know the watchmaker doing the service
After multiple returns for service warranty because Miami service center, I heartily agree. Why I sent my 2254.50.00 to Nesbit's in Seattle this last time! Similar price, flawless service.
 
Archer
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Dan S Dan S
We hear a lot of rumors, but I'd like to hear a first-hand report where someone's dial was swapped out without approval. Usually this is someone saying that the watch was serviced 40 years ago and their uncle doesn't remember asking for the dial to be replaced. A dial is expensive and wouldn't be changed as part of the cost of a routine service. It would be included as an extra line item in the estimate and only done after approval. If it is deemed necessary, the owner could decline the service and take the watch back.

For the dial, you are correct. If everything goes to plan and they do actually follow instructions, they would contact you before changing the dial. However there was a recent thread where someone had asked Omega not to polish the watch, and it ended up getting polished anyway. There are a lot of people involved in servicing one watch at an Omega service center, so things can get lost in the shuffle and things get done without approvals sometimes. There is a thread here where someone sent a watch to Bienne and the dial was completely refinished despite the owner asking them to leave it as is, so these things do happen - it's not just speculation.

One thing is for sure, the tritium hands will be replaced, so if those are still intact on the OP's watch and he wants them kept, then Omega is not the place to send the watch.

The more people you have between you and the person doing the work, the greater the chances of something going wrong with your instructions. Omega service centers have a lot of people involved, so the risk is probably highest there. Next would be sending it to a middle man who is going to send it to "their guy" for servicing. You have no idea what the communication is like between the middle man and their guy.

Sending it to a watchmaker that you can communicate directly with, is the safest option to ensure that your wishes are followed.

Cheers, Al
 
STANDY
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Dan S Dan S
We hear a lot of rumors, but I'd like to hear a first-hand report where someone's dial was swapped out without approval. Usually this is someone saying that the watch was serviced 40 years ago and their uncle doesn't remember asking for the dial to be replaced. A dial is expensive and wouldn't be changed as part of the cost of a routine service. It would be included as an extra line item in the estimate and only done after approval. If it is deemed necessary, the owner could decline the service and take the watch back.

Not forgetting the X-33 that had the caseback swapped out only a few weeks ago without even being charged for or asked about......
 
Dan S
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STANDY STANDY
Not forgetting the X-33 that had the caseback swapped out only a few weeks ago without even being charged for or asked about......

Yeah, I remember that. It seems to have involved an AD though IIRC.
 
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