Vintage Omega Regulation Stability

Delroyb · Apr 4, 2017

adi4
Might it be magnetized? Worth a shot to use a cheap compass just to check out of curiosity. Otherwise, that response from the watchmaker worries me as well unless there's a pre-existing issue with the watch, in which case he still should have pointed that out instead of using that terrible response.

This was my fist thought as well. Some scanner in the postal service, or even just placed near something magnetised enroute? Very easy to check and get rectified. It can do all sorts of weird stuff, I've had watches in that were running minutes out, with mad beat error, which have been almost back to spec after a trip through the demagnetiser. (Obviously not a substitute for a full clean and service)

Sgt_Bilko · Apr 4, 2017

I have a Cal 564 Connie that came back from a watchmaker and was gaining about a minute a day. It went back, but after it's return was still something like 20 seconds a day, despite the watchmaker saying it tested perfectly.

I was fed up sending it back & forth, so I simply wore it normally and over a period of several weeks it slowly improved to the point where it's now running at less than +1 second a day. It's a little strange, but the watch is less accurate for a day if manually wound and may lose 10 seconds, so I just wear it and rely on the automatic winding through movement. None of this makes much sense, but that has been my experience. It's very possible the watch of the OP took a knock in transit or was magnetised at some stage.

Jheredia · Apr 4, 2017

I'm beginning to seriously suspect magnetism so I'll have to get myself a compass to test it out. Sgt_Bilko, that's exactly my experience as well, it went back and forth twice and I'm tired of it. I'll report back about the magnetism and whether it improves over the next few days. Thanks again to everyone who weighed in, I really really appreciate it!

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

Jheredia
I'm beginning to seriously suspect magnetism so I'll have to get myself a compass to test it out. Sgt_Bilko, that's exactly my experience as well, it went back and forth twice and I'm tired of it. I'll report back about the magnetism and whether it improves over the next few days. Thanks again to everyone who weighed in, I really really appreciate it!

Skip the compass and just demagnetize it...

Sgt_Bilko · Apr 4, 2017

I could be wrong here, but when these watches were made we were surrounded by so much less electrical equipment and I doubt anybody at Omega thought they'd ever be surrounded on all sides by computers, speakers, microwaves, mobile phones and the rest. A retired watchmaker told me the two biggest reasons for watches coming into his shop were magnetism and water damage.

I really don't like sending vintage watches through the post and not all watchmakers are brilliant with packing, plus it can cause problems if there is not enough tension on the spring while in transit due to not being properly wound.

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

Sgt_Bilko
I could be wrong here, but when these watches were made we were surrounded by so much less electrical equipment and I doubt anybody at Omega thought they'd ever be surrounded on all sides by computers, speakers, microwaves, mobile phones and the rest. A retired watchmaker told me the two biggest reasons for watches coming into his shop were magnetism and water damage.

I really don't like sending vintage watches through the post and not all watchmakers are brilliant with packing, plus it can cause problems if there is not enough tension on the spring while in transit due to not being properly wound.

While it's true that there are more magnetic fields around us than ever before, I ship literally hundreds of watches a year without issues, so although you can choose to not ship if you like, the concern about magnetism from shipping is maybe a little overblown. Also, not sure why you believe there needs to be tension on the mainspring during shipping...it really makes no difference.

I can't argue with what your retired watchmaker friend has told you if that is his experience, but water damage and magnetism are probably the 2 least common reasons watches end up on my bench.

Cheers, Al

Sgt_Bilko · Apr 4, 2017

I wasn't specifically talking about magnetism while shipping, but just all around us. I look at my desk here and I see a smartphone, lamp, satnav, microphone, computer, monitor, external drives, printer and more.

Somebody once returned an unwound watch to me in the post and after winding here at the house it became clear within a few minutes that it was running ridiculously fast. I asked about it here on the forum and was told that a shock can cause the balance spring to temporarily move from it's normal position. The spring can then get hung up on the stud carrier. I gather that if the watch is fully wound this is less likely to occur.

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

Sgt_Bilko
I asked about it here on the forum and was told that a shock can cause the balance spring to temporarily move from it's normal position. The spring can then get hung up on the stud carrier. I gather that if the watch is fully wound this is less likely to occur.

It happens most often when the watch is being worn, so when it's running, like this one:

Or this one:

Cheers, Al

M'Bob · Apr 4, 2017

Archer
I can't argue with what your retired watchmaker friend has told you if that is his experience, but water damage and magnetism are probably the 2 least common reasons watches end up on my bench

Al, what would be the most common reason folks seek you out - regular service, or some other reason?

adi4 · Apr 4, 2017

Archer
Skip the compass and just demagnetize it...

Definitely agree, I was just suggesting a (possibly) no cost attempt at a diagnosis if he doesn't already own a demagnetizer or have easy access to one. Although at the prices you can find a cheap demagnetizer, I think your solution is probably best. 👍

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

adi4
Definitely agree, I was just suggesting a (possibly) no cost attempt at a diagnosis if he doesn't already own a demagnetizer or have easy access to one. Although at the prices you can find a cheap demagnetizer, I think your solution is probably best. 👍

Well, the compass has a magnet in it, so not sure the test is as accurate as people believe it is, since it will be attracted to any ferrous material if it's magnetized or not.

Cheers, Al

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

M'Bob
Al, what would be the most common reason folks seek you out - regular service, or some other reason?

I don't keep accurate stats by any means, but many are either not working, have not been serviced in a very long time, or the owner doesn't know when it was last serviced. Some come to me as a "regular" service with no specific problem cited, but those are not the majority.

adi4 · Apr 4, 2017

Archer
Well, the compass has a magnet in it, so not sure the test is as accurate as people believe it is, since it will be attracted to any ferrous material if it's magnetized or not.

Cheers, Al

Great point. What would you suggest for an alternative quick and easy approach to test for it? Wel, besides just running it through the demagnetizer. 😜

Archer · Apr 4, 2017

adi4
Great point. What would you suggest for an alternative quick and easy approach to test for it? Wel, besides just running it through the demagnetizer. 😜

Well, if I get a watch in that I suspect is magnetized, I place it on the timing machine, note the rate, demagnetize it, and check the rate again. Demagnetizing is so quick and easy, I don't feel the need to have a test other than the change in results I would observe. This is why I said if you suspect it, just get on with using the demag...

Jheredia · Apr 4, 2017

I don't currently have a demagnetizer but since they're pretty cheap I'm going to buy one to have for now and any future cases.

Vintage Omega Regulation Stability

Delroyb

Sgt_Bilko

Jheredia

Archer

Sgt_Bilko

Archer

Sgt_Bilko

Archer

M'Bob

adi4

Archer

Archer

adi4

Archer

Jheredia

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