This is a little belated because I just finally got the photos, but I had a wonderful time at a VIP Watchmaker Event in May thanks to Omega. It was first class the entire way and they really spared no expense. Thanks to Warren Carpenter, my host and all-around awesome guy, and Mariano Samudio, a phenomenal watchmaker and excellent teacher to a ham-handed oaf like me!

It started off with first class airfare to Houston and a one-night stay at the St. Regis hotel, both of which were superb. We had dinner at a great steakhouse, Vic and Anthony's, and the next morning was the Watchmaker Course at the Boutique in Houston Galleria, followed by lunch and then first class flight home. The dinner was amazing, of course, but the watchmaker course was truly enlightening. I already had incredible respect for watchmakers, but at this event, I learned firsthand just how much all watchmakers deserve our admiration! The Omega 2201 movement I worked on was "easy mode" as far as movements go...I can't imagine what it takes to do the new co-axials! With Mariano's expert assistance, I was able to completely disassemble and reassemble the movement, and by the grace of God, it still worked when I was done with it.

The best part of the whole trip, though, was that I was able to reconnect with my aunt and uncle in Houston whom I hadn't seen in over 20 years. In-between arriving at the hotel and going to dinner, I was able to visit with them and have a wonderful reunion, all thanks to Omega.

I can't think of another watch company that does so much for its clients. Thanks to Omega and kudos to Warren, Mariano, and Dan for a truly remarkable experience!

 

By the way, all of this was made possible by the wonderful folks at the Omega Boutique in King of Prussia, PA, which for my money is the very best place to buy an Omega. The service is absolutely top-notch and well worth it.

 

That sounds absolutely amazing!

What kind of client do you need to be in order to be invited to such an event?

 

Buying watch(es) at an Omega Boutique (at least in the USA) is a significant part of it. I don't know how they choose clients specifically. It doesn't hurt to be committed to Omega as a brand and company, either. I very strongly support Omega and the Boutiques, and I feel with firm conviction that Omega represents one of the best values in watchmaking today. I love talking about Omega, I wear not only Omega watches but an Aqua Sailing bracelet and one of the relatively new mens' rings, and I use an Omega wallet. I don't know for sure, but I would imagine being passionate about Omega helps.

 

I imagine "buying watch(es)" = "buying a LOT of watches!"

I love Omegas and currently have four in my collection. One new and three vintage. I've got to step up my relationship with my local boutique. I've got my eye on the new Seamaster 300m coming out in the fall, maybe that will help!

 

Looks like a great time - yes the 2201 (an ETA 6498-2) is a pretty easy movement to service, and one that a lot of schools use for students to learn on since it's very big.

Dan Fenwick - he was the instructor at Swatch when I took the co-axial training - such a great guy.

Glad you enjoyed getting a small taste of my daily life.

Cheers, Al

 

Al, I was thinking of you the whole time I was there, not only because of your presence on the forums but because you're the only watchmaker to whom I've sent a watch for service. Tremendous respect for your profession! Even this "easy" movement has a couple steps that are really quite challenging for a newbie, though I did get compliments for my dexterity with the tools having no experience (though perhaps they were just being friendly, lol).

Yes, Dan is an awesome guy -- he came to one of the GTGs I helped organize at the King of Prussia Boutique, and it was great to see him again at the Watchmaker Course. He was sitting across from me doing the same steps I was and evaluating the course.

 

I will say, for anyone curious about this strange hobby we all have, that I had such a good time doing the watchmaker course that I would really like to obtain my own set of tools and play around with cheap movements. It was a LOT more fun than I thought, and while challenging, it's also very rewarding. It kind of reminds me of my own profession in that way (I'm a software engineer). I would encourage everyone to have an experience like this at some point, even if it involves buying some tools and cheap movements and just messing around. If nothing else, it'll convince you that the service costs are worth it!

 

Another slippery slope. I have spent at least £5,000 on tools and other specialist equipment since I started a couple of years ago - probably a lot more.

 

People who know me would call me the king of slippery slopes. This doesn't bode well!

 

Resistance is futile.

 

Well at least he was not evaluating you - I have had that experience!

Seriously he is a very helpful guy, and was willing to answer any question I had during the week in NJ. I still sometimes bug him on stuff when the guys here in Canada can't answer a question I have.

 

I would suggest getting an Asian version of the 6497 to start with - cheap and something you have already worked on so you will be able to recall the steps that you went through with the Omega movement. I'm assuming all you did was disassemble and reassemble it, and you didn't do any cleaning, oiling, or adjusting?

Learning proper oiling technique can be challenging at first, in particular oiling the escapement. Although infinitely easier than doing a co-axial, where the oil drops are truly microscopic in size, getting the oil on the pallet right is critical, and can be a challenge for a beginner, so the bigger the movement the better.

And as Stewart points out, this gets expensive very quickly. 5k - dollars or pounds - is only the tip of the iceberg.

Cheers, Al

 

Al, yes, we just disassembled and reassembled the movement -- no cleaning, oiling, or adjusting. Your suggestion of experimenting with an Asian 6497 is an excellent one -- I hope to eventually find time (and money!) for this. With the numbers you guys are saying, I might have to sell watches to buy equipment to learn how to play with watches!

 

Yeah, I just looked at my inventory spreadsheet. I've got $28k invested in tools and parts. And it's definitely not my day job.

I've been to one of these Omega events before, though mine was in a larger group setting at a restaurant, rather than the one-on-one sort of attention that you seemed to have. We took down a movement and then put it back together. They sent us home with some very nice Bergeon/Omega branded tools.... and that was the beginning of my 'problem'. You've been well warned

I'll also note that it has been extremely rewarding. Knowledge truly is power, and if you understand how to service a movement and how to do casework, you're giving yourself a first class education at detecting frauds, redials, and spotting trouble in vintage pieces.

 

Are you drinking my rum ? No wonder it is depleting so quickly !

 

Very cool Shem.