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What is the point?

Omega D
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This post is probably due to my ongoing anxiety I suffer from but here goes.

My DeVille, Prestige, 39.5mm new with discount from AD 18 months ago cost around £2400, hardly a hype model and with practically no resale value. I genuinely love the watch and would not want to sell even if resale value was there.

Rising fuel prices, energy prices has led companies instead of sensibly increasing prices to inflate prices to out of proportion crazy prices. The boss always benefits from hard times when average Joe suffers.

I was planning to service this watch religiously every 7 years, but considering Omega will probably over the next few years shaft us on servicing prices, I have a new method. Let the watch run till it has a fault or just stops hopefully I will get 15 plus years out of it before this happens. Then pay the piper for a service , as I am 50 I may need to only ever service it once I hope. The price I think is the same providing dial and crystal ok, what ever watch needs. Parts availability, well I could I could argue the point that even if it was serviced as recommended and when service was needed way down the line again parts may still be needed. By this time parts may no longer be available anyway, watch is then redundant.

Any which way but loose, Omega CEO and owners always win. But I could considerably reduce the hit.

Thoughts??
 
20DB96FC-5FC8-4909-9F4F-20B7CC0EA535.jpeg
JMO1995
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I think it’s down to your personal situation, there’s lots of variables but for me it’s going to come down to affordability. I plan on getting my watches serviced either when there’s any fault that will cause the watch more damage if it isn’t fixed straight away or every 5 years.

Having said that, if when the time comes and I can’t afford that expense then the watch will have to wait but for me I’m relatively young and I want my watches to last at least as long as me (hopefully 50+ years) and then hand them down as heirlooms.
 
Omega D
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JMO1995 JMO1995
I think it’s down to your personal situation, there’s lots of variables but for me it’s going to come down to affordability. I plan on getting my watches serviced either when there’s any fault that will cause the watch more damage if it isn’t fixed straight away or every 5 years.

Having said that, if when the time comes and I can’t afford that expense then the watch will have to wait but for me I’m relatively young and I want my watches to last at least as long as me (hopefully 50+ years) and then hand them down as heirlooms.
Also remember these used to be classed as lifetime timepieces when people took things easy and change was proportional and slow. You can service a watch from 50 years ago. Good luck if the current calibres with all the tech changes will be serviceable 30 years from now when parts are no longer available. Times changed as people are more fickle and watch companies are the same. Example Rolex in the 80s and 90s hardly ever changed models and Watch sizes. Rolex introduced the multi colour OP line few years ago and one or two years later discontinued them, all the best finding all replacement parts at service 25 years from now. You could have serviced it all properly then next service need a certain part and no longer available.
 
JMO1995
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Omega D Omega D
Also remember these used to be classed as lifetime timepieces when people took things easy and change was proportional and slow. You can service a watch from 50 years ago. Good luck if the current calibres with all the tech changes will be serviceable 30 years from now when parts are no longer available. Times changed as people are more fickle and watch companies are the same. Example Rolex in the 80s and 90s hardly ever changed models and Watch sizes. Rolex introduced the multi colour OP line few years ago and one or two years later discontinued them, all the best finding all replacement parts at service 25 years from now. You could have serviced it all properly then next service need a certain part and no longer available.
If that’s the case then it is what is but I’m not going to worry about it, that’s just my plan.

I currently have a 3861 speedy and I’ve just got a 2nd watch that I’ll do a post on hopefully this weekend that’s also a popular model so I’d think I’d have a slightly better chance than other models to be able to get them serviced in 30 years but if not then I’m not going to lose sleep over it now.
 
dsio
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Take the watch to an independent watchmaker with a parts account, you don’t have to take it back to Omega for a Cal 2500. Support your local independent and they’ll do a much better price than the factory will, most likely with a far quicker turnaround time too.

If you surveyed the majority of serious Omega collectors with multiple watches and asked how many use factory servicing, the number would be 10% or less, probably 5% or less.
 
Omega D
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JMO1995 JMO1995
If that’s the case then it is what is but I’m not going to worry about it, that’s just my plan.

I currently have a 3861 speedy and I’ve just got a 2nd watch that I’ll do a post on hopefully this weekend that’s also a popular model so I’d think I’d have a slightly better chance than other models to be able to get them serviced in 30 years but if not then I’m not going to lose sleep over it now.
Enjoy your new watch
 
Omega D
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dsio dsio
Take the watch to an independent watchmaker with a parts account, you don’t have to take it back to Omega for a Cal 2500. Support your local independent and they’ll do a much better price than the factory will, most likely with a far quicker turnaround time too.

If you surveyed the majority of serious Omega collectors with multiple watches and asked how many use factory servicing, the number would be 10% or less, probably 5% or less.
Great advice thanks.

Is the only way for an independent to have a part’s account with Omega to be authorised by them? I ask because a U.K. dealer who has a string of qualifications claims not to be authorised by Omega but uses all original parts.
 
Aroxx
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It seems you are indeed projecting your anxiety about life onto this object. This is the same as your other post. The man is screwing us working stiffs, the world used to be better and make sense, inflation, the sky is falling, etc. Relax, it’s just a watch. It’s meant to be worn around and enjoyed and tell you what time it is. Omega has been around for 175 years, the tech in your watch has been around longer than that. They’re not going to run out of parts or watchmakers in the next 20 years. You can find an independent to service it reasonably. There’s no problem.
 
Dan S
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Omega D Omega D
Let the watch run till it has a fault or just stops hopefully I will get 15 plus years out of it before this happens. Then pay the piper for a service...

This topic arises pretty frequently on the forum, and members are always pretty evenly divided. Some choose a regular preventative maintenance schedule, and other say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." It's your watch and your choice, no big deal. And if you are angry about Omega raising their service rates, you can choose to have an independent watchmaker service the watch.
 
Aroxx
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janice&fred janice&fred
Nah I'm hoping you want to go deeper in the Psychodynamic analysis 👍
The OP lead with how it’s probably his anxiety. I merely agreed. None of that is about a watch. 😗
 
Dan S
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Aroxx Aroxx
The OP lead with how it’s probably his anxiety. I merely agreed. None of that is about a watch. 😗

I didn't see anxiety really. I read the OP more as anger towards big corporations and executives, and a desire to save money.
 
bananapeanut
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Look at it this way: £2400 was a great deal. Consider that the discount you got pays for your first service 15 years from now. Basically, it means you can wear and enjoy your watch for the next 30 years until you're 80 at no cost.
 
janice&fred
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Dan S Dan S
I didn't see anxiety really. I read the OP more as anger towards big corporations and executives, and a desire to save money.

Can't comment on the OP's mental state per se, but the posting itself is a (slightly) paranoid view toward big business with a touch of scapegoating, a common component in that style of viewpoint. (They're out to get me, and it's their fault if things go sideways, not mine)

That will be $350. 😁
 
Archer
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Omega D Omega D
Is the only way for an independent to have a part’s account with Omega to be authorised by them? I ask because a U.K. dealer who has a string of qualifications claims not to be authorised by Omega but uses all original parts.

Yes, to get a parts account you have to be Omega certified. If they are not, they are obtaining Omega parts on the open market from resellers, which means they are likely paying more for the parts, and charging people more for them to cover that additional expense.
 
Tuna Cowboy
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"Let the watch run till it has a fault or just stops hopefully I will get 15 plus years out of it before this happens. Then pay the piper for a service , as I am 50 I may need to only ever service it once I hope."

If you mark time by the service intervals of your watch your probably going want to have it serviced more than once before your boots up so to speak.
Edited:
 
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