Community Stories

Who Should Fix My Watch? How Much Should it Cost?

Roger Loomis
Posts
7
Likes
3
In April 2016 I purchased a brand new watch--the Omega Seamaster 300 Titanium. It's a gorgeous watch--it has the blue face, retro glow-in-the-dark hands, and the transparent back case.

I wore it almost every day for about four years. At that point, I heard something loose on the inside--it had a loud, obvious rattle. At the time I didn't realize it was still in warrantee, and I ended up putting it on the shelf until now. I finally decided to deal with it, and earlier this week took it to a local jeweler to have them look at it. It's a local store, but has excellent reviews.

I was told today that somehow the actual mainplate is broken--that is what's rattling around! Consequently the whole thing needs to be rebuilt. Total cost for the repairs: $1,700.

Of course I'm kicking myself for not immediately sending it back to Omega when the problem started and it was still in warrantee. But now I'm wondering if this price tag is a bit excessive. I called Omega and couldn't get somebody on the phone, but their website says they can do a "complete service" on this watch for only $550. Would that include replacing a broken mainplate?

This is my first real watch, and I'm a little stuck on next steps. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

IMG_1165.jpg
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,916
Take it to a local Omega boutique and have Omega do the service. Unless the local jeweler is an Omega dealer and has an Omega parts account and Omega trained watchmaker on the payroll, I don’t know how they can even offer the service directly to you…unless they would be sending it out to Omega for $550 (or whatever it is) and then up-charging for them brokering the service,
 
TexOmega
Posts
7,939
Likes
57,338
Two choices

Omega
Or
Independent WM with an Omega parts account

If you state where you are, generally, a forum member will recommend someone.


Edit

beat me POSTING by THIS MUCH
 
Roger Loomis
Posts
7
Likes
3
TexOmega TexOmega
Two choices

Omega
Or
Independent WM with an Omega parts account

If you state where you are, generally, a forum member will recommend someone.

Thanks. I'm in Overland Park, Kansas (a suburb of Kansas City).

I was assured that the local guy would do exactly what Omega would do, so I assume he has the Omega parts account. Is there a risk he'd be rebuilding it with parts from somewhere else?
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,792
Definitely send it to Omega. If the mainplate is broken, there's no reason they wouldn't notice a defect. I would suggest that it ought be covered even this far beyond warranty, because This Is Something That Never Happens.

In fact, I would send it directly back to the factory in Bienne, this is so unusual.

Good luck!
 
FREDMAYCOIN
Posts
1,076
Likes
1,784
No expert but I’ve never heard of a broken main plate. Just send it to omega for service.
 
Donn Chambers
Posts
2,489
Likes
3,354
$1700 sounds like your “watchmaker” is ripping you off. I cannot believe your main plate is broken - sounds like the guy is just making up stuff to get you to shell out some money. Not a lot of watchmakers have the training to to work on these co-axial movements, and if he doesn’t, he will likely make things worse.

send it to Omega and I bet the cost won’t be much more than a standard service. Too bad you didn’t send it in under warranty.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,916
Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
$1700 sounds like your “watchmaker” is ripping you off. I cannot believe your main plate is broken - sounds like the guy is just making up stuff to get you to shell out some money. Not a lot of watchmakers have the training to to work on these co-axial movements, and if he doesn’t, he will likely make things worse.

send it to Omega and I bet the cost won’t be much more than a standard service. Too bad you didn’t send it in under warranty.
I’m sorry, but the main plate is connected to the thermal coupler, which drives the secondary axis shaft, which then is decoupled from the transaxle main bearing which provides impulse power by way of the flux capacitor….duh! 😉
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,916
My mother needed her 90’s quartz Tissot fixed- she said it stopped. She took it to a very reputable family run jeweler in town and they said they sent it to their watchmaker who said it needed a complete replacement movement to the tune of $450.
What’s funny is their watchmaker is my watchmaker, he said he never saw the watch, and that a replacement movement is under $100.
I told her to get the watch back and give it to me. I replaced the battery….and it’s just fine.
 
Roger Loomis
Posts
7
Likes
3
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Definitely send it to Omega. If the mainplate is broken, there's no reason they wouldn't notice a defect. I would suggest that it ought be covered even this far beyond warranty, because This Is Something That Never Happens.

In fact, I would send it directly back to the factory in Bienne, this is so unusual.

Good luck!
Thanks. I apologize for asking a dumb question that must be answered somewhere else on here, but when you send a watch to them, do you just drop it in the mail with a note, or do you need to get authorization first, or what, exactly?
 
Dan S
Posts
21,136
Likes
48,234
Contact a service center using the information on the Omega website. Ask them for instructions.
 
TimeODanaos
Posts
1,700
Likes
3,488
Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
I cannot believe your main plate is broken - sounds like the guy is just making up stuff.
+1 this. First step is just to get a suitably qualified WM to take a look under the hood and tell you what's really wrong. The sort of incident that would "break the mainplate", I think you would have remembered, and maybe the watch wouldn't look too great afterwards either! Guys near you will advise on who knows their stuff.
 
JwRosenthal
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,916
Roger Loomis Roger Loomis
Thanks. I apologize for asking a dumb question that must be answered somewhere else on here, but when you send a watch to them, do you just drop it in the mail with a note, or do you need to get authorization first, or what, exactly?
That’s not a dumb question- I’ve been here a little while and I don’t know the answer to that one either.
 
redpcar
Posts
3,901
Likes
8,745
My bet is the oscillating weight. Was it still running? Broken main plate would be catastrophic.
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,464
Likes
34,668
Contact one of the four US Service Centres by email.

For example

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-au/store/storedetails/4203

I personally would not trust this to anyone else unless they can confirm that they are an accredited Omega watchmaker with a parts account and are also qualified to service coaxial calibers.
 
8100_RPM
Posts
814
Likes
1,379
There are four Omega service centers in the U.S. See the link below for more information.

https://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/finding-a-service-centre/country/united-states

The Omega Boutiques send their watches to Seattle for service. I actually stopped by my OB this afternoon to pick-up my Seamaster that was serviced in Seattle. It looks as good as new.

More information about a complete Omega service can be found here: https://www.omegawatches.com/custom...s-and-prices/main-steps-of-a-complete-service

Another good option would be Nesbit's Fine Watch Service.
https://www.nesbitswatchservice.com/
 
S.H.
Posts
1,595
Likes
3,809
What gets me everytime is people asking jewelers to look at / repair watches... At most they know how to sell them. And if they take repairs they usually add overhead costs and send them God knows where.

I would not go to a shoe repair shop to have a bike looked at. Different skill set.
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,792
S.H. S.H.
What gets me everytime is people asking jewelers to look at / repair watches..
In the US, there was a long tradition of jewelers selling watches and also having a watchmaker. Some still do. In fact, the local Rolex dealer is a jewelry store, and they have two watchmakers on staff.

I guess that tradition is not universal?
 
Larry S
Posts
13,050
Likes
52,019
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
In the US, there was a long tradition of jewelers selling watches and also having a watchmaker. Some still do. In fact, the local Rolex dealer is a jewelry store, and they have two watchmakers on staff.

I guess that tradition is not universal?
No. Actually the watchmaker I use takes work from jewelers … many send them out. @Roger Loomis … +1 for straight to Omega service with your papers.
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,792
Larry S Larry S
No. Actually the watchmaker I use takes work from jewelers … many send them out.
Indeed many do these days.
 
18 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

P

Help me identify my grandfather's watch / How much should I spend on its restoration?

Panoss95 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
ecarpino
ecarpino
Posts
8
Views
3K
Lorenzzzz

How much should I pay for it? - Omega Constellation Pie-Pan 168.025 Cal. 564

Lorenzzzz Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Peemacgee
Peemacgee
Posts
6
Views
3K
97'vintage

What should I get done on my 1962 Omega?

97'vintage Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
97'vintage
97'vintage
Posts
10
Views
4K
Spacefruit

Two Tone Speedmaster, should it sell?

Spacefruit Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Micmicmotorbike
Micmicmotorbike
Posts
27
Views
4K
M

Ca. 1919 Omega Pocket Watch from my great grandpa. Should i restore?

MyGrandpasOmega Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
SkunkPrince
SkunkPrince
Posts
9
Views
3K
A

issue with my Aquaterra: should I send it back to the service centre?

alecs Modern Omega Watches
A
alecs
Posts
3
Views
2K