X-33 Service Swindle

I have an X-33 that was serviced 2.5 years ago. Replace a bunch of parts and crystal.

Service cost was $500 plus crystal.

Watch had to go back under 2yr warranty as the light shorted out the movement.

Fast forward to present time

About a month ago, I was wearing it and pressed the light pusher. The dial flashed and immediately went into battery failure warning mode.

I went back to boutique and dropped watch off. They were going to try to get it looked at under warranty..

Went to pick up watch yesterday as it had come in

They didn't cover it under warranty and performed another maintenance service. This time it was $700! Also no parts whatsoever were included. That's $100 more than the website lists a quartz service.

How do I know they just didn't change the battery? I have no evidence of full-service other than the receipt I paid for it and the watch works...

I paid for it and left as it was a full boutique and didn't want to cause a scene, but the more I think about it, something isn't right.

I should add the watch was out if warranty by a few months and the boutique was looking to get a concession from Omega

Something isn't quite right with this ..

I really think they just changed the battery and charged me for a service.

Did you authorize a service? If not, I wouldn't have paid for it.

Hello,

First, I am absolutely gutted by your experience. I rely on my X33 for work and life every day, and reading what you have gone through hits hard.

First, as padders mentioned above, if worn daily and the functions are used frequently, there is a good chance that you will need to replace the battery in your X33 every 18-36 months.

From my personal experience, I have never handed my X33 over to the authorized dealer I got it from, or to my trusted independent watchmakers. I always go directly to SWATCH Group, and they have been absolute angels. Depending on where you reside, this may be prohibitive or nearly impossible, but if you can, deal with SWATCH Group.

The X33 is not a normal watch, and its tiny titanium parts, such as the pushers, can easily be broken if not set properly. These wonderful little tools are often thought of as being easy to service due to being quartz and because of a YouTube video where an astronaut replaces the battery in his while in orbit. From my experience and that of other X33 owners, this specialized tool requires experts and someone you can trust.

I genuinely hope that this experience does not put you off from owning and enjoying your X33 for many years to come.

Note: I reside in Canada and have been treated amazingly by SWATCH Group Canada and SWATCH Group over in Switzerland.

Boutiques usually send their watches for service to a Swatch Group service center. They might have a technician on site, but they don't service watches. So I'm betting this watch was sent to a Swatch Group service center (which we typically call an Omega Service Center because we are Omega-centric).