Omega Seamaster Service
Discussion
It is sometime since I had my 20 year old automatic Omega Seamaster cleaned and serviced, and it is beginning to show signs of poor time keeping. Time for a bit of TLC.....
I have previously sent it to Omega through local agents for service but now question the economics of doing so.
Can anyone give any good recommendations for suitable service agents in and around the UK?
I am based in North Yorkshire but presume that it is safe to dispatch a watch by secure postage?
Thanks.
Andrew
I have previously sent it to Omega through local agents for service but now question the economics of doing so.
Can anyone give any good recommendations for suitable service agents in and around the UK?
I am based in North Yorkshire but presume that it is safe to dispatch a watch by secure postage?
Thanks.
Andrew
Try chealwatch.com.
This chap seems to repair almost any brand of quality watch and offers a postal service.
I dropped my Baume & Mercier a couple of years ago on to a hard surface which didn't do the time keeping much good and he repaired and serviced it for £60.00. It wasn't tested for water resistance but as it has a leather strap I wasn't particularly bothered as I'm unlikely to get it wet anyway.
You can get an estimate on line but do note what he says about NOT sending it with the original box as you will not get it back.
If I remember correctly, it came back in a jiffy bag but was fine and I have not had any problems with time keeping since.
HTH
This chap seems to repair almost any brand of quality watch and offers a postal service.
I dropped my Baume & Mercier a couple of years ago on to a hard surface which didn't do the time keeping much good and he repaired and serviced it for £60.00. It wasn't tested for water resistance but as it has a leather strap I wasn't particularly bothered as I'm unlikely to get it wet anyway.
You can get an estimate on line but do note what he says about NOT sending it with the original box as you will not get it back.
If I remember correctly, it came back in a jiffy bag but was fine and I have not had any problems with time keeping since.
HTH
These are the approved Omega UK Service Centre
http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
amr2 said:
It is sometime since I had my 20 year old automatic Omega Seamaster cleaned and serviced, and it is beginning to show signs of poor time keeping. Time for a bit of TLC.....
I have previously sent it to Omega through local agents for service but now question the economics of doing so.
Can anyone give any good recommendations for suitable service agents in and around the UK?
I am based in North Yorkshire but presume that it is safe to dispatch a watch by secure postage?
Thanks.
Andrew
After a close call with an independent service agent and my Cartier Tank Francaise I would never send a watch anywhere other than the original manufacturer. It costs more but it is probably worth it.I have previously sent it to Omega through local agents for service but now question the economics of doing so.
Can anyone give any good recommendations for suitable service agents in and around the UK?
I am based in North Yorkshire but presume that it is safe to dispatch a watch by secure postage?
Thanks.
Andrew
Quinny said:
Manks said:
After a close call with an independent service agent and my Cartier Tank Francaise I would never send a watch anywhere other than the original manufacturer. It costs more but it is probably worth it.
Surely that depends on the value and type of the watch....???I was quoted £400 by Omega to repair one of the GMT's...... Hard to justify that kind of expense on a watch worth around £800...
My Tank Francaise came back from service with a new crystal and a completely refinished case and bracelet. If Omega goes to the same lengths to keep their products in good order I would have thought that £400 was good value.
andy tims said:
These are the approved Omega UK Service Centre
http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
I thought the official Omega service centre in the UK was the Swatch Group Service Centre in Eastleigh, Southampton.http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
That is not to say that I would use them myself - too many horror stories - but AFAIK, if you take your Omega to an AD for service, that is where it will end up.
Ryte Time serviced my SMP and I am pleased with the result.
Keeping this vague in a non-name and shame way as these are the rules on PH... one of the above mentioned companies apparently rounds off edges of the watch when removing scratches. Now, while it may look professional and nice... it's not right, in my opinion. I've been warned against using one of the above companies by a serious and knowledgeable Omega collector.
Mods, feel free to delete, I guess.
Keeping this vague in a non-name and shame way as these are the rules on PH... one of the above mentioned companies apparently rounds off edges of the watch when removing scratches. Now, while it may look professional and nice... it's not right, in my opinion. I've been warned against using one of the above companies by a serious and knowledgeable Omega collector.
Mods, feel free to delete, I guess.
Edited by ShadownINja on Saturday 21st August 20:54
Strangely Brown said:
andy tims said:
These are the approved Omega UK Service Centre
http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
I thought the official Omega service centre in the UK was the Swatch Group Service Centre in Eastleigh, Southampton.http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
That is not to say that I would use them myself - too many horror stories - but AFAIK, if you take your Omega to an AD for service, that is where it will end up.
hilly10 said:
Strangely Brown said:
andy tims said:
These are the approved Omega UK Service Centre
http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
I thought the official Omega service centre in the UK was the Swatch Group Service Centre in Eastleigh, Southampton.http://www.swisstimeservices.com/
Won't be super cheap, but should be less expensive than having it sent back to Bienne
That is not to say that I would use them myself - too many horror stories - but AFAIK, if you take your Omega to an AD for service, that is where it will end up.
I have an Omega Seamaster, bought in 1997. Last year I used Swiss Time Services, who are Omega's official UK service organisation, to fully service my watch. I decided to take the watch to their premises and ended up speaking with the engineer who would do the work. After being fully serviced etc the watch was mailed back within 7 days, which is far quicker than using an Omega agent at a watch shop. The cost was £180.
I was also asked if I wanted it fully externally refurbished (free) but I decided I like the worn look so declined.
STS will give you an estimate before they start so you can decide whether or not you wish to use them.
I'd use them again.
Incidentally, I had no problem whatsoever about the age of the watch, unlike Hoover's problem mentioned above.
R.
I was also asked if I wanted it fully externally refurbished (free) but I decided I like the worn look so declined.
STS will give you an estimate before they start so you can decide whether or not you wish to use them.
I'd use them again.
Incidentally, I had no problem whatsoever about the age of the watch, unlike Hoover's problem mentioned above.
R.
I have dug my dad's old 1960 Omega Seamaster out of a drawer where it had lain for a few years as I quite fancy getting it fixed up (he's no longer with us and so I thought it might be quite a nice ting to wear).
Not that I would ever sell it, but I fear the service cost of £450 - from the company already mentioned (Swiss Time Services) is probably more than it is worth (certainly in this type of nick). That shouldn't matter but it is still a fair chunk of money.
The glass is scratched, the strap is broken (not sure if it is the original strap, I kinda remember my old chap replacing it at some point) - it is an Omega one but it has made in USA on it! Anyway, it is broken and might be able to be fixed. It loses about three minutes a day when worn but does work!
I would definitely get them to make the watch looks as new as possible as although some of you guys like the worn look, this is past the worn look, it's more the knackered look!
And I'd quite like it to look as much like it did when my gran bought it for my dad in 1960.
I am sure it would look superb and I'd keep treasuring it instead of leaving it in a drawer - and that is kinda good as it deserves to be worn. It was probably on my dad's wrist when I was born (not that he was there, he was down the park with my two-year-old sister)!
Would I get it back and think wow, thank god I got it done finally, or would I think, blimey, I could have spent £450 a lot better than that. I like my watches but I wouldn't pay big money for one ... it's a sentimental thing really but I've had it a fair few years without getting it done so far, probably cos I had no idea where to get it done but a bit of reading on this section has opened my eyes to what is possible.
Not that I would ever sell it, but I fear the service cost of £450 - from the company already mentioned (Swiss Time Services) is probably more than it is worth (certainly in this type of nick). That shouldn't matter but it is still a fair chunk of money.
The glass is scratched, the strap is broken (not sure if it is the original strap, I kinda remember my old chap replacing it at some point) - it is an Omega one but it has made in USA on it! Anyway, it is broken and might be able to be fixed. It loses about three minutes a day when worn but does work!
I would definitely get them to make the watch looks as new as possible as although some of you guys like the worn look, this is past the worn look, it's more the knackered look!
And I'd quite like it to look as much like it did when my gran bought it for my dad in 1960.
I am sure it would look superb and I'd keep treasuring it instead of leaving it in a drawer - and that is kinda good as it deserves to be worn. It was probably on my dad's wrist when I was born (not that he was there, he was down the park with my two-year-old sister)!
Would I get it back and think wow, thank god I got it done finally, or would I think, blimey, I could have spent £450 a lot better than that. I like my watches but I wouldn't pay big money for one ... it's a sentimental thing really but I've had it a fair few years without getting it done so far, probably cos I had no idea where to get it done but a bit of reading on this section has opened my eyes to what is possible.
That's not knackered, it's in very good condition.
You need a new crystal and a new strap. Maybe a VERY light polish, anything more will ruin those beautiful sharp edges. And of course it should have a service.
DO NOT let anyone rework the dial. You'll be amazed at how good it looks under a new crystal, a redial won't be anywhere near as nice and you'll halve the value.
Please trust me on this one. If you get the crystal replaced and then you decide the dial needs doing you can always get it done later, but you'll never be able to get the dial back to original once it's been redialled.
Variomatic (Joe) in Anglesey would be a great choice for a sympathetic restoration, but you may find it hard to reach him at the moment. Where "in the East" are you? I know a good guy in Southampton.
You need a new crystal and a new strap. Maybe a VERY light polish, anything more will ruin those beautiful sharp edges. And of course it should have a service.
DO NOT let anyone rework the dial. You'll be amazed at how good it looks under a new crystal, a redial won't be anywhere near as nice and you'll halve the value.
Please trust me on this one. If you get the crystal replaced and then you decide the dial needs doing you can always get it done later, but you'll never be able to get the dial back to original once it's been redialled.
Variomatic (Joe) in Anglesey would be a great choice for a sympathetic restoration, but you may find it hard to reach him at the moment. Where "in the East" are you? I know a good guy in Southampton.
Thanks Mike. The crystal (as I now know it to be called) is badly scratched as you can see, but the face itself looks fine (as you have deduced). It has a lovely mellow colour which I wouldn't want to change.
Peterborough I'm in - pretty East but not the Far East (Yarmouth!)
I owe a mate of mine who's close to Fareham a visit so maybe I could go see your chap then maybe - nothing urgent though.
Peterborough I'm in - pretty East but not the Far East (Yarmouth!)
I owe a mate of mine who's close to Fareham a visit so maybe I could go see your chap then maybe - nothing urgent though.
You're welcome. Spotting a good dial under a knackered crystal is an essential skill in buying vintage watches from ebay.
You should get a crystal, service, a strap & change for £200. Not worth coming to Southampton to get it done, just go to the BHI website and look for members close to you that take repairs.
You should get a crystal, service, a strap & change for £200. Not worth coming to Southampton to get it done, just go to the BHI website and look for members close to you that take repairs.
Duncan at https://thewatchbloke.co.uk did a superb job on my grandfather's old 1965 Seamaster De Ville. Cost around £120 iirc, and he did a far more sympathetic service job than I've been warned about from some of the 'official' agents.
Yes that dial as a lovely mellow tinge to it, as said leave well alone.
When my wife's 50s Oyster Date was restored,the original owner had the good sense to leave the gorgeous honeycomb dial well alone
When my wife's 50s Oyster Date was restored,the original owner had the good sense to leave the gorgeous honeycomb dial well alone
Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 18th February 13:31
Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 18th February 13:33
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