Omega restoration service?

[Chunkychucky]

I was recently speaking to an acquaintance who came across an Omega Speedmaster Mark 2 a couple of years ago for not alot of money, however the watch wasn't operational so a bit of a risk. Said acquaintance claims he went into his local Omega agent, and they sent it off to "Omega Heritage", or something similarly titled, and for ~£400 they effectively restored the watch to as-new condition. I was wondering does anyone know what this branch of Omega is actually called? I would very much like to put my Speedmaster Mark 4.5 through the same treatment, and when I Googled Omega Heritage only to turn up a privately-owned webpage

Any help appreciated

[Podie]

2 options - STS, or Onega Bienne.

[andy_s]

http://www.swisstimeservices.com/

[The Leaper]

CC,

I can personally recommend STS. They are based in Essex. I had my Seamaster JB serviced there maybe 2 1/2 years ago. I actually took the watch there, met with a technician, he asked me all about the watch and what I actually wanted to have them do to it it...service, refurb etc...quoted me a price on the spot. Watch was returned by mail ten days later. Cost £130 all up for the full service etc but I did not opt for the refurb as I like the worn look.

R.

[andy_s]

Yup - fab service and they do as much or as little as you want. You'll chop a week off the time by taking it in personally (you skip the estimate/reply stage as they'll give it to you on the spot) and a full refurb for most of the watches (a cal.321 and 1045 are the most expensive iirc) will be about £300-£400.

They did a great job on mine:

[bigrich4]

andy_s said:

That's a nice bit of photography there Andy and a lovely watch

[Podie]

andy_s said:

Yup - fab service and they do as much or as little as you want. You'll chop a week off the time by taking it in personally (you skip the estimate/reply stage as they'll give it to you on the spot) and a full refurb for most of the watches (a cal.321 and 1045 are the most expensive iirc) will be about £300-£400.

They did a great job on mine:

Got any "before" photos?

[Chunkychucky]

Excellent, thanks very much for the replies everyone Looks like i'll be getting in touch with swiss time services!

[andy_s]

Podie said:

Got any "before" photos?

Only from the previous owner as it went straight to STS before it got to me. It needed a service and a quick tidy up of the case and bracelet (minimal) but the main thing was getting the original hands put back on - you'll see how much shorter and broader the (Bienne) service hands are.


(Chinnock/TZUK)

(I'm posting this blind so hope it's the right one!)

|Thnks bigrich - more luck than judgement!

[Podie]

Cool, thanks. You can see where the case work and hands have been done.

Interesting, thanks.

[st33ly]

Hi

I contacted STS about having my 2009 Omega PO refurbed buy them and they said they do not touch Omegas less than 20 year old. However I've read posts on this forum of people having their watches serviced and refurbed buy them. I just want a new bezel and the case and bracelet polished due to light scratches and marks. Normal ware really. Anyone shed some light?

[Podie]

Have you spoken to an Omega store / boutique?

[andy_s]

^^^ I'd think that'd be the way to go.

[nitsypee]

I didn't know of STS. My vintage seamaster needs fixing (a new pinion and rotor, apparently).

I was thinking of sending it to Ryte Time - but would I be better off with the STS specialists?

[Hoover.]

st33ly said:

Hi

I contacted STS about having my 2009 Omega PO refurbed buy them and they said they do not touch Omegas less than 20 year old. However I've read posts on this forum of people having their watches serviced and refurbed buy them. I just want a new bezel and the case and bracelet polished due to light scratches and marks. Normal ware really. Anyone shed some light?

I was told the same when I wanted my 2002 reduced moon speedmaster serviced and tarted up (must admit I was disapointed as I had heard some very good reviews of their work)..... ended up at the watch doctor in Tring

[The Leaper]

I find it difficult to understand STS's 20 years comment, as they did not quote it when my Seamaster was with them. You could send the watch to them, tell them what you want doing in a letter, and ask for a quote before they start. I suspect this will get the desired result.

Using a high street shop for servicing etc wllonly mean more expense: they will send the watch somewhere unknown and charge you a %age.

R.

[andy_s]

nitsypee said:

I didn't know of STS. My vintage seamaster needs fixing (a new pinion and rotor, apparently).

I was thinking of sending it to Ryte Time - but would I be better off with the STS specialists?

If Steve has the parts, (plus service parts presumably), and that is all you want doing then he'd do a fine job; STS would do the same except, if you asked, do a restoration on the case/bracelet, replace the crown, crystal and gaskets etc etc and charge you a little more.

Think of STS as a vintage car restorer specialist and Steve as a really good local mechanic. Steve (or Rich Askham @ watchblogspot) would do the job just fine; STS gave me my 25yr old watch back in as 'new' a state as possible and I had the assurance that they'd have access to the parts needed, were familiar with it and would back things up with a warranty (which both Rich and Steve do also).

To be honest, one of the biggest factors for me was the value of the watch, it didn't make sense to potentially save a small percentile by going elsewhere and you had documented an Omega 'service history' if it came to sell it on.

Where STS come into their own is restorative work on watches that have a lot wrong with them, I've seen dogs go in there and come out as if they'd been sitting in the jewellers window for 45 years...

[st33ly]

got any contact details for steve or rich as i'll get my PO done their.

[LukeBird]

Richard Askham, Steve Burrage.

[st33ly]

Many thanks