Omega Quartz battery
Discussion
My wifes Omega Seamaster quartz battery needs replacing for the first time. Omega themselves have quoted £107! We found an independent place near us, they have quoted £95.
Before buying the watch I did have a quick look about and it seemed to all be nearer the £40 to £60 mark. I'm not sure if something has happened to the prices in the last few years?!
Am I getting ripped off here, or is this what I should be expecting to pay?
I am south of Manchester if anyone has any recommendations.
Thanks in advance.
Before buying the watch I did have a quick look about and it seemed to all be nearer the £40 to £60 mark. I'm not sure if something has happened to the prices in the last few years?!
Am I getting ripped off here, or is this what I should be expecting to pay?
I am south of Manchester if anyone has any recommendations.
Thanks in advance.
mikeveal said:
Yes, you are getting ripped off.
Its a £3 coin cell and less than five minutes of time.
Sorry poor wording. I well aware I'm getting ripped off, but am I getting excessively ripped off?Its a £3 coin cell and less than five minutes of time.
Let's presume I don't want any monkey with watchmakers screwdrivers to do the job, and I'd rather the battery and seals are all replaced, and the watch is correctly pressure tested and cleaned.
Cheers.
triggerhappy21 said:
Sorry poor wording. I well aware I'm getting ripped off, but am I getting excessively ripped off?
Let's presume I don't want any monkey with watchmakers screwdrivers to do the job, and I'd rather the battery and seals are all replaced, and the watch is correctly pressure tested and cleaned.
Cheers.
Any monkey with watchmakers screwdrivers can do that job so yes it is a complete rip off. Either pay £100 for the AD to do it or £20 for someone else to do it.Let's presume I don't want any monkey with watchmakers screwdrivers to do the job, and I'd rather the battery and seals are all replaced, and the watch is correctly pressure tested and cleaned.
Cheers.
sandman77 said:
Any monkey with watchmakers screwdrivers can do that job so yes it is a complete rip off. Either pay £100 for the AD to do it or £20 for someone else to do it.
I'd like to see them pressure test a watch with a screwdriver.We dive a couple of times a year so making sure the watch is sealed is important to me.
I appreciate the AD will be overpriced. My issue is that independent places seem to be in excess of £90 too.
I thought someone might have a suggestion as to who I could use for a better price, or someone might say that is what I should expect to pay.
Appreciate all the helpful inputs so far...
Got the battery in my wife’s Seamaster done here http://watchdoctors.co.uk/watch-brands/omega/
Exactly what you are looking for, battery changed, pressure test etc £60
Exactly what you are looking for, battery changed, pressure test etc £60
Emily's dad said:
Got the battery in my wife’s Seamaster done here http://watchdoctors.co.uk/watch-brands/omega/
Exactly what you are looking for, battery changed, pressure test etc £60
That sounds a bit more like it. I'll try them, thanks very much.Exactly what you are looking for, battery changed, pressure test etc £60
The reason for the cost involved in a Battery replacement at an Authorized service centre, is because of the following :
The watch is completely uncased and dismantled. (Case separated from bracelet, Back off, Bezel off, Crown out, Glass removed)
The watch movement is tested for several readouts, which inform us what the movement is doing. (fast,slow, sluggish,etc)
The Movement is placed in a freshly cleaned plastic container with dust cover.
The watch case and bracelet are ultrasonically cleaned and dried.
Then the glass is refitted with new seals, the movement,dial & hands are refitted into the case and a New Crown is fitted.
A new battery is placed in the movement.
The case back Gasket is replaced and the case back is put back on and tightened to Manufacturers Spec.
The watch is then tested for Water Resistance, using both Pressure testers and water testers, to ensure it is suitable for the depth it is rated at.
Provided everything is fine, a new bezel spring is fitted and the bezel is re-attached.
The Bracelet is re-attached to the case and the watch is put on test for a few days, to check the watch is functioning correctly and the calendar is functioning.
Not just a monkey with a screwdriver, thank you very much.
And it doesn't take 5 minutes, as you can imagine.
The watch is completely uncased and dismantled. (Case separated from bracelet, Back off, Bezel off, Crown out, Glass removed)
The watch movement is tested for several readouts, which inform us what the movement is doing. (fast,slow, sluggish,etc)
The Movement is placed in a freshly cleaned plastic container with dust cover.
The watch case and bracelet are ultrasonically cleaned and dried.
Then the glass is refitted with new seals, the movement,dial & hands are refitted into the case and a New Crown is fitted.
A new battery is placed in the movement.
The case back Gasket is replaced and the case back is put back on and tightened to Manufacturers Spec.
The watch is then tested for Water Resistance, using both Pressure testers and water testers, to ensure it is suitable for the depth it is rated at.
Provided everything is fine, a new bezel spring is fitted and the bezel is re-attached.
The Bracelet is re-attached to the case and the watch is put on test for a few days, to check the watch is functioning correctly and the calendar is functioning.
Not just a monkey with a screwdriver, thank you very much.
And it doesn't take 5 minutes, as you can imagine.
triggerhappy21 said:
Sorry poor wording. I well aware I'm getting ripped off, but am I getting excessively ripped off?
My wife's JLC quartz was £180 for a battery change - and it's not even waterproof.But once every 5 years to a main dealer who gives a warranty on the watch is probably worth it. Her Chanel J12 battery change was a fair bit cheaper from memory - done by Chanel.
The service on a mechanical watch - again, every 5 years or so - is considerably more.
Mine only gets occasional splash in the shower, so £5 original spec battery & diy with my Amazon watch tool kit!
Perfectly clean environment, regressed the seal & retightened to the same point. Takes all of 10 minutes.
The total dismantling of the watch in earlier post looks like overkill unless a ‘service’ of the mechanical parts is required (not the generic quartz movement of course) I’d have thought all of that messing about is more likely to cause problems than to leave it alone.
I’m sure the £60 High Street battery change, including pressure test & guarantee will be perfectly sufficient..
Perfectly clean environment, regressed the seal & retightened to the same point. Takes all of 10 minutes.
The total dismantling of the watch in earlier post looks like overkill unless a ‘service’ of the mechanical parts is required (not the generic quartz movement of course) I’d have thought all of that messing about is more likely to cause problems than to leave it alone.
I’m sure the £60 High Street battery change, including pressure test & guarantee will be perfectly sufficient..
RiggaTheMighty said:
The reason for the cost involved in a Battery replacement at an Authorized service centre, is because of the following :
The watch is completely uncased and dismantled. (Case separated from bracelet, Back off, Bezel off, Crown out, Glass removed)
The watch movement is tested for several readouts, which inform us what the movement is doing. (fast,slow, sluggish,etc)
The Movement is placed in a freshly cleaned plastic container with dust cover.
The watch case and bracelet are ultrasonically cleaned and dried.
Then the glass is refitted with new seals, the movement,dial & hands are refitted into the case and a New Crown is fitted.
A new battery is placed in the movement.
The case back Gasket is replaced and the case back is put back on and tightened to Manufacturers Spec.
The watch is then tested for Water Resistance, using both Pressure testers and water testers, to ensure it is suitable for the depth it is rated at.
Provided everything is fine, a new bezel spring is fitted and the bezel is re-attached.
The Bracelet is re-attached to the case and the watch is put on test for a few days, to check the watch is functioning correctly and the calendar is functioning.
Not just a monkey with a screwdriver, thank you very much.
And it doesn't take 5 minutes, as you can imagine.
This is what you are paying for, wife’s Omega for battery and service at AD was about £200 I recall and you do get a nice red Omega case which is handy. The watch is completely uncased and dismantled. (Case separated from bracelet, Back off, Bezel off, Crown out, Glass removed)
The watch movement is tested for several readouts, which inform us what the movement is doing. (fast,slow, sluggish,etc)
The Movement is placed in a freshly cleaned plastic container with dust cover.
The watch case and bracelet are ultrasonically cleaned and dried.
Then the glass is refitted with new seals, the movement,dial & hands are refitted into the case and a New Crown is fitted.
A new battery is placed in the movement.
The case back Gasket is replaced and the case back is put back on and tightened to Manufacturers Spec.
The watch is then tested for Water Resistance, using both Pressure testers and water testers, to ensure it is suitable for the depth it is rated at.
Provided everything is fine, a new bezel spring is fitted and the bezel is re-attached.
The Bracelet is re-attached to the case and the watch is put on test for a few days, to check the watch is functioning correctly and the calendar is functioning.
Not just a monkey with a screwdriver, thank you very much.
And it doesn't take 5 minutes, as you can imagine.
As above, it's an absolute rip off in the majority of cases.
It also begs the question why so many places use cheap Chinese batteries for the job and not the Swiss ones, which are still cheap. I charge £7.50 to £10 for a Swiss battery and so long as the seal is clean and undamaged it should not need a pressure test for everyday / swimming pool use. Of course it can tested but at the customers request and cost (£40).
It's a 5 minute job changing a battery on most models, you just need the right tools. The nuggets in the big chains are usually more damaging than the independent suppliers because they're using cheap, inexperienced staff and not seasoned experts. All about profits.
Swiss batteries should last 5 to 7 years if the movement is in good condition. The Chinese ones rarely see 2 years in my opinion
It also begs the question why so many places use cheap Chinese batteries for the job and not the Swiss ones, which are still cheap. I charge £7.50 to £10 for a Swiss battery and so long as the seal is clean and undamaged it should not need a pressure test for everyday / swimming pool use. Of course it can tested but at the customers request and cost (£40).
It's a 5 minute job changing a battery on most models, you just need the right tools. The nuggets in the big chains are usually more damaging than the independent suppliers because they're using cheap, inexperienced staff and not seasoned experts. All about profits.
Swiss batteries should last 5 to 7 years if the movement is in good condition. The Chinese ones rarely see 2 years in my opinion
ecain63 said:
Much servicing needed on a Quartz? You're paying for the shareholders dinner.
Servicing on a quartz is just as much required as on an automatic. The mechanical parts stillborn wear and the circuitry gets dirty and less effective. Every 4/5 years ideally, so that your battery lasts 2/3 years each time.
ecain63 said:
dc2rr07 said:
This is what you are paying for, wife’s Omega for battery and service at AD was about £200 I recall and you do get a nice red Omega case which is handy.
Much servicing needed on a Quartz? You're paying for the shareholders dinner.
, cost divided by number of years owned watch makes it sound better though 
RiggaTheMighty said:
Servicing on a quartz is just as much required as on an automatic. The mechanical parts stillborn wear and the circuitry gets dirty and less effective.
Every 4/5 years ideally, so that your battery lasts 2/3 years each time.
How does the circuitry get dirty in a sealed watch?Every 4/5 years ideally, so that your battery lasts 2/3 years each time.
How does the circuitry get dirty in a sealed watch?
[/quote]
On a quality movement,(ie. omega, breitling, rolex) It is just due to friction between the wheels and the jewels. (provided it is jewelled)
When the minute debris mixes with the oil in the well, a steel & brass paste is created, which spreads and finds other places to infiltrate and this can cause shorts in the circuit, which in turn makes the battery leak.
Also, any metal residue of any kind is drawn straight to the rotor, which is a magnet. nearly every quartz watch that comes in has at least one bit of metal attached to the rotor.
On a non quality movement, (ie. Tag, Ray Weil, etc) the wheels and some of the bridges are made of soft plastic and they are have non jewelled holes, with a metal plate covering the circuit. On those, there is less of an issue.
It is more about the wheels being damaged on those. They cant be put in warm water, or ultrasonics, as the wheels just stop working altogether. I hate those movements, they simply dont enjoy being serviced and are just replaced when they go to the Brand.
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