Service quartz Omega Seamaster?
Discussion
I had a battery replaced in my quartz Omega Seamaster at a main dealer for £80. Around 5 months later it just stopped working completely. I put it in to get repaired, and they have now come back (after a month) claiming Omega say it needs a service at £370 to fix it or £45 to return it still broken. The diagnosis is that it needs lubrication. The watch is 15 years old at least - I bought it 2nd hand over 10 years ago for £400.
Since when did quartz watches needs servicing at such expense? I'm tempted to tell them just to stuff it and cut my losses, but I guess they'll just squirt in £0.01 of oil or a new £1.99 quartz mechanism and sell it.
Is it worth paying the £45 diagnosis fee to get it back and then trying to fix it myself if all it needs is lubrication? It's likely that if I do that it will just sit broken in a drawer for evermore. Or is there anywhere I could send it to get fixed for a more sensible price?
Since when did quartz watches needs servicing at such expense? I'm tempted to tell them just to stuff it and cut my losses, but I guess they'll just squirt in £0.01 of oil or a new £1.99 quartz mechanism and sell it.
Is it worth paying the £45 diagnosis fee to get it back and then trying to fix it myself if all it needs is lubrication? It's likely that if I do that it will just sit broken in a drawer for evermore. Or is there anywhere I could send it to get fixed for a more sensible price?
The idea of 'servicing' a quartz watch just seems bonkers to me, I just can't work out what they would do. 
But then the idea of paying someone £80 to fit a battery is equally as bonkers.
If the back looks anything like this....
Then you just need one of these...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Watch-Back-Case-Opener-...
and a battery is about £2 once you know what size it is.
I'd get it returned, buy the bits needed and try a new battery, if that doesn't work, see how much a new movement is from the loveable online auction sites, I bet you could get it working again for under £50 what have you got to lose.
But then the idea of paying someone £80 to fit a battery is equally as bonkers.
If the back looks anything like this....
Then you just need one of these...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Watch-Back-Case-Opener-...
and a battery is about £2 once you know what size it is.
I'd get it returned, buy the bits needed and try a new battery, if that doesn't work, see how much a new movement is from the loveable online auction sites, I bet you could get it working again for under £50 what have you got to lose.
OP are you Chesney Hawkes?
That aside, yes, there are plenty of places who'll get it going again. Yes, some quartz movements do require oiling. And yes, main dealer service prices are crazy.
If you told people what region of the country you reside in they may recommend someone local to you. Otherwise the answers will be to try:
RiggaTheMighty on here.
Joe at Anglesea Watch Company (he used to post here).
Swiss Time Services.
That aside, yes, there are plenty of places who'll get it going again. Yes, some quartz movements do require oiling. And yes, main dealer service prices are crazy.
If you told people what region of the country you reside in they may recommend someone local to you. Otherwise the answers will be to try:
RiggaTheMighty on here.
Joe at Anglesea Watch Company (he used to post here).
Swiss Time Services.
I've found that most of the watchmakers don't do quartz watches, so...
I just had my wife's Seamaster (quartz) serviced by www.genesiswatchmaking.co.uk.
Watch is 18 years old, had had slight water ingress so suspect the movement (what there is of it) was a slightly corroded. Came back with new parts including seals done for less than half of what Omega is quoting you.
Very good service.
I just had my wife's Seamaster (quartz) serviced by www.genesiswatchmaking.co.uk.
Watch is 18 years old, had had slight water ingress so suspect the movement (what there is of it) was a slightly corroded. Came back with new parts including seals done for less than half of what Omega is quoting you.
Very good service.
Joe at Anglesey Watches brought my Omega DeVille quartz watch back to life, the battery had leaked and the movement looked pretty buggered, but it works perfectly now.
The cost was extremely reasonable and (I would imagine) quite a bit less than what Omega would charge.
It’s best to call him.
The cost was extremely reasonable and (I would imagine) quite a bit less than what Omega would charge.
It’s best to call him.
1 said:
Since when did quartz watches needs servicing at such expense? I'm tempted to tell them just to stuff it and cut my losses, but I guess they'll just squirt in £0.01 of oil or a new £1.99 quartz mechanism and sell it.
Is it worth paying the £45 diagnosis fee to get it back and then trying to fix it myself if all it needs is lubrication? It's likely that if I do that it will just sit broken in a drawer for evermore.
There’s still a fair amount involved in servicing a quartz watch, if a battery hasn’t solved it, the movement needs separating from the mechanicals, circuitry replaced and mechanicals stripped and cleaned. £370 is madness for a job which used to cost half that, but that’s where the market is these days.Is it worth paying the £45 diagnosis fee to get it back and then trying to fix it myself if all it needs is lubrication? It's likely that if I do that it will just sit broken in a drawer for evermore.
In terms of not bothering or paying £45 to get it back? Well it’s still worth something to someone, and more than £45! Depending on which model it is i’d make you a fair offer myself, saving the hassle/risks associated with eBay!
Another recommendation for Joe at Anglesey watches, he's on here as Variomatic. If you do a search for Anglesey Watches there are loads of satisfied customers on PH. He sorted out my Dad's watch for him at about a tenth of the cost of anywhere else and did a great job.
Had a quartz seamaster for 20+ years. Battery ran out, so thought I'd treat it to a dealer service. Long story short, There were signs of water ingress, so total quote was £1000 to fix everything! They'd already fixed a couple of issues and fitted a battery (?!) So I got it back, major work undone and sold it.
Ridiculous prices at Omega for quartz models, which have much lower resale values.
Ridiculous prices at Omega for quartz models, which have much lower resale values.
Zygot said:
Had a quartz seamaster for 20+ years. Battery ran out, so thought I'd treat it to a dealer service. Long story short, There were signs of water ingress, so total quote was £1000 to fix everything! They'd already fixed a couple of issues and fitted a battery (?!) So I got it back, major work undone and sold it.
Ridiculous prices at Omega for quartz models, which have much lower resale values.
I assume that you told the purchaser that it was damagedRidiculous prices at Omega for quartz models, which have much lower resale values.
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