Omega service- any advice?

[Rsv Mark]

Not posted much but wanted to get some advice and cut through the bs.

My omega sea master is starting to run a touch slow so I checked up and the recommended service schedule is 4-5 years. Funny that as mine is bang on 5 years old.

Popped into my local omega stockist and was quoted £320 for a regular service.... Ouch! I politely declined and thought an alternative approach might be required. Browsing on the omega website they reckoned north of £200 so I was wondering if 'local specialists' might be worth looking at but then got cold feet as I don't know whether they were trained, familiar with the watch, would the waterproofing be done properly, use genuine parts etc.

Any advice from other PHers who have been through this thought process before?

Thanks in advance

[Hoofy]

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/ serviced my SMP before I bought it from its previous owner.

[RichB]

Yes, I did a similar search and Rytetime quoted £130 to service my Speedmaster. Not sent it off yet but I will.

[gingerpaul]

Hoofy said:

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/ serviced my SMP before I bought it from its previous owner.

He's done some work on my Seamaster and did a great job. I'd use him again without hesitation.

[RichB]

You were happy mailing your watch off? That's my only reticence.

[gingerpaul]

Not really actually. I actually tried to drop it off in person as I suspect Stephen lives fairly close to a friend of mine near Leicester but he said I couldn't. It was only after checking the usual watch haunts online to make sure lots of people had used him before and discussing the issue on the phone with him that I went ahead.

[Murph7355]

I've used Omega for servicing before. Good quality of workmanship but expensive and took ages.

I used Brian at Time Repairs for a Zenith I had. Quality of workmanship the same, took less time and a fraction of the cost. Worth trying him for a quote.

[The Leaper]

I've had my Seamaster since 1997 and it's been fully serviced 3 times by Swiss Time Services in Essex. There were Omega's UK service company but I think that Omega now do this in house following their withdrawal from high street jewellers and the setting up of their own shops.

The last time I took it there, spoke to the "engineer" got a quote, and the watch was mailed back to me two weeks later. Top job. Cost was £180. I'd use them again, and I would not have any issues about mailing the watch to them next time.

R.

[Chicane-UK]

Seem to be posting this almost weekly but.. it'll only be Duncan @ Genesis Watchmaking who gets my watches going forward.

http://www.genesiswatchmaking.co.uk

Sent my Omega Speedmaster Professional off to him a few months back to inspect why it was running very fast, and for a service. Spectacular levels of customer service (very prompt replies to emails, pictures, etc), very fair prices, and all done to agreed dates. Watch returned with full details of work undertaken, pressure testing certificate, etc.

He's got exceptional feedback on TZ-UK and rightly so.

I can't recommend him highly enough.

And believe me I did NOT want to post my watch but the glowing feedback changed my mind. I sent it insured Royal Mail Special Delivery (covering me up to £1,500) - didn't cost much extra above a normal parcel. No issues.

Edited by Chicane-UK on Sunday 3rd June 23:29

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

There's a PH'er on here called Eddie - ecain63 . He has a Jeweller's in Bournemouth with an Omega trained tech. He did a lovely job of servicing / renewing stuff on my 10 year old Seamaster.

[Rsv Mark]

Thanks all. That gives me several options to call, chat and make my mind up

[Podie]

RichB said:

You were happy mailing your watch off? That's my only reticence.

Be careful of the insured value.

I've ended up using Mailboxes Etc to insure watches in transit as the Royal Mail,didn't cover the value.