Omega service - price as expected?
Discussion
I dropped by an Omega AD last week (new branch in St James Quarter, Edinburgh) to see what it would cost and how long it would take for my 7 year old Planet Ocean to be serviced. I had believed it to be due around the 6 year mark but with a COVID-cancelled wedding, eventually getting married and now a kid on the way as well as other priorities last year... I'm only getting around to it now.
I was quoted £665 for a service and told it would take approximately 10 weeks. However, when I asked if it would come back looking as good as new I was informed that a polish/refurbishment would be an additional £300! I baulked at that and just went with the service as I have no doubt I will nick it or scuff again in no time and it would be a waste of £300. It's a watch I enjoy almost daily and is not an investment piece at all so not worried about that aspect of increasing value.
Is this the normal price to expect? I would be interested in hearing of other experiences and whether the refurb tax was appropriate or just the norm. I only ask because I have friends who have sent watches away for servicing with other brands and had it returned looking pretty much brand new which I had understood to be part of the overall service.
No doubt I am about to find out there are many cheaper and possibly better options that I could have went with for servicing...
I was quoted £665 for a service and told it would take approximately 10 weeks. However, when I asked if it would come back looking as good as new I was informed that a polish/refurbishment would be an additional £300! I baulked at that and just went with the service as I have no doubt I will nick it or scuff again in no time and it would be a waste of £300. It's a watch I enjoy almost daily and is not an investment piece at all so not worried about that aspect of increasing value.
Is this the normal price to expect? I would be interested in hearing of other experiences and whether the refurb tax was appropriate or just the norm. I only ask because I have friends who have sent watches away for servicing with other brands and had it returned looking pretty much brand new which I had understood to be part of the overall service.
No doubt I am about to find out there are many cheaper and possibly better options that I could have went with for servicing...
I had my Seamaster 300 serviced by Omega around 4 years ago, I took it into The Watch Lab in Leeds and they sent it off to Omega, mine had stopped winding.
It cost £500 roughly all in including service and a polish. It didn't come back as new as it had quite a deep scratch in the clasp which was my doing and would have required a new clasp but otherwise it looked great.
It could be Omega have put their prices up in the interim but id try another couple of places first as it may be the AD is adding quite a bit on top for their own margin.
I'd add though unless there is a fault with the watch I wouldnt have it serviced just for the sake of servicing it.
It cost £500 roughly all in including service and a polish. It didn't come back as new as it had quite a deep scratch in the clasp which was my doing and would have required a new clasp but otherwise it looked great.
It could be Omega have put their prices up in the interim but id try another couple of places first as it may be the AD is adding quite a bit on top for their own margin.
I'd add though unless there is a fault with the watch I wouldnt have it serviced just for the sake of servicing it.
Sounds more than I would have expected. I had my 2500 PO serviced a few years back and it was definitely under £400 and they refinished the entire case too.
Looking at the omega site, it does look like prices have gone up and obviously yours in a chrono so more ££.
…….
“ Polishing is included as a courtesy package in the price of the service. ”
So I am not sure where they are getting the extra charge from
Looking at the omega site, it does look like prices have gone up and obviously yours in a chrono so more ££.
…….
“ Polishing is included as a courtesy package in the price of the service. ”
So I am not sure where they are getting the extra charge from
Edited by thebraketester on Wednesday 21st July 07:30
I had my PO serviced for considerably less, but it was not at an AD.
It was running slow and needed a new part. A wheel. That was £5 on top of a £170 service.
Watch running great now, even though it hasn’t been polished…..
Joe at Anglesey Watches and Clocks did the job for me. Watch was sent to him from Scotland as well…
It was running slow and needed a new part. A wheel. That was £5 on top of a £170 service.
Watch running great now, even though it hasn’t been polished…..
Joe at Anglesey Watches and Clocks did the job for me. Watch was sent to him from Scotland as well…
Wow, that price is shocking! I had my Omega Broad arrow serviced at Omega HK around 8yrs ago. I baulked at the cost then, of around £350. What I didn't expect was the watch to come back looking like new and with a long list of parts changes, like dial and hands. I agree with others that it the watch is working, there is no need for preventative service. Just do it when it shows a problem. Mine was feeling a bit stiff at the crown and as confirmed the lube was dry.
trickywoo said:
Most people leave watches alone until there is a problem.
Servicing won’t extend its life so there isn’t much point without cause.
Sorry, I neglected to add in my post that the date wheel has had an issue since before Christmas where it never lines up correctly. Guy in store wound it forward 30 days and was able to correct it but then the hour hand was slightly out of alignment. Servicing won’t extend its life so there isn’t much point without cause.
thebraketester said:
“ Polishing is included as a courtesy package in the price of the service. ”
So I am not sure where they are getting the extra charge from
Interesting, thanks for bringing that to my attention. I think I shall get in touch with them later today and find out more. So I am not sure where they are getting the extra charge from
Edited by thebraketester on Wednesday 21st July 07:30
Thanks for all the replies so far, very helpful.
Morning,
I used these people for a service on my Seamaster, a few years ago-
https://swisstimeservices.co.uk/contact/
£300 including a polish, came back like new, I believe they do the service work for Omega retailers.
I used these people for a service on my Seamaster, a few years ago-
https://swisstimeservices.co.uk/contact/
£300 including a polish, came back like new, I believe they do the service work for Omega retailers.
I've had a couple of Omegas serviced etc using https://www.watchrepairuk.com/ they (Mark) did a fantastic job on them.
Taken from the Omega website
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/customer-servic...
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/customer-servic...
Omega said:
The shine of the case and metal bracelet is skillfully restored while preserving the original shape of each component
CharlieCrocodile said:
Taken from the Omega website
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/customer-servic...
As a data point its 350 for the factory to polish an AP which has a more complex bracelet and case. 300 from the Omega factory doesn't sound too out of line if they really do dismantle the bracelet etc. I would have thought combined with a service they would also drop the price a little as the watch is already partially dismantled.https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/customer-servic...
Omega said:
The shine of the case and metal bracelet is skillfully restored while preserving the original shape of each component
I had my 19 year old Omega Seamaster serviced by Omega in November. The cost is £375 + VAT (a bit more for a chrono), it went away for 8 weeks and came back like a new watch with all scratches & marks on the bracelet & clasp completely gone (on both brushed & polished areas of the bracelet – but not polished to death and all sharpness retained) with the actual watch itself running beautifully. They arranged collection of the watch from me fully insured by them till it was returned to my door all shrink-wrapped for protection in an Omega service case with a small bag of the old parts that had been replaced during the service.
I could also log in to the Omega website customer service area to see the progress of my watch.
This is the second time in the 19 years that I’ve used Omega to service this particular watch and I wouldn’t hesitate to pay that bit extra to use them in the future. My Speedmaster will also go to them when the time comes.
I could also log in to the Omega website customer service area to see the progress of my watch.
This is the second time in the 19 years that I’ve used Omega to service this particular watch and I wouldn’t hesitate to pay that bit extra to use them in the future. My Speedmaster will also go to them when the time comes.
My Moonwatch has just come back from a warranty job so I can't help with the costs but it has come back as good as new. Including a new bezel. There was quite a ding in the old one which there was no way could be polished out. I'm pretty sure the hesalite is new as well. Looks it and the little Omega engraving has moved.
Great stuff which I understand is included in a standard service.
Great stuff which I understand is included in a standard service.
Had my 2001 Seamaster GMT serviced in 2019.
Omega wanted £600 plus me sending it fully insured to Singapore and six months to do it.
I went to my usual chap - £150 and done in two weeks.
There was a slight issue with the date change which I didn’t mention to him; deliberately.
Watch was given back to me with a little bag of replaced parts, including a tiny gear that he said was wearing on the date mechanism. New seals and pressure tested.
It’s been in the pool, sea and snorkelling this year and last: so all seems fine.
I’d rather £150 than the thick end of £700!
Omega wanted £600 plus me sending it fully insured to Singapore and six months to do it.
I went to my usual chap - £150 and done in two weeks.
There was a slight issue with the date change which I didn’t mention to him; deliberately.
Watch was given back to me with a little bag of replaced parts, including a tiny gear that he said was wearing on the date mechanism. New seals and pressure tested.
It’s been in the pool, sea and snorkelling this year and last: so all seems fine.
I’d rather £150 than the thick end of £700!
Agree with above, I took my dads Rolex to the RSC in London, 2 weeks later a letter arrived with a big list of stuff that it "needed" at around £2,300. 80% of that was a new bracelet.
After a few conversations with Watchguy.co.uk it was sent to him, cost about £260 in total and it now runs very smoothly. Quite a few of the bits that Rolex said it needed it didn't.
When my Seamaster 300m needs servicing ill be sending it to him, the only one I probably wont send/he probably wont accept is my Tudor GMT as even the Rolex service centre dont do these in London, they just get a new mechanism sent out and send the old one off.
After a few conversations with Watchguy.co.uk it was sent to him, cost about £260 in total and it now runs very smoothly. Quite a few of the bits that Rolex said it needed it didn't.
When my Seamaster 300m needs servicing ill be sending it to him, the only one I probably wont send/he probably wont accept is my Tudor GMT as even the Rolex service centre dont do these in London, they just get a new mechanism sent out and send the old one off.
AJB88 said:
Agree with above, I took my dads Rolex to the RSC in London, 2 weeks later a letter arrived with a big list of stuff that it "needed" at around £2,300. 80% of that was a new bracelet.
After a few conversations with Watchguy.co.uk it was sent to him, cost about £260 in total and it now runs very smoothly. Quite a few of the bits that Rolex said it needed it didn't.
When my Seamaster 300m needs servicing ill be sending it to him, the only one I probably wont send/he probably wont accept is my Tudor GMT as even the Rolex service centre dont do these in London, they just get a new mechanism sent out and send the old one off.
Is there an issue with Tudor GMT which would make a watchmaker not want to deal with them?After a few conversations with Watchguy.co.uk it was sent to him, cost about £260 in total and it now runs very smoothly. Quite a few of the bits that Rolex said it needed it didn't.
When my Seamaster 300m needs servicing ill be sending it to him, the only one I probably wont send/he probably wont accept is my Tudor GMT as even the Rolex service centre dont do these in London, they just get a new mechanism sent out and send the old one off.
It's a watch I have considered purchasing on a couple of occasions and I do still quite fancy one but I have previously heard about reliability issues with them.
I will likely look to add a Tudor to my collection at some point but it's a toss up between that and the BB Harrods edition in my head
Jamescrs said:
Is there an issue with Tudor GMT which would make a watchmaker not want to deal with them?
It's a watch I have considered purchasing on a couple of occasions and I do still quite fancy one but I have previously heard about reliability issues with them.
I will likely look to add a Tudor to my collection at some point but it's a toss up between that and the BB Harrods edition in my head
The service manager at RSC St James said to me basically nobody but Tudor factory has been taught how to deal with them, so they simply send the mechanism off there and a new/serviced one is sent in return. This was when my GMT had the date wheel issue and I asked him if he could confirm what had been replaced. He said yeh all of the guts.It's a watch I have considered purchasing on a couple of occasions and I do still quite fancy one but I have previously heard about reliability issues with them.
I will likely look to add a Tudor to my collection at some point but it's a toss up between that and the BB Harrods edition in my head
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