Your Watch & Naim

The Omega website has changed a bit since I last had a good scroll through it, you are probably right and I’m getting the two mixed up.

I thought for a while now Omega stopped supplying parts outside their authorised network, therefore no longer an option to get them serviced with independent shops and centres. Is this still the case?

Many older Omega watches had ETA movements are these are widely serviced everywhere.
But I do know that master company Swatch were stopping supply of movements to other manufacturers.
But I don’t know if that includes spares. :thinking:

Good point, however I believe that this was related to more modern watches, well established independents with Omega accreditation were still able to get parts for older watches.

But I could well be behind the times and totally wrong - which wouldn’t surprise me.

:roll_eyes:

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Not sure where you are in the world but there is an Omega specialist at the top of Burlington Arcade, just off new bond St London. They have all sorts of exotica in there, all Omega. I am not Omega expert but I have a friend who took his old Omega there for a freshen up, rather than full restoration and loose the patina, he was really happy with work but that was a good few years ago now.

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I’m going to take it to an authorised Omega dealer in Bath this week and see what they say. If it’s not to my liking, I’ll try some of the independent watchmakers mentioned above (thanks for these suggestions).

Also got two pocket watches which don’t seem to work, though finding people who are completely able to work on them without making a mess of things is a tall order. Again, I’ve got a place I’ll go to in the first instance and will be back to ask for recommendations if they’re too busy.

Mark

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Update, if anyone’s interested:

Omega authorised dealer confirmed that, as an older watch, it would go all the way back to Switzerland for a full refurbishment, many/most parts would be replaced, cost around £1000-1500.

By contrast, the very old-school watchmaker a short distance away quoted £300 for a service, confirming that the dial patina would be left alone. Daughter was OK with that, so we left it with them.

Hopefully I will be able to post some ‘serviced’ pictures before Christmas!

Mark

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Best route chosen IMHO. Looking forward to seeing the end result.

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Is it small diameter with the letters A.T.P. inscribed on the back? Whatever, I suspect it’s 1940s vintage and highly desirable.

Watchmaker estimated 1940.
Nothing at all engraved on the back.

That’s pretty much the same message I got from Mallory in Bath when I took my vintage Omega in there last year. They quoted anything north of £600.

That’s no coincidence - Mallory’s was exactly where I took it this week!

To their credit, they were upfront about the fact that, as an AD, they have precisely no control over Omega’s repair/refurb policy. I was equally upfront about investigating options beyond the AD network.

I can sort of understand Omega’s official policy, but it’s costing them my patronage at least, since it’s so rigidly revisionist and can only result in vintage watches losing patina and, therefore, appeal. It’s also preposterously expensive!

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I have a similar dilemma with my Longines Admiral 5-star day/date. The date stopped working so took it to a local watchmaker (DC Watchmaker in Exeter) and eventually they said they couldn’t source the parts. It also came back not working at all, which was annoying. I have sent it to Longines to see what they can do, and for how much. I await their response. Been impressed with them so far, though. I emailed, they sent me a really good mailer box and envelope to send the watch back to them. They have said it has to go back to Switzerland so that they can see what they can do. If they are too expensive, I will ask them what the calibre is, and then buy a cheaper one with a working mechanism, and replace mine with that. Mine is 18ct gold, so a cheaper SS one might do the trick. We shall see.

Bought mine 200 usd from Tbilisi, Georgia flea market 20 yers ago.
I guess I was lucky ) when I see repair prices
It’s silver


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Since buying this watch I’ve worn it nearly all the time. It’s so light and comfortable, being titanium.

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EP Mallory is my go to AD also. Great service over many years. For something more vintage I would go to somewhere like Watchworks Bristol. I don’t know what their Omega work is like, or even if they still work on Omegas, but they do good things with Rolex, including not banging in new dials, hands, etc or polishing the character out of them. Might be worth a conversation. If they can’t help they might be able to recommend someone.

In addition, it’s also almost invisible :wink:

I’m not going to call myself much of a watch aficionado, but I do have a few that I like. My daily driver is this Garmin Fenix 7x Pro (which I got a couple of months ago while on holiday), or the Apple Watch Series 6 I inherited from dad last year. I’ve also had for a few years a Shinola Runwell Chrono, which looks beautiful

But for special occasions, it’s my grandfather’s 1926 gold Rolex (I have no idea what model), which was given to him as a 21st birthday present, and amazingly still goes.

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98 years old and still running, now that’s impressive.

Look forward to seeing you wearing that in a couple of years time to celebrate 100 not out.

Nice.

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Beautiful. It looks like an early Rolex “Cushion” watch. Certainly one to be cherished, particularly given its personal connection to you.

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