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I know there are a few watch- heads on here ...
I have a 30 year old Seamaster that I have never had serviced .... but it is now getting slow to start after it stops. I am guessing it needs some love and attention.
Does anyone have any recommendations of Omega themselves, or a really good independent.
I'm based in Brighton.
These are both very well respected for Omega and omega themselves world obviously go a decent job but may be a little dearer.
Any decent independent ought to be able to service it though but just be careful you know what parts might be replaced as manufacturers have a habit of replacing hands, dials etc wherever necessary to restore to as new whereas a lot of sentimental or vintage watch owners prefer to retain the patina (signs of wear) for originality. With vintage Rolexes in particular the more original and tatty the greater the value, 50%+ can be in the original dial which Rolex would often prefer to replace!
Maybe these guys - someone recommended them to me :
https://www.watchdoctors.co.uk/
I have had an Omega service and it came back like new, although what would happen with an older watch I don't know.
a mate sent his Seamaster off to Omega for a new watch strap last year. Took them over 6 months and cost him nearly £800 in the end. Put him right off posh watches. I'd be going indy!
There are benefits of going to an indy, but then there are benefits of going in house
Sent my dunhill in a couple of years ago to be told the o-ring seal under the crown was no longer made. Sorry. Can't do anything guv. Etc
Complained about a diver's watch being kinda worthless if not waterproof, and mentioned Patek's 'passing on to the next generation' tag line
They gave me a NOS innards, and put it back in the existing case. Said (in writing) if it leaked in the next couple of years (unfortunately just up), they'd give me a complete new watch
As above, at that age, I'd probably recommend a good independent, on cost grounds but also in terms of the care they'll take of it. I don't actually know any though...
Need a "£5 Casio is just as good" post for balance.
told the o-ring seal under the crown was no longer made. Sorry. Can’t do anything guv. Etc
I find it hard to believe they used a non-standard size O-ring for a seal like that, I’m certain a good watchmaker or independent would be able to source one of an appropriate size.
just be careful you know what parts might be replaced as manufacturers have a habit of replacing hands, dials etc wherever necessary to restore to as new
This can be an issue. My TAG Series 1000 had a problem a few years after I bought it, where the little pins on the back of the face that locate it came away, causing the face to rotate. It was sent back and they replaced the face, but it’s subtly different, in that the original face had ‘Series 1000 Professional 1000 METRES’ in three lines below the centre of the face, the replacement didn’t have ‘Series 1000’ on it. There were a number of different variations of the luminous face at that time, some just had the Heuer logo, some had TAG, some had TAG Heuer, it wasn’t consistent.
I don’t think it’ll affect the value, which is creeping up, because of the various versions, plus there’s a James Bond connection, which collectors like, and collectors are always looking for unusual watches that are still cheap.
Cost me £250, seen examples going for around £1800, and it’s well-worn!
There’s a good shop in Marlborough, Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett, called Deacon & Son, they have in-house watchmakers, so could easily sort the OP’s watch. They fixed the mainspring and serviced my 1970 Yema, and those are not common, being a French make. Cost £450, though! Watch is worth nearly £4k, though, so I’m happy with that.
Its most likely sortable by a decent watchmaker if its just a service on a straightforward watch, jut have a word with your local jeweller doing watch repairs. Parts can be a pain to get hold of. Omega do a very good fixed price service under 40 years old, unfortunatley most 80’s seamasters dont really hold their value to make the service cost worth it unless you really want it done properly, obviously dependent on model and sentiment.
Not used them but have heard good things about time restoration in Hove.
Austin Kaye in London or Swiss Tec.
ive got a seamaster, they have pricing for older watches. a service is somewhere between 100 and 300 quid.
id send it to omega
a mate sent his Seamaster off to Omega for a new watch strap last year. Took them over 6 months and cost him nearly £800 in the end. Put him right off posh watches. I’d be going indy!
I guess he asked for a service as well, and it must have been in a state.
A service on a speedmaster is about 500 and that has a chronograph so more expensive.
An alligator strap on that is about £250, so the two would be less than 800.
Best way to look at it is the watch costs £100 or so a year, as it needs servicing every 5 years. If it's a leather strap then you need to add that cost, although you should sadlle soap it regularly to try to keep it in good shape.
£410 plus postage for a Seamaster mech non chrono non gold from omega. Above 40 years old you can double that...
I’d avoid the agents like Swisstec etc, they’re very good but it’s a fixed price structure and personally I’d rather omega do it for that money.
Should be around £80 ish at a guess from a generic Indy, the Indy ‘specialists’ will likely charge a bit more.
Swiss time services did a great job of my 1960s omega.
Highly recommend them. Perhaps not the cheapest but very knowledgeable and very quick turn around.
+1 for Simon Freese watchmakers.
Recently had my Seamaster serviced by them and was impressed by the quick turnaround - not silly prices either...
I've used these guys for my vintage Heuer and Tudor both of which another nearby vintage watch specialists CBA to even quote me on servicing, the Heuer chronograph is apparently very time consuming to take apart and clean.
They are authorised Omega repairers, based across the road from Hatton Garden
http://www.wtcwatchrepairers.co.uk/about-us/4045498
Father in law just had his Speedmaster serviced - £700 from Omega, was away for about 2 months and came back like new.
Anybody based in the Midlands out of interest - Jewellery Quarter for instance? I have an Omega Seamaster which is 20 years old and needs servicing too. Otherwise will look to post further afield.
As above Austin Kaye on the Strand in London specialises in used and vintage Omega and provides servicing, I've had may seventy year old Omega sub second done by them a couple of times, cost was £105 (I think) a few years back.