Omega Seamaster cleaning and service: Cork

So I was dropping off the kids this morning and my dad hands me a box and says "I can't wear this anymore you have it". Turns out it is his old Seamaster (https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-seamaster-300-m-chronometer-25378000)

This is going to be one of those gifts that will mean a lot more to me in a few years so I want to have it in perfect condition. Is there anywhere in Cork to be trusted to take good care of it? It needs a bit of a clean up and service.

Thirdfox

Old Bond passing the mantle to new Bond?

If you want a deep clean job I'd recommend sending it off to Omega for the full "boutique" treatment - it'll come back looking like new and the cost should be around 3-400ish.

For interval servicing there are some independents - I had my wife's seamaster serviced with John Donoghue contactable at thevintagewatchnet@gmail.com . Apparently he lurks on boards.ie too - you can send him the watch and he'll post it back to you (I dropped it down and collected it from him just for piece of mind - he's based out in Kilkenny).

His price was 230 for a basic seamaster service - this didn't include polishing of the bracelet/case I believe.

unkel

€230 for a basic service from an indy and €300-€400 for a service and a full detailing from Omega themselves? Makes the latter look very good value indeed.

Thirdfox

unkel wrote: »

€230 for a basic service from an indy and €300-€400 for a service and a full detailing from Omega themselves? Makes the latter look very good value indeed.

If you're willing to be without your watch for 3-4 months and pay a 33-45% premium in price then yeah it can be worthwhile to get the manufacturer to do the service. Especially if you want to make it easier to sell (you won't get your service cost back in sale price however).

My wife only has that seamaster so she appreciates the 1 week turnaround time and the 170 saved means we get a few months extra groceries for free in the household (or maybe I can buy another watch >_> <_< )

oxocube

OmegaGene wrote: »

The only place in cork is keanes really otherwise send it to omega service centre

Might be a stupid question but how do you send it to the Omega service center?

According to that, Keane's is one

oxocube

OmegaGene wrote: »

I normally drop mine off at the boutique in London but here is a list of all the boutiques


https://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/finding-a-service-centre/country/ireland/

Sorry for hijacking this thread

According to the link, Weirs are the only authorized service center in Dublin and I remember someone on here saying they were quoted ~€800 for a full service on a speedy.

Checked the link you gave and Omega quotes 750CHF (~€650) for a full service. Seems a reasonable price since Dawson Jewellers quoted me €500 for a service and polish. I probably send it off to Omega if the difference is €150.

blue5000

OmegaGene wrote: »

They are an authorised dealer, you drop it off to them and they send it to omega and charge you for the privalage
Worth noting another user has stated that they lost his Rolex recently

A relative of mine got a vintage seamaster serviced at Keane's before this story appeared, they are happy with the work done anyway. Find out if a pressure test is included when you are asking around too.

Thirdfox

oxocube wrote: »

Sorry for hijacking this thread

According to the link, Weirs are the only authorized service center in Dublin and I remember someone on here saying they were quoted ~€800 for a full service on a speedy.

Checked the link you gave and Omega quotes 750CHF (~€650) for a full service. Seems a reasonable price since Dawson Jewellers quoted me €500 for a service and polish. I probably send it off to Omega if the difference is €150.

Weirs send it off to Omega service centre and it was the Omega service centre that quoted me the 795 for the service (I believe the speedmaster moonphase may have required more than standard disassembly/lubrication and reassembly - the moonphase mechanism probably needed some adjustment/parts replacement). They couldn't relume the dial - it would have been €350 for a new dial - I politely declined

Weirs also don't charge you any extra to send things off to Omega - there's a €50 charge if you don't go ahead with the quote you get back from the Omega centre however (I think that's fair enough - they need to account for insurance/courier cost/liability for safe-keeping in their store before transport etc.)

The reason I didn't use John for the Speedmaster was that I bought it 3rd hand online from WUS - I just felt that it should get a "full" service from the OSC to have it as new again as it was a 10+ year old piece by the time I got it (though cosmetically it looked almost new).

That's one thing to keep in mind when buying 2nd hand off the net - you should factor in the cost of a service unless they seller has an official service centre service completed within the last 1-2 years.

Here's the actual Omega pricelist (remember this is exclusive of anything else that the watch may need once they open it up):
https://www.omegawatches.com/customer-service/interventions-and-prices/main-steps-of-a-complete-service

550 CHF (€475 ish) for a mechanical non-chronograph
750 CHF (€650 ish) for a mechanical chronograph

So in that light - if you know your father's been keeping the watch in good condition (or at least hasn't been throwing it down staircases ) you might consider going for "half price" independent servicing which also results in a speedier service. Otherwise for €475+ you can get it back "as new" with a new 2 year Omega warranty - in a fancy travel case and with the replaced parts in a little clear bag for you to keep as a momento

Thirdfox

blue5000 wrote: »

A relative of mine got a vintage seamaster serviced at Keane's before this story appeared, they are happy with the work done anyway. Find out if a pressure test is included when you are asking around too.

I would run far away from any watch service outfit which doesn't conduct a pressure test after removing the caseback and/or replaces the o-ring seals. A pressure test is (in my eyes) as intrinsic to a standard service as lubricating the movement.

Though in your friend's case with a vintage watch sometimes it is impossible to restore water resistance due to wear and tear on the case - in which case a pressure test cannot be performed on a watch which is no longer water resistant at all. Vintage watches are sometimes treated differently to "current" models - a good service outfit will inform their client if such a test can no longer be performed as their watch is too old to be made water resistant again (or perhaps was never water resistant in the first place).