My Aqua Terra got magnetized.
I purchased a brand new Omega Aqua Terra in September of 2022. I love it and wear it a lot. One of the main reasons I got it is for all of the specs. Great WR, robust, with an insane amount of anti magnetism. I wore it to the UK on my trip this past March/April.
Shortly after I got back I noticed that the watch began loosing time. For the 9 months I had it the watch consistently ran about 2.5 seconds fast per day (yes, I track it). When I got back from London it began losing about 2 seconds per day. Because this was a change in behavior and out of spec I took it to my AD and had them send it in for inspection and repair if necessary.
About a month after dropping it off my AD called and said Omega said the watch needed a fully warranty service and that there would be no charge for the work. I asked what the issue was and he said they didn’t tell him, they just said I should expect my watch back around the end of august.
I decided to reach out to Omega directly to find out what was wrong. It wasn’t a lengthy answer, but I was still very surprised. They stated;
Kindly note that upon evaluation it was determined that the movement has low amplitude, the watch shows signs of magnetism which has been demagnetized, the case shows signs of scratches and/or dents, the bezel shows signs of wear and the strap is not of our manufacture.
Please be aware that based off of the conditions determined a compete service with a movement repair is required.
The last thing I expected to hear was that a watch rated to 15,000 gauss of anti magnetism “shows sign of magnetism”. That also sounded strange to hear for a watch with low amplitude that was running slow. I am by no means a watch or movement expert, at all, but that feels like it sounds contradictory given what I’ve learned to date. Please correct me where I am most surely with here.
I’m trying to figure out what I could have encountered that would have magnetized an Omega METAS movement. Maybe something when I was traveling internationally?
Or maybe I just got a poorly manufactured movement? Each watch does provide its own individual test results.
I really am curious, and kind of bummed that the watch I bought to be my carefree travels piece is the first one I’ve have to send in for service. And the only one I have that has been magnetized (that I am aware of).
Somewhat new to the collecting community, but pretty far down the rabbit hole already…
Are you sure that this:
isn't some generic answer that the legacy IT system (likely developed during the Bronze Age) puts together for some poor soul in customer services if certain boxes were checked. I know that most places when you hand a watch in for service they tick of stuff like "damage to X", "sings of unauthorised service" and so on... This reads a lot like something scrambled together from such a document. Something specific to your watch would most likely not have a "and/or" in a sentence. Certainly not if I wrote it. (then again I don't work for Omega either)
If this wasn't written by one, try getting hold of an actual watchmaker over there. Tell them you are very concerned/disappointed about the magnetism. In my experience they will get someone who knows what they are doing to speak to you, eventually.
As you were traveling, did you go through any security screening equipment that generated a high magnetic field.
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radiation-and-airport-security-scanning
A full service for free after 10 months sounds like a good deal to me. Especially considering how expensive it is to service luxury watches.
Dude, it's impossible for a watch resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss to get magnetized. You know what produces 15,000 gauss? MRI machines. Do you spend all day hanging out in MRI machines? Impossible.
I'm guessing some 83 IQ customer service person has sent you an email, based on some template provided by some 95 IQ customer service manager.
Are you sure that this:
isn't some generic answer that the legacy IT system (likely developed during the Bronze Age) puts together for some poor soul in customer services if certain boxes were checked. I know that most places when you hand a watch in for service they tick of stuff like "damage to X", "sings of unauthorised service" and so on... This reads a lot like something scrambled together from such a document. Something specific to your watch would most likely not have a "and/or" in a sentence. Certainly not if I wrote it. (then again I don't work for Omega either)
If this wasn't written by one, try getting hold of an actual watchmaker over there. Tell them you are very concerned/disappointed about the magnetism. In my experience they will get someone who knows what they are doing to speak to you, eventually.
I wondered the same thing, but it took them about 4 days to respond. Could still be a generic response, but given how they advertise their movements I can’t imagine being magnetized as part of their standard reply. I mean, anti magnetism is kind of their thing.
As you were traveling, did you go through any security screening equipment that generated a high magnetic field.
https://www.epa.gov/radtown/radiation-and-airport-security-scanning
I’m sure I did. But my understanding is that the screeners used in airports are all well below 15,000 gauss. I think I read they then are below 1,000 gauss. Outside of crazy scientific machinery I don’t know of much with that kind of magnetic power. And I don’t have a collection of earth magnets (I think that’s what they are called) at home.
A full service for free after 10 months sounds like a good deal to me. Especially considering how expensive it is to service luxury watches.
I would agree if the suggested service interval wasn’t every 8 years. It makes me nervous about owning the watch after the warranty expires.
15000 gauss is a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine my friend. Agree with @Mr.Dee.Bater, this isn’t a body XR at TSA, an actual medial XR, an airplane, or the atmosphere at 30,000 feet. Sounds like BS and I’d ask for a more specific answer. Sounds like part wear or manufacture defect to me… called “magnetized”.
Dude, it's impossible for a watch resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss to get magnetized. You know what produces 15,000 gauss? MRI machines. Do you spend all day hanging out in MRI machines? Impossible.
I'm guessing some 83 IQ customer service person has sent you an email, based on some template provided by some 95 IQ customer service manager.
Probably. But seriously, if your thing is antimagnetic movements, maybe don’t list that the movement showed signs of magnetism. It causes people to question things.
Worry not, I won’t be stealing the name Omeganut anytime soon.
15000 gauss is a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine my friend. Agree with @Mr.Dee.Bater, this isn’t a body XR at TSA, an actual medial XR, an airplane, or the atmosphere at 30,000 feet. Sounds like BS and I’d ask for a more specific answer. Sounds like part wear or manufacture defect to me… called “magnetized”.
I had a conversation with someone on Reddit recently who said they had to have the AT serviced after only 2 months of ownership (it was a new watch also) and the issue that stated was that the lubrication had somehow dried out. I had similar issues as to what he described, which included a crown that was very tough to wind in the first position.
Either way I agree that they are likely not telling me about the real issues.
Are you sure that this:
isn't some generic answer that the legacy IT system (likely developed during the Bronze Age) puts together for some poor soul in customer services if certain boxes were checked. I know that most places when you hand a watch in for service they tick of stuff like "damage to X", "sings of unauthorised service" and so on... This reads a lot like something scrambled together from such a document. Something specific to your watch would most likely not have a "and/or" in a sentence. Certainly not if I wrote it. (then again I don't work for Omega either)
If this wasn't written by one, try getting hold of an actual watchmaker over there. Tell them you are very concerned/disappointed about the magnetism. In my experience they will get someone who knows what they are doing to speak to you, eventually.
Exactly. Particularly the part about the strap being aftermarket. That’s not a reason to send a watch to service. Someone was reading off the intake form.
Unfortunate news but wishing you the best. Agree with the rest that the magnet claims seem way out there.
I wondered the same thing, but it took them about 4 days to respond. Could still be a generic response, but given how they advertise their movements I can’t imagine being magnetized as part of their standard reply. I mean, anti magnetism is kind of their thing.
4 days is probably how long it takes for the database to load that form 😉 I would chase this down. It would arguably be hard to magnetise that watch if you were on mission to do so, let alone by accident.
@BigIona wondering why magnetism always happens to his watches:
4 days is probably how long it takes for the database to load that form 😉 I would chase this down. It would arguably be hard to magnetise that watch if you were on mission to do so, let alone by accident.
Yeah, I think you are right. The entire response feels like BS. My fear is my new watch with be “repaired” with use parts. Can never tell what they do behind closed doors and warranties always have fine print that give them extreme liberties.
I’m just hoping I’ll get it back and be able to enjoy it for a number of years without any issues.
If not, I’m on the waitlist for a Datejust anyway. So there are always options 🙂
They mention a banged up case. If you have only had it for 9 months, how, exactly, do you treat this watch? Could it have been damaged through natural wear and tear?
It’s not banged up. It’s in excellent shape. I do think it was a generic email with typical issues, not the issues specific to my watch.
In this world where rare earth magnets are everywhere, from the fridge, in speakers, microphones, box latches,...I am shocked we do not hear this more often. Quite likley it ius happenening, poeple are just not learning the cause. Watch Makers, start using non-ferrous metals, Titanium, Aluminum Alloys,.. for movements and this will no longer be an issue and would be a great selling point.
That is what Omega does and is one of their main selling points. That’s why I’m so disappointed.
I have the exact same watch and just love it.
I have the exact same watch and just love it.
You should try it on the mesh bracelet.
But it has a display caseback. Not like a milgauss.
I feel your pain… I accidentally magnetised my recently-serviced vintage Omega with the magnet clasp on my wallet… it’s running two minutes fast per day now, so gotta sheepishly show up to the watchmaker again 😞
I feel your pain… I accidentally magnetised my recently-serviced vintage Omega with the magnet clasp on my wallet… it’s running two minutes fast per day now, so gotta sheepishly show up to the watchmaker again 😞
Have you tried one of the demagnetizers you can buy on Amazon?
Yeah, their note kinda sounded like BS to me.🤝
I was going to pull the trigger on an Aqua Terra and that exact model in fact, I’m not sure now? Should I still??
I've had my Aqua Terra for two years and it has performed wonderfully.
Looks beautiful.
Have you tried one of the demagnetizers you can buy on Amazon?
I’ve considered it, but seeing as I’m not usually in a position where my watches might get magnetised (outside of my own mistakes) I don’t think it’s worth yet another trinket
I am an oncologist and I work with MRI machines at the hospital. A standard hospital MRI scanner has a field strength of 15,000 gauss in the centre of the bore, fallling off very quickly to 1 gauss at the edge of the safety border of the Faraday cage.
An airport scanner has a maximum field strength of 4 gauss for a walk through and about 2 gauss for a wand they hand scan you with.
High altitude flight does not expose you to magnetic field, it is ionising radiation (gamma rays) that you would be exposed to. A transatlantic return flight is equivalent to 0.1mSv of gammas, about the same as 5 chest x-rays.
I don't really believe the issue with you watch is related to magnetic or ionising radiation!!!!
You should try it on the mesh bracelet.
Where did you get the braclet
Where did you get the braclet
It’s the Omega mesh.
I have one as well bought with the bracelet but ordered the rubber strap have never wore the bracelet,love that watch