Service Times

This same issue happened to me with my Oris Aquis with the cal. 400 movement. I absolutely loved the watch but it had an issue where it was losing time regularly and much out of spec. Took it in for service under warranty to my AD, and not only was I told the watch would be gone for 3-4 months after only owning it for 3 months, but then I was notified that the warranty would not cover the necessary service…. I feel you pain and sorry to hear it! Hopefully Omega will make this right with you.

That sucks! Did they say why the service wasn’t covered by the warranty?

I had a Breitling Colt many years ago and dropped off with my AD to have the 3 year service, it was working fine, no issues. 3 months later he called and said it’s back so I went to get it, the bill was $1200.00 I paid, put on my wrist and as was walking out the shop door a customer asked me “Did you get that here I’ve been looking for one?” I sold it off my wrist and went home.

I meant $1,200.00 sorry.

One of my watches is due a service. My Lucerne Digital Jump Hour. It has a Baumgartner BFG 582 pin-pallet movement, which wasn't designed to be serviced, so you can imagine that servicing it isn't very easy. Most watchmakers won't touch movements like that, and being a broke teenager, I'm unlikely to get cute kiddies discount if one wants to service it, which leaves only myself. I've taken apart it's "sister" movement, (not sure how closely related they are) the BFG 866, a few times already and managed to fully service one and get it running as well as an old pin-pallet can. Question is: do I trust myself enough to work on a watch I hold so dear?

Not yet. I'm still nervous.

I wasn’t the original owner of the watch but the second. It was just at a year old when I bought it and changed the warranty to my name. Never got a straight answer as to why they wouldn’t fix it other than I didn’t buy it at that specific AD. Oris wasn’t very helpful with the matter either sadly so I took it to a local shop of mine to be regulated then moved onto a Breitling of all things. Sad experience and really bummed by Oris’ customer service on that one.

I lost a pusher on my Speedmaster in 2019 and got it back from maintenance within 1.5 months, so I’ve never had problems like this with Omega. It was just a repair and adjustment though, not a full revision.

However, I think this heavily depends on where you are and where your watch is being sent.

That is really disappointing.

I have been messing with Breitlings after I sold my 1980s gold and steel Datejust and steel sub to finance some sturdy home appliances. Never really had any issues with the many that I owned and sold to buy different models, they were fitted with the bulletproof 7750 movements. There was a short period when the Breitling Super Avenger was the hot item here in Toronto. Big watch 48mm, one evening my younger daughter noticed the wrong date in the watch window, asked permission to adjust since I had been showing my daughters some watches that they can expect someday. Unfortunately it was during the hours that changing the date manually would damage the movement which is exactly what happened. Breitling had set up a new head office service centre so it was going to be different from dealing with the previous persons representing the brand. I expected a repair bill of several hundred for the date wheel and whatever the fee for a standard oil and cleaning the movement. The emailed estimate was worse than a message from the CRA, close to 2k after taxes and shipping costs. The watchmaker determined that the screw down crown had somehow damaged the threaded tube affecting the waterproof integrity of the whole watch but the design is not merely replacing the tube that the crown threads into, the solid steel case is replaced $500 cad years ago. The service manager who was retained from the original ownership calmly explained that an entire movement needs careful adjustment when going from one case into the next. They waived the shipping since I intended to pick up the watch myself. It was an egregious first experience with the then new office staff. However the work was and is extremely well done, very professional but costly. I have serviced all of my Breitling watches not really planning on buying any more. I have never waited longer than a few weeks including my annual calendar Navitimer which was sent to Switzerland.

I feel your pain and I guess it depends on the brand and issue.

I had to send a new TAG in about 3 months into ownership for running out of spec. With LVMH, I was able to reach out to TAG directly online without going through an AD. Updates and info was updated regularly on their website and overall it took about 2 months to get it back.

Super frustrating whether your the 1st or 3rd owner though.

Yeah not a good situation and sadly really tainted Oris in my eyes as an owner.

Sounds normal for the official service and repair center times. They pad their estimates and you have to remember, they added travel times and time on service que or whatever the terms are.

Sucks to be at the end of servicing but... Shrugs

Had something similar with my Tudor. Warranty work is usually prioritized…

11/3/22:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/JBird7986/posts/it-is-a-sad-day-for-my-black-bay-gmt-18121

12/15/22:

https://www.watchcrunch.com/JBird7986/posts/not-quite-an-nwa-but-my-tudor-came-back-from-warranty-service-sooner-than-expected-21570

Yes, Omega sm300 heritage (2014) - £490 & 4 months

Seiko Willard reissue £180 & waiting to get it back (been only a week)

But I did purchase another Breitling Colt- quartz God forbid? And not one second (no pun intended) of any issue. Why quartz? My AD who is was friends with was an AD for Rolex, Omega, Tag, Montblanc and Breitling. His favorite is Breitling. He suggested it, not a money issue but practicality. I’m not the desk sitting all day guy, if there is a tornado I’m going wind surfing. And like wearing a high beat quartz or a big time super clone the only person that knows or even maters to that the watch is quartz or a replica is you.

I might not buy another Breitling watch but the level of service here in Toronto is the industry standard for competent gracious service. I have a very friendly honest relationship with the young Italian fella whose family owns two multi brand boutiques here in the GTA, ask him honestly about his experience regarding warranty after sales procedures of the many brands that he retails. Breitling is usually at the top of his list but he is miffed that the Canadian agent for B also sells retail from their HO/ sales boutique. I suspect there are already models that he has customers for that the agent is slow to deliver.

Nope, sounds about right for Omega service. I've had my Planet Ocean and 300M serviced by them and each took about three months. However I am surprised they didn't expidite youyr service as it is warranty service.

People who know me around hear know I am not a big fan of Seiko mechanicals and I love to bitch about my US Ice Diver Turtle edition (ran way of of even Seiko's generous specs) so it had to go back to Seiko for service immediately.

But I have to give Seiko Service in New Jersey kudos as it took less than 2 weeks, more like ten days, to regulate/service it and return from mailing it back. Outstanding!

BTW, the watch runs so much better now. 😀

I dropped my Seamaster 2531.80 off at an Omega Boutique for a full service 3 weeks ago. At the time of drop off they told me it would take 3 months to get back. Mine was sent to Seattle for service. Did they tell you where they were sending yours?

They did not. I’m in MD and my AD just said he’s sending it to Omega. Guess I should have asked.

Seiko in the UK takes a similar time.

It is weird I went in a few weeks prior to ask about service and they told me it was a 4-6 week turnaround. But when I dropped it off they told me 3 months.

I got a call from Omega yesterday. They called to get permission to change the dial out. It was cracked. That will be $459 on top of the $700 for the service. They quoted me 6-8 from now to get the watch back, on top of the 3 weeks that it has already been gone.

Ugh, it’s so frustrating! I was so excited about the Aqua Terra because of the robust movement and 8 year service interval. But here I am 9 months into ownership and my watch needs service to fix the slow movement.

This was supposed to be my worry free watch.

I am not too frustrated in my situation. I bought the watch a few months back at a second hand store in Japan. The watch was originally bought in 2005, and I dont think it has ever been serviced based on the condition of the case and bracelet. I wanted to have it serviced based on the unknown history and the fact it was running about 20 seconds slow a day, and I could feel resistance in the crown when winding.

That I would also not be upset about. That almost seems expected. But I bought mine new in September of 2022 so I am frustrated.

I would be frustrated in your situation as well.