- Index:
- Introduction
- What
is this?/Why does this exist?
- Link
to Omega.ch's FAQ...
- I
am confused by watch terms, What do I
do?
- Dealer
Issues
- What
is the difference between authorized and "gray
market"?
- How
much can I expect to pay for a new
watch?
- Resale
value: Authorized Vs. Dealer Gray
Market?
- Movement
Issues
- Automatic
or Quartz: Which is better?
- Active
activities & Mechanical Watches, What's
suitable?
- How
often should I wind my mechanical
watch?
- How
do you start a fully unwound Automatic
watch?
- Care
Issues:
- Water
Resistance Issues:
- How
deep can the watch actually
go?
- Will
chlorinated or sea water hurt my
watch?
- Okay
to wear my watch while I shower/hot
tub?
- Maintenance
Issues:
- What
maintenance does my Omega need, and how
often?
- What
is the best position for time
regulation?
- Repair/Service
Issues:
- Who
should I send my Omega to for
service?
- Should
I send my watch to Omega or a local
watchmaker?
- Omega
says they don't have parts for my vintage Omega,
what now?
- Bezel
Questions:
- What
does a unidirectional bezel do?
- Can
I change the insert on my
Seamaster?
- How
do I use a Tachymetre/Decimal/Telemetre/etc.
Bezel?
- Deciding
on a Model...
- Which
one: Seamaster or GMT?
- Which
one: full-sized or mid-sized?
- Which
one: Stainless or Titanium?
- Specific
Model Questions:
- Seamaster
Professional
- How
does the helium release valve
work?
- How
does Omega modify the ETA Base Movement for this
watch?
- Seamaster
Professional Chronograph-Chronometer
(SeMPC)
- How
should I set my watch winder up for a Seamaster
Pro Chrono?
- Omegamatic
- How
does the Omegamatic work?
- Speedmaster
(General)
- Which
is the best Speedmaster
Movement?
- X-33
Speedmaster
- How
do I use the non-listed shortcuts of my
X-33?
- Speedmaster
Professional Moonwatch
- Why
doesn't the Speedmaster have sapphire
crystal?
- Why
wasn't an Automatic Watch chosen by
NASA?
- Speedmaster
Moonphase
- What
time does the moonphase indicator
change?
- The
Moon's current phase is...
- Serial
Number Issues
- Where
is the serial number on my Omega?
- Are
These Defects?
- Seamaster
Pro automatic is running
fast/slow...
- Chronograph
hand alignment...
- Hour
register on my Chrono doesn't always stay zeroed
when not in use...
- Seamaster
Professional bracelet shows scuff
marks...
- Insurance
Issues:
- Insuring
a watch without serial numbers/warranty
card...
- Determining
a Vintage watch value...
- Bracelet/Band/Strap
Issues:
- Where
can I get an Omega band?
- Which
one: strap or a bracelet?
- How
do I remove links from my bracelet?
- Where do
I get straps/bracelets/parts for my
Omega?
- Informational
Number's/Sites:
- What's
the contact number/address/email for Omega in
Pennsylvania?
- Are
there other Authorized Omega Service Centers in the
U.S.A.?
- Does
Omega have a web site?
- Does
Omega have an Official FAQ?
- My
Omega's serial number is xx,xxx,xxx. Can anyone
tell me more about it?
- How
do I contact Omega in Switzerland?
- Is
there a time-line of Omega's
achievements?
- Other
Common Questions:
- Could a
winder for my automatic watch(es) damage
them?
- Important
Disclaimer
   
Introduction:
-
What is this and why does
this exist?
This FAQ, like most FAQ's, was
created with the purpose of qualifying and quantifying
some of the most commonly asked questions and
providing suitable answers that can be pointed to when
they crop up. It is the work of a small number of
devoted individuals who otherwise would likely be
answering these questions by hand every time they are
raised.
It is
important to note the Disclaimer
at the bottom of this document and to state that
Omega.ch has their own Omega
FAQ and should be
considered canon (or the preferred source of
authoritative information)... In addition, if you are
interested in learning more about specific topics
please look through the companion TimeZone
Omega Forum Links Page
for more in-depth essays and
information.
-
I am sometimes confused by
all of these watch terms, What do I do?
The TZ Classic 0183
“Glossary
of Frequently Used Terms”
by Jaeger is a good start...
Dealer
Issues
What is the
difference between authorized dealers and the "gray
market"?
|
Authorized
Dealers
|
|
Gray-Market
Dealers
|
|
Authorized
dealers obtain their watches directly from
the manufacturer or the manufacturer's
authorized agents. An
authorized dealer is able to offer the
manufacturer's warranty, plus all official
papers or certificates, warranty cards
correctly filled out, booklets, and any other
materials intended by the manufacturer to
accompany the watch. Authorized
dealers have access to manufacturer
literature, support, training, and
parts.
|
|
Gray market
dealers are essentially non-authorized
re-sellers. Gray market dealers obtain
their watches from a variety of sources all
over the world, and they cannot offer the
manufacturer's warranty. Because
"Gray's" bypass authorized channels,
they usually offer lower prices than
authorized dealers. Some gray market
dealers offer their own warranty, however you
can never be sure about the quality of the
person who will work on the watch, their
training, or their access to parts, should
the watch require repair. Some gray
market dealers do not offer all boxes and
papers that originally accompanied the watch.
Some gray market dealers deface
watches by removing the serial number. This
can make the watch impossible to trace if
stolen, and it can render the watch
uninsurable. In some US states, removing
serial numbers is illegal, and a watch with
the serial number removed can be presumed
stolen. For more information on the gray
market, please take a look an
Bill
Mattocks TZ Classic 1435 :Gray Market Watches
|
How much can I expect
to pay for a new watch?
Discounting practices
vary widely from country to country, but in some
countries, including the USA, many authorized dealers
will discount their prices from the list price, if you
negotiate. Some dealers will discount more than
others, and some will not discount at all. Where
offered, discounts depend on several factors,
including your geographic location, whether you are
buying from the dealer's stock or special ordering,
the model watch you want to buy, demand for that
model, whether the model has been of will soon be
discontinued, the dealership's finances that day,
whether you are a regular customer or one time buyer,
and your method of payment (Cash/Credit Card). If you
are purchasing from a dealer in another country,
currency exchange rates can also play an important
role. The time of year can also affect pricing.
Shopping between Christmas and New Years is typically
beneficial as stores are looking to make sales before
the end of the year. Shopping after traditional
gift giving holidays, like Mother's day, Father's Day,
graduations, and Valentine's Day, can sometimes
produce better deals as well.
Among USA dealers who will
discount, you can typically negotiate ten to twenty
percent off list with little or no effort. Twenty-five
to thirty-three percent off might be achieved under
the proper circumstances. Larger discounts are rare,
usually given only for close-outs, discontinued items
or going out of business sales. Shop around and see
what you can find... prices will likely vary.
What factors affect
resale value?
Resale value is affected by
several factors. These include the condition of the
watch, whether it is fully intact, running properly
and original (e.g. has all serial and other
identifying numbers in place), whether you have all
original boxes and papers, your location and that of
the buyer, the service history, the desirability and
rarity of the watch, and the nature of the buyer. When
you trade a watch in to a dealer, you will likely only
get wholesale value, just as when you trade in a car,
after all the dealer has expenses to meet and still
show a profit. You can typically get more for a watch
by selling it yourself to a "retail" buyer.
Movement
Issues
What's the difference
between an automatic and a quartz watch? Which is
better?
|
Automatic/Manual
Wind:
|
|
Quartz:
|
|
An automatic
is a testament to the ability of watchmakers
to put hundreds of little parts into a watch
case and get them to work all together with
close tolerances just to tell time. An
automatic watch depends upon movement
to power it while a quartz watch uses
electricity for its power, typically a
battery. It's a matter of opinion as to which
is better... But all of those little parts
mean that there are more things to break.
Manual watches do not have a rotor to
wind the mechanism, and rely upon the user to
wind them.
An
automatic/manual is usually more
expensive to repair than quartz, but
if you take care of the watch, you shouldn't
have to worry about this. The nice thing
about an automatic/manuals is that should
water get into your watch, it won't kill it
unless you don't have it serviced after the
leakage occurs. An automatic/manual
watch does not typically keep as accurate
time as quartz would, and if you're an
accuracy nut, this could get annoying.
Another drawback is that you will likely have
to reset your watch every now and then, which
causes wear on the gaskets and increases the
chance of water getting into your watch. Also
keep in mind that every time you let the
watch run out of power, you will have to
reset the time.
An automatic
can take some beating, but not as much as a
quartz. Manual wind watches are
usually somewhat tougher than
automatics as they don't have the
rotor spinning in the case. If you drop an
automatic, there is a greater chance
that something will be damaged. However, if
you take care of an automatic/manual,
it will last you a lifetime and you can pass
it on to your family. Also, should you decide
to sell your watch, an
automatic/manual is more likely to
fetch more money than quartz will.
Also, an automatic's second hand
sweeps nicely around the dial in a continuous
motion. Some people think that an
automatic has more of a "soul" than a
quartz watch, as it depends on the
motion of your arm to power it. Some feel
that since a Manual Wind requires the
owner wind it it's more symbotic.
|
|
A quartz watch
is a testament to humankind's technological
know-how that permits the etching of a wafer
of Silicon (sand) with hundreds, thousands or
even millions of electronic components,
passing a small amount of current through it,
and measureing time even more accurately
(typically) than a mechanical watch does. A
quartz watch requires less maintenance
than an automatic. The only
maintenance that the watch will typically
need is a battery change and to have its
gaskets changed annually if it's around
water. It is very accurate, so this will stop
you from having to unscrew the crown and
cause wear on the gaskets. The down part to
quartz is that if water gets into your
watch, it usually means death to the
movement. But the plus side to this is that
it will be relatively inexpensive to replace
a quartz movement than an
automatic. The battery inside a
quartz watch can leak acid and corrode
the movement. This will usually happen if you
let an expired battery to sit too long inside
a watch after it dies. Thus it is a very good
idea to have a quartz watch serviced
immediately after its battery goes
flat.
- The great thing
about a quartz watch is that it can
sustain one heck of a beating and keep on
ticking. So if you're rough on your
watches, this is a major point that you
should take into consideration when
choosing which movement is best for you.
Another great thing about a quartz
watch is that you can take it off and let
it sit on your desk for long periods of
time and it will still be ticking when you
decide to wear it again. Unless the
battery dies, that is.
-
A quartz watch
should last you all of your life if you take
care of it,. Some people argue: why buy an
expensive watch and take the risk of your
battery no longer being available? This is a
valid point, but if the past is any
indication of the future, Omega will continue
to support your watch for quite some time.
The second hand on a quartz watch
moves in one-second increments.
|
There is no "one better watch". One type of watch may
better for you than the other. The best person to make
that decision is you.
-
Active activities and
Mechanical Watches, which are suitable?
Most modern watches are shock
protected. In fact a TZ Omega Forum regular
(Scottpalmy) inquired about this issue to Omega.ch:
-
- After purchasing a SMP
several months ago I Emailed vintage Info at Omega
to check on date of manufacterer, and also asked:
- "... can you confirm
whether you recommend wearing or not wearing the
Seamaster professional whenplaying golf."
The reply from Omega:
- Your watch, as every
other OMEGA, has a shock-protected movement,
hence normal sports activities are not
endangering the functions of yourtimepiece.
thank you for having
selected OMEGA !
best regards
- John R. Diethelm
- Vintage
Information
So, if you'd like, you can
contact Omega.ch and inquire about your watch. Or you
might want to play things more
conservatively...
With a manual wind the
activities that would be of concern would be high
contact/collision sports like Football, Baseball,
Polo, and the like. High recoil activities such as
target and trap shooting or hunting should not be a
problem unless you wear the watch on your primary
shooting hand (right wrist if you're right handed,
etc.). With shooting most of the recoil goes into the
strong or primary shooting hand. If you are shooting
pistol your wrist would typically be on off hand, with
rifle and shotgun your watch hand would typically be
on the fore grip and not as subject to physical shock
as your trigger hand would be as it is closer to the
shoulder stock.
Of course if your active
activities include operating a jackhammer an LCD
Quartz watch like a G-Shock is recommended.
That's what they are made for. In all fairness an
expendable, inexpensive LCD Quartz watch is
almost always a better idea for high-risk activities
than a manual or automatic watch.
For automatics an
additional concern to the above are activities that
generate a great deal of torque or inertia at the
wrist/hands... Activities such as Golf, Tennis, Polo,
Baseball, Jai-Lai, Lacrosse, and the like are likely
to cause the rotor to spin rapidly which is generally
not a good idea... Sort of like running your car close
to it's red-line at full throttle.
Many mechanical and
automatic movement watches have endured long
stints in extreme active use and survived no worse for
wear. A number of movements are renowned for their
toughness. These include the Omega c.321, c.861,
Lemania c.1341 (Omega c.1040 and c.1041), c.5100
(Omega c.1045), Valjoux c.72 and c.7750, movements.
There are probably others. In all instances in these
cases the watches in question were: quality made,
robust movements (not a lot of delicate
complications), and in good mechanical condition and
well serviced.
However, it is not
advisable to wear an automatic for the "high torque"
activities mentioned above, a more robust manual wind
or a quartz would be better choices. I would be more
concerned about wearing an Automatic watch when
shooting than I would be a manual wind, not only
because of the rotor but also because there is more to
go wrong typically.
Additionally it is not
advisable to any vintage watch you were concerned
about repairing or finding replacement parts.
Certainly c.861 based watches are safe as they remain
in production and spares are plentiful, but it would
be unwise to wear a c.321 or a Valjoux c.72
because of the increased difficulty of obtaining
proper repair parts since they have not been in
production since the late 1960's. The same would apply
to a Tuning Fork watch even though they are tough
watches, because they are uncommon, have not been in
production for many years and finding parts is
increasingly difficult.
Wearing a chronometer (like a
SeMPC or a Speedmaster 125) should also be avoided in
order to preserve their accuracy... I'd also resist
from wearing a limited edition or limited production
watch for the same reasons.
How and how often
should I wind my mechanical watch?
Watches typically only wind when the crown is
rotated so that the top part is moving towards the 12
o'clock position. Some people only wind the crown
towards the 12 o'clock position and then turn the
crown back a few clicks so that the oil that is used
on the winding train doesn't sit on all of one side of
the gears. However, the mechanism is like a Ratchet
and it is intended that you can wind the watch with a
back and forth motion too. Some people use the back
and forth method. Either way is fine...
Wind the watch (either method)
until you feel increased tension. Do it slowly the
first couple of times you wind the watch so that you
can sense it. For more information pertaining to the
crown we recommend Walt Odet's TZ Classic 57 :
“Some
basics in handling the crown...”
Many people feel that it's
important to only wind the watch once a day. There is
a certain point to this (letting the watch wind and
unwind) as you operate the watch throughout a range.
However, if you might forget to wind the watch you may
overstep the power reserve. This happened often during
Gemini/Apollo space missions, the astronauts would get
so preoccupied with tasks that they would forget to
wind their watches and find that when they needed them
they had wound down. So many people "top-off" the
watch in the evening or a couple of times (say
morning, midday, and at night before retiring for bed)
during the day. Doing so would not hurt the
movement... Letting the watch run throughout it's
"range of motion" or power reserve from time to time
is probably a good idea. It might be a good idea to
let your manual wind watch wind down over the weekend
and wear a different watch during the weekend. This
will let the watch run over a full range of motion on
a weekly basis.
It is advisable to be careful
winding the watch until you become comfortable with
the procedure, then work into a routine you are
comfortable with...
I own an Automatic
SeMP. How do you start it up when it's fully
unwound?
Unscrew the screw-down crown to the first
position, and do 40 back-and-forth winds on the crown.
Then set the time and the date (as long as the watch
is not set to a time between 8pm and 3am). This should
power the watch so that it won't stop. Wear the watch
normally after this for the rest of the day.
If you wind the watch and wear
it all day, you should have a full power reserve at
bed time. You can then choose to wear the watch to bed
or not.
Care
Issues:
Water
Resistance Issues:
With a water
resistance rating of __ meters, how deep can the watch
actually go?
- A
general rule of thumb on watches when it
comes to water resistance rating
is:
|
|
Under
30m =
|
- Well,
just try not to get it wet,
ok?
|
|
30m-50m
=
|
- Bathing,
hand/dish washing, etc.
|
|
100m
=
|
Swimming
pool or shallow swimming [i.e. less than
10m],
|
|
300m
=
|
- SCUBA
diving,
|
|
Over
300m =
|
- Deeper
diving.
|
Will chlorinated or
sea water hurt my watch?
If your watch is stainless steel, chlorinated water
will not hurt the watch. It's not a good idea to
expose your gold watch to chlorinated water, as the
chlorine can cause pitting of the gold. If you do take
your watch in a water environment often, have the
gaskets checked twice per year as chlorinated and sea
water will cause them to lose their effectiveness
faster.
However, it is a good idea to rinse your watch in
plain tap water (distilled would be better) after
swimming in a chlorinated pool or salt water.
Is it okay to wear my
watch while I shower (or hot tub, etc.)?
There are some very good reasons not to.
Most people use soap or detergent (in shampoos) in the
shower. Many soaps or detergents contain abrasives, so
what you are essentially doing is putting an abrasive
in contact with your watch's crystal and finish. The
effect of such abrasive is not good, so why risk
it?
Secondly, the primary purpose of soap or detergents is
to get water and oils to mix with one another so that
they can be removed (by the combination of soap and
water) from the body. So what you end up with is a
mixture of soap/detergent, water, oils and dirt.
Unless you are able to completely able to rinse this
out from all of the tiny cracks and crevices of your
watch's case, bezel, bracelet, etc. this slurry of
materials will accumulate in nooks and crannies on/in
your watch.
Third, heat expands, cold contracts. Different
materials expand and contract at different rates. So
it makes sense that if you move from a 68F room
temperature into 100F shower water quickly, the case
and case back may expand at a different rate than the
rubber gaskets do, which may cause problems with water
resistance.
Now, none of these items will cause a significant
depletion of WR in a watch if you forget to take off
your watch occasionally when you hop into the shower.
But why put the watch at risk unnecessarily?
Maintenance
Issues:
What kind of
maintenance does my Omega need, and how often do
should I have it done?
If you have a mechanical or automaticmovement,
you should have it re-oiled every five to ten years
depending upon how much wear your watch gets.
If it's a quartz watch, you should have the
battery replaced as soon as it starts to die.
With either kind of movement, if your watch is
around water often, you must have its gaskets checked
annually. If it's not around water often, you should
have its gaskets checked every two to three years.
What is the best
position to leave my watch so that it gains or loses
the least amount of time?
Each watch is different when it comes to this. Whether
its dial-up, down, crown left, or right, depends
entirely on your watch. Experiment with the different
positions each time when you take your watch off, and
find out what works best for your watch.
Repair/Service
Issues:
My Omega needs
service; to whom should I send it?
If your watch is under warranty you should have it
serviced by Omega in the country you reside, or by an
authorized Omega dealer or service center. If you
purchased your Omega and the watch is under a gray
market warranty you should send it to the place you
purchased it from. If your watch is out of warranty
and you have a watchmaker in your area that you trust,
you have the option to use him or her. Typically this
would be cheaper than sending it to an Omega service
center. If you want to send it to an Omega service
center, the best one is at the factory in
Switzerland.
Should I send my
watch to Omega for repair/battery/waterproofing, or
have my watchmaker do it?
You can do either one. Omega will give you a one-year
warranty on their warranty service, and most
watchmakers have a warranty on their work also. If you
have a watchmaker that you know, and trust, you can
take it to him, and that will probably be less
expensive then sending it to Omega.
I have a vintage
Omega, and Omega says that they don't have parts for
it. What do I do now?
This is the sad part of owning vintage watches, but
there is still hope. You can either find the same
movement and pull the parts out of it that are needed,
or you can try finding a watchmaker who knows how to
make parts. You can find a good list of watchmakers on
theNAWCC
web site.
Bezel
Questions:
What does a
unidirectional bezel do?
Its prime purpose is to keep track of time under
water. It is unidirectional so that if it gets bumped,
it will only lessen the time left for diving (i.e.
bumped from 30 to 29 minutes). It can also be used as
a timer, elapsed time, and time zone indicator.
Can I change the
insert on my Seamaster from blue to stainless steel,
or vice-versa?
Yes you can, but it is a tricky job. Most watch makers
will tell you that you should buy a new bezel, because
if the insert gets bent while installing the new one,
it will put a permanent white line on that bezel
insert. If you want to change the color insert, send
your watch to an Omega service center near you.
How do I use a
Tachymetre/Decimal/Telemetre/etc. Bezel?
Two good places to learn this are the TimeZone
Classics created by the co-author of this FAQ entitled
“1027:
The Definative Answer to 'How Do I Use The
Tachymeter'”
and “1178
How to use 4 different types of
Bezels...”.
Deciding on a
Model...
Which watch should I
get: Seamaster or GMT and which one is better?
Do you have a need for the GMT's features? If so
then you should strongly consider it. The GMT omits
the Helium Escape Valve, but has the same Water
Resistance as the regular Seamaster. Otherwise, go
with the one whose looks you prefer. They're both
great watches, and you can't go wrong with either one.
The best one is the one that makes the most sense for
you.
Should I get the
full-sized Seamaster Professional or the mid-sized
one?
This is a dilemma that almost everyone that has
purchased the watch has faced, and the answer is to
get the one that you think both looks and feels best
on you. Go to an authorized dealer, and wear the type
of clothes that you wear on a day-to-day basis. Try on
both watches, and look in a mirror and see what you
like best. The full-size Seamaster may look big at
first, but you will probably get accustomed to it.
Should I get the
Seamaster Professional Chronograph in stainless steel
or titanium?
Go for what you like best. The titanium is much
lighter than the stainless steel, but it also
scratches somewhat more easily. To give you an idea of
the difference, a Stainless Steel Seamaster
Professional Chronograph tips the scales at 206 grams,
while its Titanium counterpart weighs a mere 142.7
grams - a savings of over 60 grams or more than two
ounces.
Specific Model
Questions:
Seamaster
Professional:
How does the helium
release valve on my Seamaster work? Can I open it on
land?
The helium release valve works by letting helium out
of your watch, and nothing else in. This only comes in
handy when you are in a helium-saturated environment
such as a dive bell. You can open it on land, but make
sure you screw it back down before you submerge it in
water. Leaving it open while the watch is under water
can let water into the watch. Note: This system
is consistant with the Seamaster Professional
Chronograph - Chronometer as well...
- How does Omega modify
the ETA base movement for use in this
watch?
In addition to polishing the
components and adding the Geneve Wave decor, Omega
replaces the rotor with an Omega Specific (only) rotor
that rides on a small ball bearing. They change the
automatic bridge with a their own gear-train and
endshake corrector. Which in turn, reduces the height
difference between the auxiliary reverser and rotor.
This also allows the oscillating weight's gear to mesh
more precisely with the click wheel. This modification
reduces the rotor's play during movement, and also
prevents friction against the plate. On a standard ETA
ebauche, a metal seating is used to hold the barrel in
place. Omega replaces that, and uses two jewels to
hold the barrel in place. This improves the constancy
of the force flow and ultimately produces a more
accurate movement, and adds about 2 hours to the power
reserve. And to top all that off, add pure gold inlaid
engraving for the writing.
Seamaster
Professional Chronograph (sometimes referred to as
SeMPC):
-
-
- How many turns and
in which direction should I set my watch winder
for a SeMPC?
Graham passed this
information to us:
- Watch-winder with
slow rotation : one full round per minute. To
be fully wound, it will require around 20
hours of rotations.
- Watch-winder with
fast rotation : four full rounds per minute.
To be fully wound, it will require around 5
hours of rotations.
- One direction
rotation, clockwise direction It is not
essential to use a watch-winder for your
Seamaster watch. Your watch should be wound
once a day, if possible in the morning. As
mentioned before if the watch is fully wound,
its power reserve will be around 44 hours.
- We hope that you
will be wearing your Omega watch with much
pleasure for many years to come.
With kind regards,
Maria M., OMEGA Ltd
Customer Service
- This was sent to
me on June 15, 2001 Ihope this helps --
Graham
Note: These
instructions should be universally applicable
for the ETA/Valjoux 7750 base movement which is
also used in certain Omega Speedmaster lines.
Thanks Graham!
Omegamatic:
How does the
Omegamatic work?
The movement in the Omegamatic is a hybrid movement
that uses the same concept as an automatic movement: a
rotor which rotates when the wearer moves, to generate
energy. However, instead of storing the energy
generated in a metal spring, the Omegamatic movement's
rotor moves a micro generator that creates electrical
energy which is stored into a capacitor. Then this
energy is transmitted to an integrated circuit, which
contains a quartz crystal whose oscillations are
driven by the integrated circuit. The integrated
circuit then sends the necessary impulses for the
functioning of a stepping motor which drives the
hands.
An Omegamatic can also create electricity by turning
the crown of the watch.
The benefits of such a movement is that you have the
best of both worlds: Quartz Accuracy, without the need
to change a battery every year or two.
Speedmaster
(General):
Which is the best
Speedmaster Movement?
Depends on your tastes and as usual with such answers
it will vary from person to person...
The c.321 is the movement most
sought after by collectors because it was the original
Speedmaster movement, was the movement used in the
first watch worn on the moon as best as anyone has
been able to determine.
The c.861 and it's variants
(c.863, c.1861, c.1863, etc) have their adherants as
well. It's a strong robust movement with many things
to go for it, among them: higher oscillation frequency
hence theoritically more accuracy, fewer components
leading to fewer production processes (costs) and
simpler repairs and adjustments. The c.86x series are
17 jewel movements with all steel parts and Gilt (gold
colored plating), whilst the c.186x has an additional
jewel, a single nylon part and a Rhodium plating to
the movement.
There are also many fans of
the Lemania 5100 movement (c.1045 in Omega terms) and
even some fans of the c.1040/c.1041 movement which is
very similar to the c.1045 and offers many of the same
features.
It all depends on what you are
after. In theory, the c.861 and it's ilk should be a
little more accurate than a c.321 but there isn't much
difference between the two in the real world...
X-33
Speedmaster:
How do I use the
non-listed shortcuts of my X-33?
The non-listed shortcuts on the X-33 are: Alarm,
Mission Alarm (MA), Universal Alarm (UA), Count Down
Timer (CDT). They can all be set by pushing in the
crown and holding it for 3 seconds until the function
flashes. This allows you to set these functions
without pulling out the crown, which can be hard if
the watch is on your wrist.
Speedmaster
Professional Moonwatch:
Why doesn't the
Speedmaster have sapphire crystal?
Omega uses the plastic/acrylic crystal because it
is shatterproof. While sapphire is scratchproof
(virtually), it isn't safe at very intense pressure
levels. An astronaute would have a very HUGE problem
if his sapphire crystal shattered at 0 G. That's why
it's used on the Speedmaster Pro and not on the
regular Speedmaster's, it's intent is to be a
professional Pilot/Astronaute's watch, in that respect
it does its job admirably, IMO.
Besides, a Hesalite
(plastic/acrylic) crystal can very easily be polished
out, but if you ever scratch/chip your sapphire
crystal, you will have to replace it or live with it
as Sapphire is so hard it's exceedingly difficult to
polish out any scratches...
Special thanks to Marc
(Time2Watch) for his contribution to this
answer...
Why wasn't an
Automatic Watch chosen by NASA?
One of the reasons that NASA chose a manual wind
watch for space flight crew use was that they wanted a
chronograph and automatic chronographs would not be
perfected until 1969. In addition NASA had the
mistaken belief gravity needed to be present in order
to cause the Rotor to work.
As Newton described objects at
rest tend to stay at rest unless acted upon by a
force. When the watch is moved, the rotor wants to
stay put. Since its center of mass (somewhere in the
middle of the rotor plate) is not its center of effort
(the rotor shaft), it spins. Along the way, it winds
the watch. However, what is important in this equation
isn't gravity, but rather Inertia...
To see a demonstration of how
Inertia works on a automatic watch take any display
back watch automatic or an automatic with the caseback
off and hold the watch with the dial down.... One can
easily set the rotor spinning moving the watch in a
circular motion. Gravity doesn't play a significant
part, because the rotor is more or less level gravity
isn't acting on it in a significant way. The inertia
from from moving the watch around is what moves the
rotor and winds the watch. Inertia is a magical thing.
So, Automatics will work in
Space. In fact if the watchmakers had been 5-10 years
earlier with the creation of the automatic chronograph
complication, the moonwatch might have sported a
Valjoux 7750, a Lemania 1342, or a Lemania 5100 under
the dial instead of manual wind movement.
Special thanks to Thom
Dyson for his contribution of this
answer...
Speedmaster
Moonphase:
What time does the
moonphase indicator changes on my Speedmaster
Moonphase? It doesn't seem to change at the same time
as the date...
According to M. Alejandro de la Torre who has
experience in assembly and disassembly of moonphase
chronographs, "the traditional moonphase disc, has
59 teeth advancing at the rate of 1 tooth per day
(reflecting two 29.5 day moon cycles on the disc). The
time that this happens, I am unaware of on the Lemania
chronograph. However on the Valjoux 7751, occurs
between 3 am and 4 am. I am almost certain that the
Lemania movement in the new Speedmaster Moonphase
Replica has this type of moonphase
mechanism."
Alex has a wonderful
page with the story of
his work on making a totally unique version of the
Valjoux movement Speedmaster Moonphase for him self
that is beautifully illustrated... Please
link to it from here...
What is the Moon's
current phase?
The
Moon's current phase is:
- This
image updates every 4 hours.
- If
display is black, the moon is
new.
by
Virtual Reality Moon Phase Pictures
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A lunar months worth of
phases in a few
seconds:
The
lunar month is approximately 29.5 earth days.
This is the reason why many religious
holidays which are based on the position of
the moon, like Easter, Passover and Ramadan,
occur at different times from year to year.
The
moon rises approximately 55 minutes earlier
each day in it's progression around the
earth.
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Serial Number
Issues:
Where is the serial
number on my Omega?
All newer Omegas have the serial number on the case
back. Most of the Seamaster's, Dynamics, De Villes,
and Speedmaster's have it on the seven o'clock lug,
while some are reported to be on a different lug.
Constellations have their serial number on the screw
on case back. Older Omegas have serial numbers on the
movement.
The serial number is actually
the number that is on the movement, and the
series of numbers is not connected to any
particular line of watch. Every movement Omega makes
is numbered sequentially and engraved on the
movement.
Are these
Defects?
My new Seamaster Pro
automatic is running a few seconds fast/slow; what
should I do?
Relax. Like most mechanical devices, a new watch
has a break-in period that lasts for about a month or
so. During this time, your watch is distributing the
oil around, and is breaking in its gears. Its accuracy
will vary by a few seconds during this time, but it
will eventually settle down. The C.O.S.C. standard is
+6/-4 seconds a day. If it's running way over that,
return your watch. There are a number of TZ Classic
Articles on C.O.S.C. and watch accuracy
including:“0139:
The Confusing Language of Watch
"Accuracy"” by
Justin Time”, “0267:
Info about COSC testing”
by Paul Schliesser, “1111:
Reading and Understanding a COSC
Certificate” by
Mike Disher and for information which Swiss
manufacturers make the most Chronometre's have a look
at “1820
: Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres
(C.O.S.C) Numbers 1999-2000”
by FAQ co-author Chuck Maddox.
The chronograph hand
on my Speedmaster Professional doesn't sit exactly on
the twelve; is my watch defective?
This is not uncommon, and it is not a major
problem to worry about. Typically this occurs when a
watch hasn't been serviced in a while and the remedy
is to have it attended to when you choose to have the
watch serviced (Cleaned, Lubricated, Adjusted, often
called CLA). If your watch doesn't reset to "zero"
geting this item adjusted but not getting the watch
cleaned and lubricated at the same time won't
necessarily prevent the misadjustment from reoccuring.
If you can live with the watch being off by a couple
fifth's of a second, it won't harm the watch to
continue to use it until it's a convenient time for
you to be without it while it's being serviced. When
you take the watch in for servicing, explain
all of the issues you note with the watch, so
that the watchmaker can attend to each of the items
noted.
The Hour Register on
my Chronograph doesn't always stay on the twelve when
the chronograph is not in use; have I broken my
watch?
This is typically called "Hour Register Creep" and
does occur on certain types of chronograph movements
used by Omega (Lemania c.321 & c.861, and those
using Valjoux 7750 & 7751 base movements)
throughout the Omega product line as well as other
companies using these movements. Thus this is
not an issue that is restricted to any one
product line (Speedmaster, Seamaster) but can occur
with any watch using these movements. However,
it seems that watches using the Omega caliber 1045
(base movement Lemania 5100), 1040 and 1041 (base
movement Lemania 1341) do not seem to suffer from this
malady, or suffer at a much much lower rate
than the previously mentioned movements.
This problem happens because a spring that causes
tension on this register gets slightly out of
alignment. Sometimes carefully resetting the
chronograph can minimize this problem from occurring,
until you decide to have the watch serviced. Another
workaround is to simply press the reset button before
activating the chronograph function. Typically it's
not worth the time and expense to send the watch into
Service for just this problem if the watch is out of
warranty. However, you should ask for it to be
repaired the next time you have your watch in for
periodic service... If you ask the Watchmaker to look
into this the cost for repair shouldn't be much if any
greater than a typical service (clean, lube &
adjustment)...
My Seamaster
Professional's bracelet shows scuff marks already. Is
there any way to stop it from happening, and can I
remove the ones that are already there?
The clasp on the Seamaster is known for its
wonderful ability to show scuff marks no matter how
careful you are with it. There are many ways that
people have found to take the marks off. Some people
use a polishing cloth, while others use other items
such as a steel wool scrubbing pad. It depends upon
what you feel most comfortable with, and what you find
works best.
Insurance
Issues:
Will an insurance
company insure a watch with missing serial numbers
and/or with out manufacture's warranty card?
Most insurance companies couldn't care less about
serial numbers. You can insure a vintage Omega with no
serial numbers, so why not a new one with no serial
numbers? Again, most vintage watches have no warranty
card and are fully insurable.
How can I let my
insurance company know how much my vintage watch, or
my watch with out a serial number is worth?
If they ask, an appraisal from a qualified person,
or a receipt will usually be sufficient.
Bracelet/Band/Strap
Issues:
Where can I get an
Omega band for my vintage Omega?
Call the phone number below if you're in the
United States. If you're not, look on the
Omega
web site at
www.omega.ch,
and look for the service center location nearest
you.
I have a choice of
getting the Omega I want on either a Strap or a
Bracelet, which one should I buy?
Get the one you like, but keep in mind that you
can always obtain a leather or rubber strap for much
less than the metal strap purchased separately. Also,
the metal band will outlast a rubber or a leather
strap in the long run.
How do I remove links
from my Seamaster, Speedmaster, De Ville, or
Constellation?
You need the proper tools to do this. If you don't
have them, then it's best to take your watch to an
authorized dealer or a watchmaker. Omega makes a tough
bracelet, and they also make a secure one. There are
some tiny parts when taking apart the bracelet, and
they are easy to lose/bend. You wouldn't want to ruin
your beautiful watch by doing a do-it-yourself job on
it, would you?
Where do I get
straps/bracelets/parts for my Omega?
You can contact
Omega, or you can
post a "wanted to buy" ad on the TimeZone
sales corner at
http://www.TimeZone.com/webbbs/SalesCorner_cgibin/SC.cgi.
Informational
Number's/Sites:
What's the contact
number/address/email for Omega service center in
Pennsylvania?
- SG Customer Service
- 1817 William Penn Way
- Lancaster, PA
17601
- Phone: 800 456
5354, Parts: ext. 3037 Repairs: ext.
3018
- Fax: 717 399
2211
-
- Email: sgcs@desupernet.net
-
-
-
- Are there other
Authorized Omega Service Centers in the
U.S.A.?
-
- Yes, there
are...
-
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Factory
Authorized Service Centers In the
U.S.A.
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East:
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SG
Customer Service
|
1817
William Penn Way, Lancaster, PA
17601
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Phone:
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800.456.5354
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Fax:
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717.399.2211
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Repairs:
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Extension
3018
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Email:
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sgcs@desupernet.net
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Parts:
|
Extension
3037
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Swiss
Watch Repair Center
|
60 East
42nd Street, Suite 2328 New York NY
10165
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Phone:
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212.949.6522
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Fax:
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212.949.6522
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Omega
Service Agency
|
1010
Jefferson Bulg., 1015 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Phone:
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215.625.0220
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Fax:
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215.922.7685
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Midwest:
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United
Authorized Service Center
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Village
Plaza, 1st Floor, 23400 Michigan Ave.
Dearborn, MI 48124
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Phone:
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313.561.7700
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Fax:
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313.561.4649
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SwissService
Center
|
17
1/2
Calendar Court, La Grange, IL
60525
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Phone:
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708.482.0610
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Fax:
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708.482.1084
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Omega
Service Agency
|
4708
West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN
55437
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Phone:
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612.831.4406
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Fax:
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612.831.4406
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West:
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Omega
Service Agency
|
210 Post
Street, Room 802, San Francisco, CA
94108
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Phone:
|
415.433.2874
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Fax:
|
415.433.2874
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Walter
Gooden, Inc.
|
2050
Bundy Drive, Suite 290, Los Angeles, CA
90025
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Phone:
|
310.820.5952
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Fax:
|
310.820.3594
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Northwest:
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Nesbit's
Service
|
1425 2th
Avenue, Suite 402, Seattle, WA
98101
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Phone:
|
206.623.1211
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Fax:
|
206.623.1710
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South:
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Swiss
Time Service Center
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1101 S.
Rogers Circle, Suite 8 Boca Raton, FL
33487
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Phone:
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561.241.7222
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Fax:
|
561.995.6839
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Time
Tech
|
13140
Colt Road, Suite 519, Dallas Texas
75240
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Phone:
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972.644.1774
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Fax:
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972.644.1775
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Does Omega have a web
site?
Yes they do! Check it out at http://www.omega.ch.
Does Omega have an
Official FAQ?
Yes they do! Check it out at Omega
FAQ. And
for the questions they answer they're answers
should be considered canon.
The serial number on
my Omega is xx,xxx,xxx. Can anyone tell me when it was
made?
Email Omega via their web page at http://www.omega.ch,
and click the "Contact
Us" button, then
send a message to the after sales department; they
have all the records on your watch. Another way with
detailed instructions is a short article written by
one of the co-authors of this FAQ titled
The
how's and when's to contact Omega Vintage
Information. While
you are waiting for a detailed and exact answer from
Omega.ch you can get an approximate production date
within a couple of years by comparing it with the
chart located in the article “Omega
Serial Numbers by Year...”
I wish to contact
Omega in Switzerland, how do I know which department
to send my email?
Follow this link to an article on the
The
how's and when's to contact Omega in
Switzerland. If
you follow the directions there you will most likely
sent your communication to the proper place...
Is there a time-line
of Omega's achievements?
Yes there is. It is entitledOmega,
The Link Between The Past and the
Future... It is
most definitely worth checking out...
Other Common
Questions:
I'm thinking about
getting a winder for my automatic watch(es); can this
damage them?
There are two schools of
thought when it comes to this subject: Yes and No...
Some watchmakers will tell you that using a winder
will cause unnecessary wear to automatics, and wear
parts down faster. A winder is intended to keep a
watch that is used periodically wound, and not made to
help preserve a watch.
The other option is to wind a
watch by hand. In watches that can disconnect the
winding train when winding by hand (you have to pull
the crown out to wind the watch), there is minimal
chance of damaging the watch. In watches that don't
disconnect the winding train, wind these watches
slowly, and only turn the crown 10-20 turns. Rapid and
excessive winding will cause wear on the winding train
since they don't disconnect.
Important
Disclaimer:
The authors of this FAQ are not
responsible for any erroneous information contained
within this article. All views are the opinions of the
authors, and should be used at the reader's discretion.
If you have any questions, corrections, additions or
suggestions for the authors please contact them
at:oomegan@earthlink.net
(Damon) or cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net
(Chuck).
The authors wish to thank the
people whos names appear previously in the FAQ for their
contributions to this FAQ, Bill Hudson for his suggestion
for links to other TimeZone Resources, and the TimeZone
Community as a whole for their contributions to our
knowledge on the subject..
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