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Hi all
I have an Omega Seamaster 2254 auto that I wear every day.
it doesn't keep good time now and if i don't wear it then it takes half a day to 'start up'.
Can anyone recommend where I could have it serviced. I'm in the Skipton area. I'm not too bothered about it being an official Omega service unless that's recommended.
Thanks
Not sure I understand the problem. Have you tried hand-winding it to get it running? Give it around 20 twists of the crown, to fully wind this movement takes around 60 twists.
If you think the self-winding's at fault, here's how to test it. When the watch has fully run down, give it approx. 5-10 twists to get it running, then wear it for a few hours whilst being fairly active. Take the watch off and check how long it runs. If it only runs for a couple of hoyurs you've got a problem, but if it runs 20+ hours I would say the auto-winding's functioning .
I`ve serviced plenty of these, and I have all the seals and O rings they need, but my workload is high at the moment and with summer approaching I`ll be taking a lot less jobs on.
Paul
Thanks PaulQuote:
Originally Posted by walkerwek1958
I didn’t think it manually wound as it doesn’t make the same sound as ,say my Speedmaster.
Now I know this I’ll see how it goes.
Thank you
Richard
- - - Updated - - -
Thanks PaulQuote:
Originally Posted by walkerwek1958
I didn’t think it manually wound as it doesn’t make the same sound as ,say my Speedmaster.
Now I know this I’ll see how it goes.
Thank you
Richard
If you find you do have a problem after trying Paul’s suggestion and Paul isn’t able to help you then I would suggest you send it to Omega Service Centre.
It will come back looking like new and running perfectly.
Hello!
It will probably over due a service anyhow.
Live in Harrogate pop over to VintageSpeedmaster. Com for my contact details.
Send it to Simon Freese. I think Omega still sends anything over 10 years old to STS. Simon's cheaper and does just as good a job.
When I had my 2254 serviced by Omega they didn't even tell me they'd replaced the hands.
No chance, they stopped sending STS any work years ago... Simon isn’t accredited by Omega. Though when speaking to him and STS recently both said to me they send work to Southampton.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxy100
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Had my 2234 serviced by Omega twice now, both times it came back with a bag of all the old bits, including the full handset.Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxy100
If it was my watch, I would like to keep some of the original parts in place and get a sympathetic restoration !
I have a few watches in with Simon Freese at the moment and hes quite busy ( 6 to 8 week waiting time )
Brendan ( webwatchmaker ) may be able to help ? He did a fantastic job on a couple of watches for me ( Longines and a Girard Perregaux)
Bottom line if you want a vintage watch that looks like new with original parts replaced go to Omega this wont be cheap ! , if you want to keep the watch as original as poss get it done by one of the guys mentioned on here
All the best
Why spend a lot of money on a decent watch and not send it to Omega. You know Omega are restricting parts to the independant unless they are one of the few accredited outlets.
You may pay a few quid extra by sending it to Omega but at least you know it has been done right.
I’m not sure I can agree, Omega have increased the number of independents who can get parts not reduced. Previously, only STS. Now it’s near to 100, I’d hardly say a few.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick P
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
This is an easy watch to service, movement parts are still available and swapping the seals on the He valve and crowns isn`t difficult. The correct tool is needed to remove the He valve, and if the pendant tube needs swapping that needs a special tool too.
I`m amazed the OP didn`t realise the watch could be hand-wound! It won't feel the same as other watches because the auto-winding (reverser) gives it a totally different feel. However, it should feel smooth to wind, without harshness or a gritty feel.
Once again, I`m going to disagree with Mick P's advice, he's generalising again. If this was a co-axial I'd be more inclined to agree, but it isn`t. It's v. frustrating reading such statements when you've fixed them yourself and you know what you're talking about.
Horses for courses.
Paul
WTF are you on about? This is crap. 3 years ago anyone could buy any Omega part from Cousins et al. Now you have to satisfy the the accreditation criteria which isn’t easy and very few manage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammt79
I didn't realise that about STS. I've used Simon for almost all my Omegas, he's not accredited by Omega but then he doesn't need to be and he still has access to parts from somewhere. He is the go-to person for all pre-moon Speedmasters and virtually all vintage Omegas (I'm not sure he can sort any of the quartz and electronic ones).Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammt79
Let’s keep a sense of perspective on this one. The OP’s watch is a 2254.50, with luminova dial and hands, it’s a modern watch not a vintage so these comments don’t apply.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbo12
There will be no visual ageing or ‘patina’ to the dial and hands, they simply don’t alter with age like the ilder stuff. The likelihood of a hand being damaged during removal and needing replacement is v. slim, same applies to the dial. That leaves us with the crowns and the bezel. The bezel doesn’t need refinishing if the owner doesn’t want it touching. Unless the threads on the crown are worn it’ll only need a replacement O ring, same applies to the He valve crown.
If the threads on the crown and/ or pendant tube are less than 100% it makes sense to replace both, forget the warm and woolly feeling about keeping original parts, if there’s any hint of a problem these parts must be changed and it would be irresponsible of a repairer to not do so.
If this watch gets sent to Omega service centre they’ll apply their ‘one size fits all’ approach and fit new hands and a new crown whether the watch needs them or not. I’ll never understand why they do this with hands, and unless a crown has problems my view is that it’ll be fine with a new O ring seal. However, replacing these parts won’t devalue or spoil the watch in any way, let’s be clear about that, because no-one would be able to tell!
Obsession with the notion of originality precludes clarity of thought at times!
If Simon had Omega accreditation he would be unable to work on some of the vintage stuff!Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxy100
Some may find this hard to believe, but Omega stipulate what these guys can and can’t do, they insist that certain older calibres have to go to Omega service centre or Bienne. There’s no sense or logic to this in my opinion, but that’s their rules. Provided Simon ( or my good self, for that matter) can magic up the parts that may be needed he can work on whatever he chooses..........but having Omega accreditation would limit that! As far as I know cal 321 Speedys are in that category, so are 260/280, 340/350 and 500 movements that will be found in 50s offerings.
This is the height of stupidity in my opinion, yet another example of Swiss watch industry logic at work, they love the concept of ‘control’ and they want to control what gets done to a watch they sold 60 years ago......go figure! They’ll argue the case for ‘protecting the brand’ but how can anyone judge the quality of todays offerings based on the standard of repair a vintage example has been subjected to?
My 2254 just came back from Omega service - looks like new. I bought it about 6 months back from someone who had it for 15 years, so was pleasantly surprised how new it looked coming back from the service.
Omega have polished out a small ding on the case, and the bracelet looks like new - I believe these jobs need as much work as cleaning up/regulating the movement. I can totally recommend the Omega service.
‘Cleaning up and regulating the movement’ is a bit of an understatement!
When a watch is serviced, the movement is stripped completely, every part is dismantled.The parts are then cleaned in a cleaning machine /ultrasonic cleaner to remove all traces of old lubricant. Some parts are epilame treated to prevent oil spread, then the movement is re-assembled and re-lubricated. Watch lubricants are specialised, several different ones are used.
Refinishing a case and bracelet involves two stages, the scratches and damage have to be removed then the correct finish (brushed, polished or grained) is applied to get the watch looking sharp and fresh. This work can be done using polishing machines, by hand, or a combination of both.
There’s a fair amount of work involved, no doubt about that, and it needs doing very carefully. The manufacturers like to shroud it all in mystique and keep the customer somewhat distanced from it all, but as I’ve said many times, it isn’t rocket science.
It surprises me how limited an understanding many watch fans have when it comes to service/repair work, folks can reel off a bewildering list of model numbers and the cosmetic differences between them, but they have little idea about movements or the maintenance of watches. Possibly this is a sign of the times, people seem less interested in technical detail thesedays, they accept that they don’t know how stuff really works.
When a watch returns from service and refinishing it should be close to new condition, that shouldn’t be a surprise. Polishing/refinishing is associated with indiscriminate removal of metal that devalues the watch, but it really shouldn’t be like that if its done correctly.
I am not sure how you got the idea on 'limited understanding...'Quote:
Originally Posted by walkerwek1958
I wasn't trying to de-emphasize the work involved in servicing the movement. Considering the cost involved, I had thoroughly researched the work involved in the service, before sending it. The thread was mainly discussing the service of the movement, so added the consideration on case finishing/bracelet in case that's of interest too. I compared the finishing on the case/bracelet with that on the newer Speedy (since both have similar bracelets), under a loupe - I can say the quality of the brushing/polishing are very similar.