Omega WWW full maintenance service - Need advice

[chiewata]

Dear all,

I acquired an Omega WWW Caliber 30T2 sometime ago but recently its not working.
I sent it to Omega service centre for quotation for repair, they sent it to Switzerland for further inspection.
After a month I got a quote of RM4150 for a full maintenance service with the following notes:

Dear Sir/Madam

We thank you for forwarding your OMEGA watch to FACTORY for estimation.

Factory’s specialists have examined your watch and it has been noted the

following:-

1. The watch needs a full maintenance service

2. Movement rusty

3. The movement shows signs of dampness having penetrated it

4. The presence of strong traces of shocks and wear and tear

5. The luminescent material has grown pale

6. The dial is scratched

7. The dial is stained

8. The hands are damaged

9. The dial could remain in its current condition

10. The case is corroded

11. This model does not have a water resistant design

12. The case is scratched /shows signs of wear and tear

13. The case is damaged

14. The tube is damaged

15. The case exchange is not necessary

16. The case back is scratched

17. The case back is damaged

18. The case back is corroded

19. The case back exchange is not necessary

20. The crystal is scratched


For quality reasons, the following work will be necessary:

Complete maintenance service

 The following work is included in the price of a complete service:

- Complete dismantling of the movement, cleaning, oiling, reassembling, regulating and checking functions.

- Repair or replacement of parts of movement that is worn or faulty.

- Replacement of crystal, tube, crown, gasket and battery (including cost of spare part with the exception of special mineral glass or sapphire crystal and precious metal parts, which are billed separately.

- Refreshing metal case and bracelets

- Final technical and aesthetic check

So I need some advice whether shall I go for it or is it too expensive and not worth doing it?

Thank you

[TheHobbit]

It is indeed not cheap to have the watch serviced by Omega. My brother had his WWW serviced by Omega a couple of years back. It was not cheap either but some of the parts had to be made by Omega. It also took 6 months for him to get the watch back. There may be others that could service your watch, try checking out the Military Watch Resource.

[chiewata]

It is indeed not cheap to have the watch serviced by Omega. My brother had his WWW serviced by Omega a couple of years back. It was not cheap either but some of the parts had to be made by Omega. It also took 6 months for him to get the watch back. There may be others that could service your watch, try checking out the Military Watch Resource.

Hi Hobbit,

I think if I decide to do it I will still stick with Omega as they provide 24 months warranty and its "historically correct" to be fully service by them, just that my concern is:

1) Is the repair cost justifiable with the current market price for this model
2) My obligation to this vintage device, am I supposed to end its life like that
3) A remark by the service centre which stated this model is not designed with water resistance. As WWW means waterproof wrist watch so I am puzzling?

 

[TheHobbit]

Hi Hobbit,

I think if I decide to do it I will still stick with Omega as they provide 24 months warranty and its "historically correct" to be fully service by them, just that my concern is:

1) Is the repair cost justifiable with the current market price for this model
2) My obligation to this vintage device, am I supposed to end its life like that
3) A remark by the service centre which stated this model is not designed with water resistance. As WWW means waterproof wrist watch so I am puzzling?

 

The cost is very personal. If there is a sentimental attachment, the cost may be moot. The current prices for the watch is about RM3 to 5k, condition dependent.

As for the WR rating, it may have been when the watch was made in the 40s and the WR requirements and as set by the MOD during those days differ a lot from the expectations today. The case is over 70 years old and I expect that with wear and tear, and without a case change, Omega cannot ensure WR. My brother's watch is also no longer WR.

[ck77]

Do show us your www today, D-Day 70th anniversary.

[chiewata]

Hi Hobbit,

I think if I decide to do it I will still stick with Omega as they provide 24 months warranty and its "historically correct" to be fully service by them, just that my concern is:

1) Is the repair cost justifiable with the current market price for this model
2) My obligation to this vintage device, am I supposed to end its life like that
3) A remark by the service centre which stated this model is not designed with water resistance. As WWW means waterproof wrist watch so I am puzzling?

 

The cost is very personal. If there is a sentimental attachment, the cost may be moot. The current prices for the watch is about RM3 to 5k, condition dependent.

As for the WR rating, it may have been when the watch was made in the 40s and the WR requirements and as set by the MOD during those days differ a lot from the expectations today. The case is over 70 years old and I expect that with wear and tear, and without a case change, Omega cannot ensure WR. My brother's watch is also no longer WR.

Thanks for the clarification of the WR part it cleared some of my doubt 

[chiewata]

Do show us your www today, D-Day 70th anniversary.

CK, here u go 

[ck77]

sui 

[rainbowfix]

Do show us your www today, D-Day 70th anniversary.

CK, here u go 

Ahhh... Nice..

[mike]

Wow, beautiful timeless piece. I will definitely pay for the service if I were you!!

[TheHobbit]

Nice piece indeed. The hands may not be correct though...

[chiewata]

Nice piece indeed. The hands may not be correct though...

Omega service people noticed that too that's why they mentioned hands damaged 

[chrisyen]

looking at the long list of things to do, i do think the price is justifiable, since these has to be done in Swiss.
i have seen many restoration work done by swiss omega team... fantastic!

However, if you compare the value of the watch vs the repair cost make it not worth while

you may have sentimental value to the watch, if that is the case, more reason for you to preserve its current look than change everything...

i suggest to keep the case, caseback, crystal, dial, hands and crown as it is... no polishing, just cleaning!
while the watch is not running, definitely replacement of many parts on the movement is require to make it tick!
thats will not change the aged look, so no problem.

but not sure omega swiss will agree to such request.

[chiewata]

looking at the long list of things to do, i do think the price is justifiable, since these has to be done in Swiss.
i have seen many restoration work done by swiss omega team... fantastic!

However, if you compare the value of the watch vs the repair cost make it not worth while

you may have sentimental value to the watch, if that is the case, more reason for you to preserve its current look than change everything...

i suggest to keep the case, caseback, crystal, dial, hands and crown as it is... no polishing, just cleaning!
while the watch is not running, definitely replacement of many parts on the movement is require to make it tick!
thats will not change the aged look, so no problem.

but not sure omega swiss will agree to such request.

From the list they already specified that case, case back and dial to be remain as it is.
Yes you are right the cost of repair is far greater than the value of the watch, so that is my main point of consideration here.
But if I gonna do it I will do it with Omega and no one else.

[chiewata]

Dear all,

Thanks for all the valuable inputs I will consider all your comments and make my decision soon.

Once again thanks