Oh-meh-gah Sspit-master One-oh-four-five
When I was VIRGIN in watch-collecting. I did not know much thing around apart from the constant advert bombardment from Oris (as I can remember).
My bug for watches started when I first got my G-shock riseman and thanks for the internet, from there I started to explore to other brand like Breitling (thanks to John Travolta). To cut story short, I got myself a fortis flieger chrono thanks to one of the ad as my first “proper swiss” watch.
I recently saw a used SM 1045 on display at one of the 2nd hand/used watch shop near my home. After researching on the net. I find out that calibre 1045=lemania 5100. What is so special about 5100 is that the chrno min counter is on the main dial instead of the usual 30min sub-dial as shown in picture below.
Omega 1045 picture
from
http://www.lesmala.net/jean-michel/lemania/index3.htmAs u can see, it is more legible compared to the small 30min sub-dial. Not to mention that it is very robust movement as proven by the usage by the Bundeswehr .
Why the heck I am buying this watch while I can get other NEW at good price???
To make it short, all of this is based
ON MY OWN OPINION (feel free to flame me)
-Omega is the FIRST manufacturer to get hold of 5100 (1045 in omega speak) before others like Tutima, Porsche design, Sinn.
-Omega has a service department specially catered to restore vintage watches & good network. As in I can drop my watch to one of the boutique in Starhill and it will be send to Bienne (and can blame them if anything skru up) with no worries. Unlike some where u got to post the watch by you and hope it will reach to safe hands in few weeks.
-I believe the folks at Bienne know what the hell they are doing with old watches. Unlike certain ppl who tend to screw up the repair process. The dealer told me the previous owner had service the watch but in actual fact it doesn’t (see the quote by Bienne below).
-Omega has spare parts in stock. Since the movement discontinue few years ago. I believed omega will keep stock for this movement which will last for many years to come.
Back to the watch itself
The condition of the watch is really bad as the picture shows it… I wonder how the previous owner actually treats it. I guess the owner doesn’t give a damn on the watch & only care about the “Omega” logo and wording for status purpose. He shall be burn in the WIS hell. The accuracy is horrible as it gains about 40-50 sec per days.
Since the watch is pretty beaten/f**ked up/basterdised, I guess the best way is to send to be restored by Omega Bienne as I believe the uncle, aunties and youngster will have the know-how to repair & restore the watch. I also worried that for the amount of money I spent the watch will be considered as fake.
FEW MONTHS LATER
I actually got to give em the call to the office to ask the status. They actually forgotten to call me to inform the quote have arrived in the service center. So the
condition of the watch from Bienne is as follows:
1. Your watch needs a full maintenance service
2. The movement shows signs of dampness having penetrated it
3. The luminous material has grown pale
4. The dial is stained
5. The dial could remain in its current condition
6. The case has corroded, therefore, water resistance cannot be guaranteed
7. The case is scratched
8. The case back has been damaged through the use of an inappropriate key
9. The bezel is scratched
10. The crystal is chipped
11. The bracelet shows sign of wear
12. The bracelet could remain in its current condition
As listed here, I decide to go ahead with the restoration with reminder that they don’t change dial of the watch. So gotta wait again for it to return…..
ANOTHER FEW MONTH LATER (sigh)
I keep the progress of the watch by contacting with one of the folks at Swatch Group Malaysia tru email. I am happy that it is ready to be collected at (blanked) date. So go there and collect it
FINALLY AFTER A LONG LONG LONG TIME IT IS BACK MAN!!!!!
As you can see, I replaced the hands of the watch into new one as the old one look really worn up and it is ugly in my opinion. The aesthetics’ of the watch is really awesome, I really like the way they polish the watch. Even the used dealer shop was surprised as it looks way to new.
The watch originally came with bracelet but since my wrist is too small even for the last hole in the bracelet so I gotta wear strap & cheapo butterfly claps at Red army (an ad specialise in selling Russian and german watches) at pavilion.
The watch accuracy is not great; it is gaining about 8 sec per day when it is fully winded. Plan to leave it as it for now and observe how it goes. If it not settled then I will bring it to regulate.
CONCLUSION
It is currently my fav wear because it wear small on me compared to fortis chrno fliger. It also able to fit onto my long sleeve office shirt with no problem. Not to mention easier readability of the chronograph hands due to the design of the movement BUT it is not that legible compared to other brand with the same movement such as Porsche design or Sinn EZM1 or Fortis cosmonaut with 5100 movement.
Its total cost (including service) may be able to get a new watch but in my opinion I find it worthwhile especially for the vintage-ness of the watch where no other watch can come close.
I WANNA BUY THE WATCH, WHERE CAN I GET IT?
??
If you are lucky, you may get hold of old stock of 5100 equipped as in form of Tutima & Fortis in AD’s if you really serach around. If cant, you may try search in Gay-Bay. If you got a stack load of cash to spare, you may get the Breguet type XXI. Which I believe it shares the heritage as 5100 as Novelle Lemania is absorbed by Breguet and claim that the the chrono movement is made in house.
I am not paid by Swatch Group or Omega or Breguet to write this review.
WHAT NEXT?I hope to get hold of the Omega Flightmaster Gen 1 as pic below shows. Hopefully once get it will be able to talk about getting other make’s watches.
Hope all of you enjoy reading it.
Good links
http://www.lesmala.net/jean-michel/lemania/index3.htmhttp://chronomaddox.com/c1045_in_detail.htmlhttp://www.chronomaddox.com/nouvelle_lemania_5100.html
