Omega PO Bezel Change

[tancho]

Hi,

Contacted the Omega service centre in KL to enquire if possible to change the PO bezel from orange to black ceramic (and the cost).  The personnel informed me that they don't allow any changes to the original specs, including changing the rubber strap to SS, and vice-versa.  When she sounded abit apprehensive after talking further, I asked her to confirm with her superior if that's their policy, and she promised to call back.

She never called back (not the first time Omega service centre is remiss in this department). 

Appreciate feedback from Sifus if anyone knows the situation with regards to changing bezel for Omega PO.

Thanks

[davidtth]

yes basically u cant change from wat the original watch should have no matter is with-in warranty or out of warrant, your willing or not. not just because the policy but i believe Omega would not wan their watch to be MOD to diff spec and in the case of future someone send in for servicing the owner will get blame for non-original spec installed.

you can DIY your self by getting the bezel from other place not SC, and mod is on your own risk which SC will not cover

[tancho]

OK, thanks for your feedback 

[Yikkie]

Hi bro. Changing the Bezel to another color is definitely not ok in Omega's books. However, you could order the part online and get a local watchmaker to change it for you. This would most probably violate your warranty.
Changing strap on the other hand is not a problem at all! I bought a rubber strap and deployant from the Omega boutique before and they have helped me change the strap from SS to rubber back and forth a couple of times. Hope that the information helps.

[tancho]

Hi bro. Changing the Bezel to another color is definitely not ok in Omega's books. However, you could order the part online and get a local watchmaker to change it for you. This would most probably violate your warranty.
Changing strap on the other hand is not a problem at all! I bought a rubber strap and deployant from the Omega boutique before and they have helped me change the strap from SS to rubber back and forth a couple of times. Hope that the information helps.

Hi Yikkie,

Ya, it seems that way for Omega.  I thought they will allow switching bezel/dial like Rolex for the same model, but apparently not.  I suppose that's why Omega has different model reference numbers for the same watch with different bezel /dial.

I don't mind my orange PO bezel (kinda like it alot), but just curious to know if they allow switching in case I want to try black ceramic bezel in future.  I'm aware of Ofrei (not sure of the spelling) offering genuine Omega bezels online, but wouldn't want to try changing with local watchmaker in case anything happens.  Thanks for your feedback.

[Everdying]

i assume your orange PO is 8500?

anyway, you can always change it, then when the time comes to service just change it back.
warranty shouldnt be affected as it doesnt involve opening the case.

but for a local watchmaker to do it, he better have the correct tools.
ofrei sells the same tool which omega also uses, and which makes it easier to remove the bezel.
only drawback is the tool costs USD800+.

[tancho]

i assume your orange PO is 8500?

anyway, you can always change it, then when the time comes to service just change it back.
warranty shouldnt be affected as it doesnt involve opening the case.

but for a local watchmaker to do it, he better have the correct tools.
ofrei sells the same tool which omega also uses, and which makes it easier to remove the bezel.
only drawback is the tool costs USD800+.

Yes, mine is PO 8500.  Wow..USD800 for the tool, that's like more than 3 times the cost to change the entire bezel at the local Omega centre.

[Everdying]

Yes, mine is PO 8500.  Wow..USD800 for the tool, that's like more than 3 times the cost to change the entire bezel at the local Omega centre.

i think you may be confused on the prices.
3 times the price, that is for the cost of the aluminium bezel not inclusive of labor.
if done thru Omega, i expect the price to be closer to or more than RM1k.

as for the ceramic bezel, ofrei sells it at USD999.

[tancho]

Yes, mine is PO 8500.  Wow..USD800 for the tool, that's like more than 3 times the cost to change the entire bezel at the local Omega centre.

i think you may be confused on the prices.
3 times the price, that is for the cost of the aluminium bezel not inclusive of labor.
if done thru Omega, i expect the price to be closer to or more than RM1k.

as for the ceramic bezel, ofrei sells it at USD999.

Yup, I meant the price of the orange aluminium bezel without labour charges at the KL Omega centre.  I enquired a couple of months back, and was quoted around RM800 for the orange bezel.  She merely gave me a ballpark figure for the bezel but didn't mention about labour cost.

[Everdying]

but anyway.
in short, officially you cannot change from alu bezel to ceramic.
even if you change from ceramic to ceramic, say if the bezel cracked, then the cracked bezel has to be returned to omega before they issue a new one.
and i dont think there are any 3rd party manufacturers of the ceramic bezel.

[tancho]

I was always under the impression that Omega service centre return the changed parts to the owner, unlike Rolex's policy of keeping the parts (however, was told by a watch repairer that this is only practised in Malaysia's Rolex service centre, other places like Hong Kong return the parts to the owner. That's what he told me, not sure if it's true).

[Everdying]

the return of the old Omega bezel when purchasing a new ceramic one, applies to ofrei.
as with Omega, there is no option to go there and just pick up the bezel and walk out.
if you need a replacement they usually require you to bring the whole watch and they themselves will perform the necessary steps.

both ways basically prevent one from simply swapping bezels.

[tancho]

Even if one were to change the same bezel (orange with orange, for instance), Omega KL will still retain the previous bezel?  If it's Omega's policy to prevent cosmetic changes, I would assume so.