Omega Restoration In Bienne

[karwath]

I recently bought an old Seamaster (case reference 166.042) which I decided would be a good candidate for a restoration by Omega in Bienne.

The dial - which is one of the reasons I liked the watch - has some issues, and so the watch needs more than just a polishing and a cleaning. A true craftsman will need to restore the dial, or better yet maybe Omega has a spare original dial laying around to replace the dial. :)

Here are some "before" pictures showing the dial (since that is the area that I think needs the most work):







The movement seems to keeping good time, so it is mostly (I hope) a matter of restoring the dial, polishing the case, and making it look good as new.

After going through the process of finding out the what, how etc. for sending a watch to Omega in Switzerland, I thought I would post a thread, show the before pictures and update the thread as the process moves along.

Ultimately I hope to post the "after" photos as well.

I started by sending an email to Omega customer service via the Omega website and promptly got a reply with instructions (including address) on how to ship my watch to omega in Switzerland.

The email also suggested I consider sending it to the US Omega service location in NJ, but based on what I have read about the NJ service location, I would not send anything there. And, after all, it was the reputation of the Switzerland restoration service that got me interested in this project.

Here is the pertinent information from Omega Customer Service office on sending a watch from the USA for service:

We suggest that you send in your watch to our Customer Service in Switzerland:

OMEGA Ltd
Customer Service
Rue Staempfli 96
2500 Bienne 4
Switzerland
Phone: +4132 343 9561
Fax: +4132 343 9855

The parcel should be sent by registered and insured mail, together with a "certificate of registration" form no CF 4455, which can be obtained at any Customs Office, to avoid difficulties upon the re-importation to your country. Please make sure that your parcel is clearly marked "watch for repair/customs clearing by receiver in Bienne, Switzerland".

The customs form can be down loaded from the US Customs & Border Security website here:

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_4455.pdf

Fill out the form, and take it to your local Customs office (likely to be near a major US Airport).

You can find the nearest Customs and Border Security office here:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/

Once you have the form completed and stamped by the government, you are ready to send the watch (with the form) to Switzerland.

I suggest you go to a post office which you suspect has previously sent things overseas for repair. I did not, and as a result I spent an unexpected amount of time while a post office worker figured everything out.

I sent the watch via the post office, but apparently they use FedEx to ship everything that goes express overseas. Next time I would consider using FedEx directly, as they are more likely to be experienced in this area.

I have always used the post office to ship watches due to my desire to have insurance on the watch, and I have been told FedEx has limits on the amount of coverage that would apply to a watch.

Also, be sure to tell the post office staff a number of times you are sending an item you own to be repaired, not sending an item you have sold, etc.

I ended up writing on everything I had to fill out, "watch being sent for repair" and underlining it. I hope that helps.

The package went out today.

Based on what I have read it will be at least a few weeks (or more) before I hear anything back from Omega.

[Widows Son]

That dial doesn't look too bad. I'd leave it alone. Wait until you start collecting 30's, 40's and 1950's watches. I have about a dozen old Hamiltons and Bulova's which have far more issues but I'm leaving them as is.

[Perdu]

I hear Omega Bienne do fantastic restorations, but you have to wait. I've seen some of their work and it's amazing.

[Flash Gordon]

The orginal dial gives the watch much more value, not just monetary value. I had my bubbleback Rolex overhauled recently. I would never restore the orginal dial even though it is rather faded. The RSC at SFO would never even aske me whether I would like to restore the dial. It is just not done on an antique watch! Restoring antique watch is very much different from restoring antique cars. You don't restore the watch to a like-new condition like they do with cars, which I think is ridicules to restore a rust bucket with all newly made parts and make the car look better than the orginal new condition with all the modern tech and materials. I don't see people restore antique funiture and make it look brand new!

[Flash Gordon]

Originally Posted by Widows Son

That dial doesn't look too bad. I'd leave it alone. Wait until you start collecting 30's, 40's and 1950's watches. I have about a dozen old Hamiltons and Bulova's which have far more issues but I'm leaving them as is.

I totally agree!

[karwath]

Thanks for the input everybody.

The dial has some significant fading/damage to the dial in 3 of the 4 corners which is not shown very well in the photos.

Although I would leave it alone if it were just some patina, I think it drastically detracts from the beauty of the watch, and so that is why I thought a restoration would be a good idea. Also, I would likely leave it alone of this was a watch sought by collectors. However I bought the watch to wear it, so I was thinking restoring it like one would do an old auto to make it "as new" would be best in this case.

[pz93c]

That reminds me.

I have to send one to Bienne, too.

Good luck with the resto.

[karwath]

Yesterday the mail included a letter from Omega regarding my watch.

This was nearly 1 month from the date they got it (this impressed me as I assume not much work was being done the first week or two they had it).

Those who suggested that I do not do much to the dial will be pleased to know Omega agrees. Who am I to differ. And, the more I think of it, I will be happy with the watch, maybe more, with some of its age showing.

The next step is to authorize the work and pay (credit card, wire transfer or check options are provided).

The price was about in the neighborhood I was expecting.

They estimate 7 weeks to complete the work.

So far, so good!

[apcl]

You're lucky. I sent my watch to them Dec 17 and still haven't heard anything.

[karwath]

The watch came back today!

The whole process took less than 3 months. I must say I was impressed with the entire process. The communication and estimate process was great. The end result exceeded my expectations. I am sure this will not be my last vintage watch I send to Omega.

The case is amazing. It looks new. The bracelet looks almost as new.

The Before:








The After: