OT - Which is cheaper to service- Omega or BMW?

[qship]

For my 50th Bday I bought myself a second hand Omega Reduced watch. Today while in town I took it to the Omega agent who politely informed me that the "clean and service (no parts or delivery included) would be $1857 (plus GST!). It would be returne in 8-12 weeks.

Would sir like a cup of coffee?

Sir thinks he should get a fu%$#ing case of Chivas included for that!!!

This is nearly twice what I paid for the watch.

Sir quietly left the building.

[RaihaX]

I think that agent is trying to rip you off....

Last time (last year) I took my dad's (patek) and my (tag) watch to service it was like $200ish?

[web555]

I need to ask;

Why does a watch need servicing?

[BBK]

Yeah, that's the kind of price a service for a Tourbillon watch might cost to get serviced?! Even a simple automatic IWC should only be around $400 to be serviced.

[qship]

[quote=RaihaX;10960250]I think that agent is trying to rip you off....

quote]



No! The cads!

[web555]

Originally Posted by qship

Would sir like a cup of coffee?

Ha, reminds me of Trivett's at Parra.

I calculated that I'd need to drink 200 double shot latte's to get value for the car service.

[BBK]

Originally Posted by web555

I need to ask;

Why does a watch need servicing?

If it is a mechanical watch (not a quartz) it is basically a tiny mechanical machine that runs on it's own. As complicated as a car engine (or even more so). The parts need to be re-oiled and checked otherwise it will not keep time well, or stop all together.

[web555]

Originally Posted by BBK

If it is a mechanical watch (not a quartz) it is basically a tiny mechanical machine that runs on it's own. As complicated as a car engine (or even more so). The parts need to be re-oiled and checked otherwise it will not keep time well, or stop all together.

Ah, gotcha.

Any idea where the grease nipples are on a rolex? I think mine may need servicing (about 7 or 8 years old).

[MickyD]

I wouldn't let it go ANYWHERE near Swatch Group Australia, their so called watchmakers are one step down the evolutionary ladder from baboons.
An acquaintance sent a brand new Deville Hour Vision to them because there was a hair on the datewheel (great QC...), and they gouged the caseback, and partially polished off the AR coating on the crystal, as well as leaving dust on one of the hands. Their are numerous stories of them doing similar.
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/mel...ml#post4324636

$1857 is just taking the piss too, you could almost replace the watch for not a huge amount more.

My IWC (portuguese 7 days) is probably about due for a service, and I'm planning on making a side trip into Switzerland next year when we go back to Paris so I can take it direct to the factory, rather than trusting Richemont in Australia to do it.

[qship]

The watch is running perfectly. i just thought that as it is about 7 years old it may deserve a service ( I know I do). Thankfully I do know another watchmaker. I just thought I would see what the "book" service price was. Incidently, a new glass fitted would cost $180 from the same place. I thought that was not too bad.

Damn I have expensive habits!

[BBK]

To bring this a little more off topic, has anyone had any experience with LVMH watch repairs in Melbourne? (Louis Vuitton/Tag)

I'm thinking of a Zenith watch for my 30th next year and the only authorised repairer here is the one in Melbourne. Zenith isn't sold in Oz unfortunately...

[m 135]

When i read the title i thought you were talking about an omega commodore car mind you it would still be cheaper than that

[ippykaye]

Originally Posted by qship

For my 50th Bday I bought myself a second hand Omega Reduced watch. Today while in town I took it to the Omega agent who politely informed me that the "clean and service (no parts or delivery included) would be $1857 (plus GST!). It would be returne in 8-12 weeks.

Would sir like a cup of coffee?

Sir thinks he should get a fu%$#ing case of Chivas included for that!!!

This is nearly twice what I paid for the watch.

Sir quietly left the building.

First of all, congrats with the purchase! I love my mechanical watches

Second of all, like others, I think you're getting ripped! Where was this place you got the quote from? A watchsmith? Or a store that sells Omegas eg. Angus & Coote?

I got my MY2001 Omega Seamaster Professional (James Bond Dial) serviced at Omega's own Boutique in Sydney on Castelreagh St for ~$600-700 (in 2009 so the watch was 8 years old). Like you, I thought it deserved a littlle TLC. It was my daily watch for many years and it was scuffed and I'd stupidly changed the date near midnight causing the gears to jam and subsequently the date changed over at 0400 once I unjammed it.

The service took 6 weeks, with the watch being (allegedly) shipped to Switzerland and involved new pushers and surrounds, new crown and tube, complete strip, clean and rebuild of the movement (which reset my date changeover obviously), new seals, re-grease and a full polish which basically got rid of all the desk-diving marks on my watch. It came back in a little travel Omega case, and looked absolutely brand new with a 2 year warranty! The pricing is different for all watches but I would suspect the Speedmaster Reduced would be slightly cheaper as it's not a diving watch.

Where did you buy it from? A watchsmith? The alternative if you want it cheaper than a BMW service is to perhaps get the guy you bought it off to service it

Good luck!

[BMWRX]

My Seamaster Professional (co-axial) is due for a service in a couple years, and I'll be taking it to the Omega store in KL, purely because the trip and service will be cheaper than getting it done in Australia.

[MrBlonde]

Paging Benny the Kid

[qship]

The quote was from Omega watches in Collins street.

Have asked Nicholas Hacko in NSW for a quote. I beleive the watch was originally serviced there. Not something I am going to stress about!

And for the record, the reason I was in town was to get my Lib GT serviced by Sti docklands (87500km) - Service cost was $230 (i supplied the oil)

[MickyD]

Omega don't have an office in Collins St? Unless you mean Hardy Brothers (they have an Omega sign out the front), in which case I'm not surprised at all by the ludicrous quote.
I don't think Nick Hacko services anything except rolex's now. There's a place called (from memory) Swiss Concept which I believe is associated with Watches of Switzerland who may be able to quote?

Ippykaye, if your watch came back in the red travel case, then I strongly suspect it did go back to Switzerland. They do an amazing job from what I've seen, though you'd also expect them to be perfect

[qship]

MickyD - That sounds like the place. Security almost didn't let me in as I look like a scruff!!

[MickyD]

yeah it's almost opposite my work, they can be pretty snobby in there. To be fair though, they did have a 1.5 million dollar ring stolen out of the front window about 12 months ago, so they're probably a bit touchy still

[BMWRX]

Originally Posted by MickyD

Ippykaye, if your watch came back in the red travel case, then I strongly suspect it did go back to Switzerland. They do an amazing job from what I've seen, though you'd also expect them to be perfect

I had issues with mine stopping a coupe years ago and sent it back via Watches of Switzerland to Swatch in Melbourne. It stopped again a month after it came back (and after a rather large argument about me not having to pay while the watch was still under warranty). So the second time it came back in the red case, denoting it went back to its home in Switzerland. It hasn't missed a beat since.

I was recently in the Omega store in Brisbane city and I was astounded by their lack of range and knowledge. I was told that the 1957 Broad Arrow is not a watch stocked in Australia and can only be purchased via special order, and the Speedmaster Professional automatic that came out a year or so ago never came to Australia and is purely an overseas model. Then when I asked if there were other Omega stockist in Brisbane and told no I promptly turned on my heels and walked out, knowing full well that Watches of Switzerland was just up the road. I received fantastic service once I walked in their door, so will buy my next watch from them.

[bfi2906]

In Sydney - I take my watches to Max Schweizer on George St in the city - next to the Apple store. Funny little place on the 3rd floor of an old building. Very old school

He charges $30 for a new battery in my Tag, including the pressure test. $25 for a battery in a not diving / sports watch.

When I asked if he could service my wifes Girard Perregaux, he was honest enough to decline, but offered to ask around.

Never had a problem with any work I've had done, or referenced.

[pcockley]

Chris.g is the man you need to talk to, he'll get one of his cousins to do it for cheap!