Sweattdogg Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hello I have a gen Co-Ax 2500 Aqua Terra. The watch is probably a couple-few years old. I bought it second hand from a guy so I don't know the exact age. Do you think this can be regulated back to COSC or close? Should I just pay to have it fully serviced? The watch was gray market. I have all the paperwork, but nothing is stamped so no work will be done under warranty. I called a watch repair shop in my city and he said it would probably be 1 in 100 shot the piece could be adjusted without a complete teardown. Thanks, Aaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Typically a watch needing service, will run faster - not slower. Given that you don't know the exact age of the watch, or it's service history, it's probably best to have it fully serviced. It strikes me as odd that a Genuine Coaxial movement would be off in the negative direction by so much, this is a high end movement and should be very accurate. Did you have a Jeweller open the case and verify that it was a genuine movement in the case before you bought it?? Certainly most watchmakers can adjust the watch with a timing machine. COSC specs is another thing all together and requires the skills of a watchtimer specialist, there are few people around today with those skills... RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweattdogg Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hey The Zigmeister, Thanks for the quick answer. The watch and movement are original. An authorized Omega dealer looked at the serial numbers. The case is a nice big display back. I am the 3rd owner of the watch. It came with all the paper work. The previous owner bought it from the jeweler who I took it to. He listed it as a 2004, which I think would be correct. I bought for what I thought was a good deal $700 watch/box/papers. My thing is that everything that I have read from Omega says that these co-ax movements only need serviced every 6-8 years. I really would just like the watch to be let's say 5-10 seconds slow. I'm not worried about the COSC, but I would just like something that I don't have to adjust every 3-4 days. I guess I don't know how far off a watch can be before needing a full sevice vs. adjustment. Maybe the questions is dependent on too many varibles for one answer. I had a ETA sub that was +25-30 seconds per day that I regulated down to +5 seconds so I figured that if they could get the Omega close I could wait a couple more years before a full service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hey Ziggy, Thanks for the quick answer. The watch and movement are original. An authorized Omega dealer looked at the serial numbers. The case is a nice big display back. I am the 3rd owner of the watch. It came with all the paper work. The previous owner bought it from the jeweler who I took it to. He listed it as a 2004, which I think would be correct. I bought for what I thought was a good deal $700 watch/box/papers. My thing is that everything that I have read from Omega says that these co-ax movements only need serviced every 6-8 years. I really would just like the watch to be let's say 5-10 seconds slow. I'm not worried about the COSC, but I would just like something that I don't have to adjust every 3-4 days. I guess I don't know how far off a watch can be before needing a full sevice vs. adjustment. Maybe the questions is dependent on too many varibles for one answer. I had a ETA sub that was +25-30 seconds per day that I regulated down to +5 seconds so I figured that if they could get the Omega close I could wait a couple more years before a full service. Ok on the further info... Excellent price, congrats. Given that it's running slow and not fast, I would not think it needs anything but a simple adjustment. Any competent watchmaker (COMPETENT being the key word) can do this for you... CAUTION, be aware that there are many idiots who claim to be watchmakers, but have no clue...typically these inhabit shopping malls etc... I have gotten watches in for service, that the seconds hand was 75% of the original length...because the "Watchmaker??" cut the hand down, to make the watch run faster... I suggest you find a real watchmaker in your local area, and have him adjust the watch. That movement should be easily within a few seconds per day.... The fine regulator will not allow 45 seconds of adjustment, the regulator arm needs to be moved. If you can't find anyone to help you locally, let me know on PM if I can help you...I can adjust and send back the same day... RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Sweattdog, if you don't already know a competent watchmaker in your area, I strongly suggest taking up The Zigmeister's offer to adjust and send back to you the same day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchlover321 Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Yes I recommend sending to The Zigmeister too. I took one of my watch for simple hand removal by a local "watchmaker?!?" in san mateo. Told him I need to refinish the hands. The idiot removed the hands but scratched the other[/] hands and dial markers to oblivion, I had to source new set of hands, and maybe a gen dial (bwahaha, an excuse to swap dials :p ) I feel kind of cheated.. kid you not.. I wanted to refinish one hand, now I had to refinish all of em Send your stuff to The Zigmeister for adjustment, as he is one of the few artisans watchmakers left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweattdogg Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 I sent The Zigmeister a PM so I hope it gets through. I heard back from the place I took it to today. I think they are trying to rip me off. $280 for a total overhaul, because they say the mainspring is bad. However they can just regulate it for $190??? WTF, I'll let The Zigmeister look at it. If he says it needs a service I'd much rather pay him to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
By-Tor Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Let Ziggy take care of it. He's simply the best and most trustworthy option you can find. PS: $700 is a fantastic price for a gen Aqua Terra. For that price it's obvious that there was some sort of problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweattdogg Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 The guy was pretty up front about the watch running slow. He said it was a few minutes slow a month, which I took as okay. It was only after a week long vacation that I noticed it was 3-4 minutes off and it kinda bothered me. Even if I have to pay for a full service a couple hundred bucks I still think I'll be getting my $$ out of the watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenMc Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 The first generation co-axials had problems, perhaps this one is from that batch? The Zigmeister is tops, but if Omega can confirm the problem should have been fixed under warranty, then the repair should be free me thinks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavor flav Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 that is a great movement and worth getting serviced for sure. i've had great luck with all of my coaxials. great deal you got by the way. even if it needs service still great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavor flav Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 here's a peek inside my planet ocean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 I sent Ziggy a PM so I hope it gets through. I heard back from the place I took it to today. I think they are trying to rip me off. $280 for a total overhaul, because they say the mainspring is bad. However they can just regulate it for $190??? WTF, I'll let Ziggy look at it. If he says it needs a service I'd much rather pay him to do it. I spoke up too soon...after I posted, I thought that this was the new model with no regulator arm or pins... And sure enough, that's exactly what it is, adjusting this one requires specialized tooling and training, both of which I dont' have... With any of these new free sprung balances, your much better off at a Omega service center, they have the training and tooling... $280 for a service on this movement is actually a good price given the complexity and tooling needed to do the work... RG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 If Ziggy ain't servicing it, I ain't buying it. By the way the price from the AD sounds pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweattdogg Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 UPDATE Hello All, I decided to contact Omega aftersales to find out where to send the watch. I shipped the watch from Ohio to Omega's factory in Bienne, Switzerland on 12/27. I was so worried about it getting there. I was fully aware that the service would be at my cost, since the watch had no warranty. The watch arrived in Bienne on 1/3/2007. I contacted them about a month later as I had heard nothing. After some emails back and forth I was contacted yesterday with an email that said my watch would be returned by the end of this month. Omega fixed the watch for no cost, not even the shipping back to the US. I am so impressed with their service! They also attached a 4 page pdf file describing what services were performed on the watch. The watch was given a full sevice and the case/bracelet reconditioned. The watch was then fully tested to specs (which I would suspect to be COSC), before being shipped out. I will be an Omega customer for life!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 The watch was given a full sevice and the case/bracelet reconditioned. The watch was then fully tested to specs (which I would suspect to be COSC), before being shipped out. I will be an Omega customer for life!! On a third-hand Grey-market watch? Yeah, stick with Omega. You've got some serious mojo running there. They like you. Damn, a reconditioned-as-new co-axial for $700! That is some bargain. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweattdogg Posted February 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Yeah, I'm very surprised. The cost for the service would have been 340 swiss francs which would be about $270. I had a local AD which would have performed the service for $270 as well, but I figured it would be best to send the watch back to the factory. I'm definately very surprised and happy. On a side note I was up front with them in telling them that I was not the orginal owner and that I didn't have any paperwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportsterRider Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 I'd heard before that Omega's customer service was tops. Good to see that it's still true and glad to hear that it went well for ya. Enjoy it!! SR UPDATE Hello All, I decided to contact Omega aftersales to find out where to send the watch. I shipped the watch from Ohio to Omega's factory in Bienne, Switzerland on 12/27. I was so worried about it getting there. I was fully aware that the service would be at my cost, since the watch had no warranty. The watch arrived in Bienne on 1/3/2007. I contacted them about a month later as I had heard nothing. After some emails back and forth I was contacted yesterday with an email that said my watch would be returned by the end of this month. Omega fixed the watch for no cost, not even the shipping back to the US. I am so impressed with their service! They also attached a 4 page pdf file describing what services were performed on the watch. The watch was given a full sevice and the case/bracelet reconditioned. The watch was then fully tested to specs (which I would suspect to be COSC), before being shipped out. I will be an Omega customer for life!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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