Chuck Maddox’s Watch Blog

This page is a journal of my journey in the field of Horology, which is timekeeping. In other words, watch collecting. Which in my case is the collecting of chronograph watches. To contact me, email me at: cmaddox3@sbcglobal.net .

Name:
Location: Chicagoland, United States

The Extremely wordy version of my Resumé is located here: http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/resume.html

Friday, December 10, 2004

Apollo 11 Watch Shots posted on EOT Forum

Chris Meisenthal emailed me this link to a post on Equation of Time's Ultimate Dive Watch Forum where one of the regulars posted pictures of the watches worn by Armstrong and Collins on Apollo 11 on display at the Smithsonian...

Thanks Chris!


Saturn V is the feature article on Wikipedia today...

Today's featured article on Wikipedia (one of my favorite web destinations) is Saturn V... That alone is enough reason to visit, but there is an interesting article about "Earth's Second Moon" a moon which happens to wear Apollo Paint.

Enjoy!


A fellow from Italy with a 376.0822 query:

I received this query from a fellow in Italy this morning:

Dear Chuck,

I like to know if Speedmaster ref ST3760822 (in attach one [below left]) could have a different dial [than a 176.0012 -- C]. In particular the 24H little dial at 12 position with a grey part (the bottom) like Ref.176.0012 (in attach two [below right]) and not total black.

ST 376.0822
ST 176.0012
Hello Xxxxxxx,

In reference to dials on 376.0822 and 176.0012... While the dial for the 176.0012 would fit inside the 376.0822 case, it would be too small for it to work properly. Here is why... Look to the right of the date window on each of the watches... See how little space there is between the date window and the fraction of a second ring in the 176.0012? On the 376.0822 there is much more real estate that the dial has to cover. So I don't really think the 176.0012 would work much less work well.

However... It is possible that someone could have made this work. I do not believe Omega ever shipped a 376.0822 with a 176.0012 (or other c.1045 case reference) dial.

Do you know anything about it?

Well... A little bit... =)

Is it a limited edition in 1987?

Depends on what you call "Limited Edition"... the 376.0822 was produced in 1987, and appears to have only been produced in that year. It was produced in limited numbers (I've heard people speculate that the total production run was under 2,000 units perhaps under 1,600 units and maybe even under 1,300 units or less. However, this model wasn't ever called a Limited Edition model (Like the Speedmaster 125, which wasn't provided with an L.E. S/N but Omega stated production was only 2,000 units), wasn't numbered within the admittedly short production run.

thank you in advance

I hope this is helpful...

Thank you Chuck for your speedy reply.

No problem to share in your Watch Blog. Perhaps someone else could a similar Speedmaster! ).

If you don't have any reservations, I'd like to share your question and my reply in my Watch Blog, for the interest of my readers. If you have objections let me know, otherwise I'll just post a "I received a query from Italy this morning without mentioning your name or email address

I have asked you it because I'm going to buy a ST3760822 with that dial.

I tend to think that the dial was replaced at some point in time, but I'll keep an open mind about it, while I put out feelers on your behalf for a proper 376.0822 dial for you...

Paulo, I've taken the liberty of calling a US Omega parts distributor and he's going to be looking for a 376.0822 dial. I'll let you know when I hear back from him. I've also taken the liberty of mentioning your query with a fellow collector in Germany and another here in the US and we all will be on the lookout for a 376.0822.

If I'll buy it I 'll send you any pictures and information about it.

Thanks. I'll shoot you a link when I have it posted... I'll also post it in the TZ Omega Forum later in the day today. Hopefully someone in a position to assist will see this posting and contact me. I'll forward them to you.

Cheers and I hope this helps!

Chuck


Another possibility for David Scott's Waltham?

I received this from D. Lee Brandt a couple of weeks back. I intended to post this and am only now circling back around to do so. I will be presenting this in a conversational format even though our communication occured via email...
From: "D. Lee Brandt"
Subject: Which Movements Were Worn on the Moon Article
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 22:13:29 -0600

Chuck,

Ref which watch Dave Scott might have worn on the moon I have another plausible candidate.

Hi Lee...

Thanks for the pictures!

The watch you show

(This one is a piece from my collection)

does not have a tachymeter bezel.

This one is from a seller's picture and I am assuming is from a publication of some sort.

The Waltham model in the pix I have attached DID, and is therefore closer in function.

My example most definately does not have a Tachy Bezel, however it appears possible that the second picture might have one. But for the moment lets assume it does not.

However the layout of the Waltham you sent pictures of is vastly different from the Moonwatch. Yes it has the tachy bezel which is pretty worthless except for calculating piece-work outside of a mile or kilo marked highways, and would have little use in space.

I guess the real test of the pudding is whether this watch was available circa 1971. Considering the retro design, it wouldn't surprise me.

http://www.ozdoba.net/swisswatch/autochrono.html

From which I quote:

1974 saw another interesting addition to the world of automatic chronographs:

Kelek presented their caliber D.B.K. 1369. With a diameter of only 11 lines (24.81 mm) and a height of 7.6 mm, this 21-jewel movement held the record as the smallest automatic chronograph for a very long time.

The rather uncommon positions of the date indication and the 30-minute- and 6-hour-recorders were a "trademark" of this caliber; another watch from this era which was made by Minerva also used the Dubois-Dépraz TDBK 1369 and had the same layout of the dial as the Kelek watch. Remember that there was - and is - a very close cooperation between Kelek and Dubois-Dépraz; D-D produces some movements exclusively for Kelek, others are also available to other companies.)

I believe this Waltham is based on the Kelek movement because of the subdial positioning. Since it wasn't available until 1974 it's not a likely candidate for use by Mr. Scott.

But if you don't mind I'd love to include the pictures with attributation if you'd grant permission.

You're more than welcome to use the pix. I can't speak to whether the watch in question has a Kelek movement, but Dave Scott says called his Waltham a "watch of a similar type", and the tachymeter bezel, although as useless at 17,500 mph as teets on a bull, seems to me more of a "similar type"

Focusing on the Tachy Bezel and ignoring the other major differences between dial layout, automatic movement and date doesn't seem "more similar" to me. But you are entitled to hold your opinion.

irregardless of the positioning of the subdials.  Maybe I'm just in denial, but the watch you suggest is just too damn ugly to deserve a place of honor next to the Speedmaster.

I didn't buy it [as a backup watch] and it isn't a beauty context either (look at the LEM). The Waltham I've discussed is the closest I've found in form, function and appearance to the Moonwatch which Mr. Scott has stated was of a similar type as the NASA issued piece.

Has anyone thought of just asking Dave Scott? It's not like he's dead. My father was in the space program, and I still have Alan Bean's addy. I could probably get him to forward a missive to DS. However, the Astronaut Office in Houston routinely fields mail for the astronauts (PR is one of their responsibilities) &endash; I've got their addy somewhere too. The only caveat is that the wording should be such that 1) he understands that we are not affiliated with any watch manufacturer and have no ulterior pecuniary motives, and 2) we're just watch aficionados that want to set the record straight.

I'm not in the habit of pestering Astronauts, but the thought has crossed my mind. Feel free to contact Mr. Scott if you'd like. Please CC (and ask him to CC me) if you do.

:^) Lee

Lee sent off via USnail a letter to Mr. Scott, but hasn't received a reply thus far to my knowledge.


Personally, I believe the movement that is in the Waltham that Lee provided pictures of came on the market too late for Mr. Scott to have purchased the watch prior to the Apollo 15 flight (which would have been in 1971. I also don't think that a lack of a Tachymeter (if the model Mr. Scott did purchase) would have disuaded Mr. Scott away from the Waltham. But these are simply my thoughts. I hope that Lee will receive a reply from Mr. Scott or the Astronaut/PR office and we can nail down this part of the story.

-- C


Thursday, December 09, 2004

Watch Shopping/Tourism in Chicagoland

It occurs to me that December of every year is a time for vacations and travel and with the U.S. Dollar being as weak as it is, many people overseas might be traveling or looking for travel destinations this holiday season. Since most of the viewers of this sight are watch collectors I thought I'd share a link to an article I wrote for Eric So last spring on Watch Shopping in the Chicagoland Area.

Hmmm... That sailing photo from last spring doesn't catch the season...

Ah! That's better (Chicago's Water Tower, one of a few buildings to survive the great fire of 1871

For additional watch shopping/tourism ideas visit the Watch Tourism page.

Hamilton revamps their web presence...

I noticed last night that Hamilton finally completed their remodeling on their website. For months and months up until recently Hamilton's web presence consisted of a webpage based on a single 8-page Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf) that you could flip through on line. Very VERY basic and underwhelming.

Now the Hamilton website opens with the obligatory and annoying Flash audio-visual presentation complete with loud static-y music that I'd recommend every one rapidly click on the "skip" button. But once past the opening their new site is very nice and easy to navigate, especially if you already familiar with their product line, unfortunately I'm not.

Anyway you look at it, it's a vast improvement over their old site and I am looking forward to exploring it in greater detail.

Has anyone actually seen/tried/bought one of their new ETA/Valjoux 7753 Chronographs?

I find this line very interesting...

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

BaselWorld 2005 Information and link...

BASELWORLD 2005 - the world's watch and jewellery exhibition

Date: Thursday, March 31 to Thursday, April 7, 2005
Place: The halls of Basel Exhibition (Switzerland)
Organiser: MCH Basel Exhibition Ltd., a subsidiary of MCH Swiss Exhibtion Ltd.
Opening hours: daily from 9 to 18 hours, last day from 9 to 16 hours
Admission: Day ticket CHF 45 Students CHF 30 Exhibition pass CHF 120
Internet: www.baselworld.com
E-mail: visitor@baselworld.com
Expected number of visitors: > 85,000
Expected number of exhibitors: 2,200
Gross exhibition floor space: 160,000m2
Net exhibition floor space: > 110,000m2

Source: Baselworld Press Release

www.baselworld.com
Contact: press@baselworld.com

Porsche Design Announces the PTC 911 Limited Edition Chronograph

Information is scant thus far but Porsche Design appears to have recently announced a new limited edition PTC 911.

Features I've heard thus far:

  • 40mm size.
  • Titanium Case.
  • Double coated anti-reflective Sapphire crystals front and back.
  • Dial has the classic profile of a 911 printed on it's diial
  • Rotor styled to look like a BBS mag wheel created from titanium combined with black coated tungsten.
  • Date Indication
  • Available in black, yellow or red dials.
  • Water-resistant to 100m.

The Porsche Design PTC 911 starts at around $4,800. An option to purchase the entire set along with matching model 911s will run roughly $16,000.

Comment: Pricey! Especially for an ETA/D-D Chronograph...

HR: Watches: TAG-Heuer Monaco V4 Concept Watch

I ran across a rather nice and a bit lengthy write up on HR: Watches while linking to yesterday's post on C.O.S.C. certification on the New TAG-Heuer Monaco V.4 announced at last year's Basel Fair. I haven't read a lot about this innovative movement since the initial flury of reports from Basel last year and it was very interesting reading:

The TAG Heuer Monaco V4 Concept Watch

14-May-2004

The stunning blend of breakthrough technology with advanced integrated mechanical movement design, encased upside down in a daring evolution of the iconic TAG Heuer Monaco...

Enjoy!

-- C

Problem: No CK-2915-1 Bezel. Solution? Make one!

Problem: No CK-2915-1 Bezel. Solution? Make one!

Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 17:21:06 +0100 (MET)
From: "Gernot Schmierer" <(removed to preserve privacy)@xxxxxx.de>
To: Chuck Maddox

Hello Chuck,

I saw that you are quite involved in some Speedmaster Websites and you seem to be an expert.

Hello Gernot,

I don't know that I'd go that far... I've been a Speedmaster owner for over 20 years (with my Mark II) but I've only been collecting chronographs seriously for about 6 years. I still consider myself a student at the topic at hand and I learn new things all the time.

I have been collecting vintage Speedmasters for about 15 years and last year I found a CK2915 in Hong Kong. Unfortunately the bezel was missing, so I decided to build a bezel on my own. After having spent 12 months and after having persuaded a dozen friends to help me I am finally there!

THAT is SO COOL! That's great!

What do you think (see attached pic)? You can compare the typography with the model printed in "Time Capsule"!

Now, CK2915's are not my speciality (I only own a CK2915-3 which looks like a CK2998), but your bezel looks really REALLY close... The Typography does look off a little bit in side-by-side comparision with what I have on hand here.

Would you mind me posting your query and picture in both my watch Blog, and on the TimeZone Omega Forum so others can share their insight? (Gernot has since given me the go ahead)

Thank you for sharing this with me, I really enjoyed getting your post and it's a pleasure meeting you.

I'd like to hear more about your collection and experiences sometime.

I took my typography from the OMEGA "Time Capsule" and from an old OMEGA Speedmaster ad. I guess the first bezels must have been "hand made". Your picture shows much deeper numbers, possibly engraved! The original bezel was etched only a couple microns deep, by the way that's why most bezels are completely worn out). Using the Replica bezel was a "no no" for me, because it looks way too modern and it is too big. It gives the watch a totally different appearance.

My nicest chrono is a 19--s NOS                   . Don't tell anyone about that ;-)

I hope that's acceptable! =)

Cheers!

Chuck

P.S. I'm forwarding this reply to Bill Sohne the moderator of the TZ Omega Forum so he can comment. Bill owns a CK2915-1 and his example needed a bezel as well but he used the 1957 Re-Edition bezel on his watch. I'm sure he'll be able to help us both understand the differences between original and the Re-Edition and also evaluate your bezel. (Amazing!)

Take care

Gernot

Cheers!

[If anyone has comments or insights, please make them by clicking on the Pencil icon below!]

-- C

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Interesting article on C.O.S.C. on HR:Watches site

I stumbled upon a nice concise article on C.O.S.C. ratings mean on HR:
Watches
:

A short excerpt:

What's a Chronometer Certificate?

14-Sep-2004

Each little imprecision of a watch, whether it’s running fast or slow, refers to its accuracy. The test protocol which shows how accurately a watch runs in various positions and conditions, is called a certificate of accuracy.

Click here to see the whole article... Within the article click on the Certificate to see a nearly full page version of it. -- C


JM's c.33xx testing & a new Speedy family shot.

Jean-Michel (owner of: Lemania5100.net, Navitimer.net, & speedmaster-mission.net) replied to me about his Speedy family and talks about his c.33xx Broad Arrow. I thought I'd make share my reply to him...

_________________

Chuck

I would like also to share with you a picture of my little speedmaster "familly" , missing on the pic are my Flightmaster (still in maintenance at Bienne) and my X-33:

I know you are not a "fan" ;-) of the reduced or the BA ...

No one sane or serious will ever confuse me with a fan of the c.33xx. I'd like to be a fan, but... As for the Reduced, I'm not gung-ho about it, but they do seem to be a good alternative for many poeple. I merely wish to inform about the differences in movement between the ETA/D-D and a ETA/Valjoux or Lemania movement with those models. Let the consumer choose from a good solid knowledge base.

concerning the reduced it is my wife's speedy and she loves it ! it is so cool to have a wife liking watches (she have her own collection of watches , but she is more foccused on "miniature" watches : the speedy is her largest watch by far and her only chrono ... she is a fan of the Omega "ladymatic")

I'd like to recommend that she (or you) look at either Vintage or the early Re-Edition of the "1964 Heuer Carrera) as they are very nice smaller chronographs that are suitable for wear on dressy occasions, and/or by either sex who happen to have smaller wrists. Another brand I'd point out are Vintage Tissot's with their 1960's and 1970's Vintage PR516 and Seastar lines, which offer a Lemania manual wind movement in smaller case sizes.

- concerning the BA , I have read again thoses bad repports and I feel so sorry for the guys who had problems ...

Me too, at least to some extent... At some point I would hope that potential purchasers would step back and say "Do I really want to take the chance?". At this point I don't think anyone who's bit by the c.33xx bugs should express surprise.

on my side I am currently running the test , what I can tell you is :

I have continusly wear the BA during a period of 35 days (that is rare for me I generally change every day !!!)

You don't have enough other watches screaming for wrist time!
  • during this 35 day period I have used the chronograph function at least 2 times / day and sometimes up to 6 to 10 times : we can resonably say that the chronograph function have been used at least 100 time during the 35 days
  • The accuracy of the watch have been checked every two days versus an atomic clock reference time
  • the watch was continusly wear during day and stay in flat position (dial up) during night

the result of accuracy is : +23 sec over the 35 days period (mean of +0,66 sec/day)

I don't think anyone, including myself, has ever found the c.33xx to be anything but a phenominally accurate watch. My concerns have mainly been reliablilty related. I'm not especially keen on some of the design cues but I know/express those as personal preferrances.

absolutly NO problem concerning the chorongraph function , normal return to zero whith no "offset" of the hand ...

That's good to hear! Bottom line is, we really don't know the depth/breadth of the issues we've seen reported. I tend to believe that your experience is the majority experience the question is the size of that majority... Is it a landslide or a squeaker.

Admittedly, we have only unscientific data to go on. Which means we can't say anything authoratative about the size or trend other than what we've seen. It seems like there have been fewer problem reports for a while there. We had a pair of reports in the past week or two, but there was a lull of over a month to six or eight weeks prior to that.

I must notice that the chrono pushers have "brake in" , in the first times the pusher feeling was quiet "hard" after about 50 to 70 start/stop in operate more smoothly and is now with a "better" feeling (I am not the only one to have noticed this on the 33X3)

This is the first I've heard of this quasi-Issue.

I have spoken with the Omega flagship store about thoses problems on the 33x3, they where of course aware of them but say that very curiously the US market seems more subject to thoses , in europe they have very few claim for problems on 33x3 .... isn't it curious ????

The US market is a big market. It is curious. I seem to remember someone (perhaps even myself) pondering if this was an phenominon with some regional trends... I'll have to do a little searching on TZ OF to see if I can find it.

I am (still) delighted by my BA which is one of my favourite watch , I will of course keep you updated of this long therm test

I appreciate and look forward to it.

I should mention, I would love to have another interesting capable chronograph movement to add to the options available in the marketplace. My concerns initially were not to get bitten by the "inital problems" bug that many new things suffer from, When these occured and then seemed to contine for months and months my concerns grew to making sure people knew of these issues.

For me, consistancy and dependablity are more significant requirement than extreme (read COSC) accuracy. I can make allowances for a watch that is 10-12 seconds fast/slow, but I can't tolerate a watch that I can't depend on or acts strangely (inconsistantly)...

I had a watch fail Thanksgiving day 2003... Interestingly enough it was one of my first Vintage purchases, my c.910 Flightmaster. I wore it because of it's earth toned dial matched traditional Turkey day colors. I wound it up and at 3:20 it stopped telling time. Which left me timeless for the rest of the day and worried about what was broken on Flighty. I got home and I found a piece of fuzz on/near the balance wheel, removed it and the flighty started ticking like it should. I had had the hour register hand fall off it's pinion about a year earlier and had a local watch shop put it back. This shop wasn't my usual people. I suspect that the fuzz might have been introduced into the case at that point and finally gummed up the works that day.

Neither Omega nor Lemania can be faulted for a fuzzy movement! So I still feel I can depend on that watch. The issues we've seen on the c.33xx are different though. They are problems that Omega/Piguet do need to address.

With regards to my flightmaster I was fortunate that the fuzziness occured on a holiday, not on a business trip. To me, there have been enough problems arise with c.33xx's that I'm not ready to depend upon one. Unfortunately, it may be some time before I feel confortable enough.

cheers

JM

Thank you for your thoughts and future reports, JM!

-- C

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You ever wonder what this little icon in your browser's status bar is? It is a symbol that indicates that the web page you are viewing has an RSS feed. This means you can elect to subscribe to a page indicated by this icon (as shown below):

by creating a bookmark. After you've subscribed your browser will ask you where you wish to place this bookmark. Thereafter, if you wish to check to see if there are any updates to that page, you only have to look at the bookmark and:

You can easily see if the page has been updated my looking at the live bookmarks generated automatically by your browser working in conjunction with the webpage, without loading any pages. This can be a great time saver for you, especally if you are on a low-speed connection to the internet.

Both my Blog and the one that Robert-Jan Broer hosts at the Fratello Watches can be subscribed to by many modern browsers. As you can tell by my screen snaps I use Mozilla Firefox 1.0 as my default browser.

Give it a whirl, I think you will find it useful!

-- C.

Monday, December 06, 2004

Added two links to my watch page...

Based on recommendations by Steve Waddington and Jeff Stein I've added: ClockSpares.net (UK) to the Part's/Tools and BestPricesGuarenteed to the Dealers section of my watch page.

-- Chuck


JM's Speedy Family...

I see it didn't take long for Jean-Michel (owner of: Lemania5100.net, Navitimer.net, & speedmaster-mission.net) to put a display back on that c.321 Speedmaster I turned him onto last month. Steve Waddington (owner of: old-omegas.com pointed out JM's post to me... {Click on the pictures below to open a full res. version in a new window}

Steve's sharp eyes spied what appears to be a Delrin break on JM's '77 Speedy and made an inquiry about it. Hopefully we'll have another data point to add to the Delrin project's table soon.

-- C


Sunday, December 05, 2004

Link: My consolidated reply to posts in the earlier c.33xx thread

While I was watching the Bears surprising win over the Vikings a bunch of posts were made in the c.33xx thread I mentioned below. I thought I'd post a link to my consolidated reply to these posts.:

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=1059286&rid=146

Yet another new c.33xx problem post...

From the TimeZone Omega Forum:
(http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=1058579&rid=146)
3303 failure after 6 weeks on ACC Ti - MarkEg - Dec 05, 2004 - 07:50 AM

I noticed today that the 30 minute and hour recorder dials have stopped working properly. The watch was bought new from a main high street jeweller on October 19th near London. I have worn the watch every day since then and used the chronograph about 5 times per day or less..

The second hand still starts, stops and resets but the 30 min dial goes immediately to just under 1 minute and sticks there after that – (it resets to zero with the second hand) the hours counter does not move.

Apart from that the watch is still keeping great time.

I went into this with my eyes open and although disappointed would now like to get the problem fixed in the best way and would like some advice about my options,,,,

Is there anyone in the UK who has gone through this too?

Posting from here to Switzerland is not expensive but the insurance for this value can only be bought from a carrier like DHL or other and this all adds up to quite a lot..

So I intend going back to the dealer I bought it from tomorrow and let them deal with it. I imagine that they would send to Swatch UK, who then might send on to Omega in Switzerland.

As a matter of interest, should, I be entitled to a full refund? I do like the watch but just wondered if I should push for this, there are plenty more fish in the sea, and having now read more reports of watches having to go back twice I am a considering that this may be the way to go?

Any thoughts gratefully received

Best regards,

Mark
____________________

Mark already formulated a course of action (by a couple of minutes) by the time I posted my reply, But I thought I'd include my reply:

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&th=404564&amp;mid=1058934&rid=146&rev=&reveal=
I would be lying if I said I was surprised... - Chicagoland Chuck Maddox - Dec 05, 2004 - 01:14 PM

I would be lying if I said I was surprised... I won't recap everything that has traspired since the introduction of this dubious calibre, but the whole affair leaves a very sour taste in my mouth and I've never owned one.

Mark, you've sought counsel... The real question is what do you want? I can see the following possibilities:

  • Full and Complete Refund
  • Exchange for identical item or store credit
  • Replacement
  • Repair
  • Legal action (up to and including the UK flavour of a Class Action Lawsuit)

You liked the watch enough to buy it, do you still like it enough to live through any of the last three (perhaps repeatedly)? If the answer is no, then you'll have to decide if you wish to push for a full refund or "store credit/Exchange".

If you still want one of these damned things [Chuck rolls his eyes, and shakes his head sadly] then you'll have to decide which of Repair/Replacement you wish to push for.

And probably your last recourse if you can't get satisfaction otherwise is legal action.

I'm not going to speculate as to your chances for any of these options. I'll mention that Store Credit is not desirable as you are limited to what the store sells and you are not in a strong bargaining position for gettting a good deal on anything else since the dealer already has your money. I'll also point out, that if you go with an Exchange for the same model of watch you might get another watch with all of the old known faulty parts. This is why Omega SHOULD pull all of the existing dealer stock and replace the faulty parts within them. It might be better to have the watch shipped to Bienne with a very strongly worded letter demanding that ALL of the retrofit revised parts be replaced in this watch.

This sort of thing will continue to happen until someone holds Omega's feet to the fire, either by not buyng these movements, or by forcing them to take the necessary steps to fix all of them.

I don't envy your situation. I would really rather these problems be over. I know that I've done everything in my power to get word out about this movement. Buying a c.33xx remains a gamble and in my opinion the odds do not favor the purchaser nor is the payout worth the risk.

I hope you find an acceptable resolution to this issue, and I hope Omega fixes the sorry state of affairs before they have irretrieveably ruined what's left of their reputation.

[sigh]

-- Chuck


Chuck Maddox


(Article index @ http://www.xnet.com/~cmaddox/cm3articles.html)


Chronographs, like most finer things in life, only improve with time…



Here is Mark's planned course of action...

Thanks for all the advice, here is what I am going to do. - MarkEg - Dec 05, 2004 - 12:59 PM

I have emailed the contact at Omega, who by coincidence sent me the COSC certificate for this watch yesterday.

I am asking for a replacement to be sent to the dealer so that I can exchange the faulty watch for a new one directly with them, or if this is not possible, for them to issue a full refund.

In my view they need to address issues like this quickly, the watch I bought was probably older stock and had been with the dealer for a while. It could have been recalled and fixed before it was sold?

If a car, or Childs toy, has a safety issue, once this is identified the dealers / shops will not sell existing stock until the problem is fixed and also the previous sales are recalled to get this fixed.

A watch failing does not represent a health hazard so someone at Omega must have made a decision to only address the problem when it occurs – not good - but if this is the case they need to take some responsibility and a refund or replacement does not seem an unreasonable request to me.

Still love the watch and hope for the best…

Cheers

Mark
____________________

I'll be watching the Omega forum for updates on the status of Mark's situation...

-- C