How Often Should You Service Your Vintage Omega Constellation?




There are basically two schools of thought in respect to servicing a vintage watch - if we eliminate the ‘Don’t Know’ or ‘Don’t Care’ contingents. The first is the ‘Wear It Until It Drops’ school, members of which can be seen arguing vociferously against regular servicing on various watch fora. The second group could be described as the ‘Preventative School’, which advocates regular service regimes in both new and vintage watches so as to prevent premature wear of watch components and thus ensure the long-term serviceability of their watches.

In some ways these two schools of thought represent extremes of personality and reflect how individuals value and appreciate objects - those who value their possessions, or at least recognise the effort it took to earn the money to acquire them (and hence a belief in “looking after” them), versus those who perhaps do not have such a deep interest or appreciation of the technical or mechanical aspects of their possessions and think “If it breaks, I’ll get it fixed or get another”

To me, the statement “I haven’t had the back of my Omega opened for fifteen years, and it’s still going strong” is one of the most gormless and naive statements that could reach my ears, but maybe that’s because I lean closer to the Preventative School than the other.  In reality, it is not so cut and dried, and there are a number of variables to consider when deciding when to service your watch.  One of the most balanced and informative essays on this topic I have seen in a long time was posted here on Watchuseek by a contributor known as ‘Archer’. 

Also, Nicholas Hacko, a well-respected Australian watchmaker, argues here that a proper understanding of watch servicing is of great importance to owners of mechanical watches.
I recommend you take a peek.

7 comments:

  1. Mothra7:16 pm

    Archer often contributes fascinating stuff, there was one a while back about resuscitating a flooded speedmaster that was like watching a car crash in reverse. I agree on the article you reference, it makes a lot of compelling sense. If nothing else, I send new acquisitions to a watchmaker who checks to see if the critical parts of the movement are lubricated and he only charges a token amount for the spot check.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great to have such a resource close by.

      Nothing like a good tradesman to check out one's acquisitions, something that I believe should be done at purchase, no matter what a seller claims.

      Cheers

      Desmond

      Delete
    2. My newly purchased Constellation lost 30 seconds over 12 hours - is this normal timing? The watch was serviced two years ago, according to the seller.

      Delete
  2. My newly purchased Constellation lost 30 seconds over 12 hours - is this a normal timing? The watch was serviced two years ago, according to the seller.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 30 seconds is excessive on a well preserved vintage movement. You should be able to get it under ten, which leads me to suggest not to take seller claims of servicing seriously.

      Irrespective of seller claims, I always have my watchmaker service a new acquisition as soon as it arrives.

      I think you should source a good independent watchmaker who knows his way around Omega vintage and have the watch serviced.

      Cheers

      Desmond

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:19 am

      I just had the watch serviced - it is now keeping time within four seconds in all positions. Thanks for the advice.

      Delete
    3. Excellent! This is a great result for a vintage movement: decades old and keeping up with modern movemements is a testament to how the older movements wree built.

      Regards

      Desmond

      Delete