Utterly shocking.........Watch out!

[Jaguar Boy]

A dear friend of mine here in Blighty was given a brand new Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono, ref 2218.50.00, by his good lady. Had I not had a similar experience myself a few years back, I would never have believed what happened next.

The watch lasted two days. The movement seized up completely and the AD replaced it without question. The new watch lasted a week. It lost time randomly, sometimes as much as two hours in a day, and the chrono function never worked. It was replaced again. Watch number three is now on the blink, also losing several hours a DAY and stopping randomly. The unfortunate owner ordered ANOTHER watch, and while waiting for delivery hung on to watch number three to check its reliability. For one whole day it kept time, then stopped again. When he tried again it lost an hour in one day.

This model is apparently guaranteed for three years, one more than the series of Speedmaster models I had in the mid noughties. It took me three to find one that worked, from new. I remember discussing this with the late lamented Chuck Maddox. His theory was that Omega quality control was fine until Swatch took over, since when volume has taken precendence.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? My current Schumacher Red Legend Speedmaster came apart in my hands one week before the two years' warranty ran out and was rebuilt by Omega. Much as I love the brand, I'd never risk another and wish I'd warned my friend off his choice.

:

[ulackfocus]

The movement inside the PO Chrono is plagued with trouble. There are other lines with the same movement inside. The Speedmaster you had in the mid 90's - was it an automatic with the date at 6?

[Jaguar Boy]

Yes, Mr Focus. All my Speedies were autos with the date at 6.

[ulackfocus]

Yes, Mr Focus. All my Speedies were autos with the date at 6.

Then it had the same series of troublesome caliber - the 33xx which is based on a Piguet movement (1185 or 1285....I forget). There have been a few attempted corrections over the years where Omega reinforces some parts, but they haven't cured the issues yet. Many Omegamaniacs would like to see the whole series scrapped including me. I've never heard a single issue with the 1164 chronograph which is based on the Valjoux 7750 and has the date at 3.

[Jaguar Boy]

Mr F - which movement is in the Seamaster PO chrono?

[ulackfocus]

Mr F - which movement is in the Seamaster PO chrono?

The same 33xx series. Any automatic Omega chronograph with the subdials at 3, 6, and 9 and the date at 6 has one of that series of movements inside.

[CajunMike]

Yes, in fact I have heard of a similar story. Guy was a troll and was banned from another forum, so Im somewhat skeptical. You went through 3 watches and now your friend is on watch #4. Could you pm me the AD he is buying them from so I can get another UK member to verify this information. I have heard of issues with the 33xx movement and encountered one with a defect myself but never heard of one "coming apart" in someone's hand. A crown pulling out yeah sure (which is common in all brands), but "coming apart"???

[Jaguar Boy]

Cajun Mike - I'm the guy with the Speedmaster which had to be rebuilt. The crown came out when I was attempting to set the time. It was followed by a tiny piece of steel approximately half a millimetre across. The watch was almost out of warranty and Omega did a fair job of repairing it. If my description that it "came apart in my hand" seems over-dramatic, that's how it felt at the time. This was the third Speedmaster I had to send back, following the complete breakdown of two Racing models, which I still hanker after to this day.

My friend has taken delivery of another PO Chronograph today and so far it's performing well. He bought from a well-known chain of jewellers here in England.

[eddiea]

Thankfully...my Speedy have the Cal.1151 movement (based on an Valjoux 7751 but highly modified by Omega).. that said, I never heard of an Omega movement (any movement)falling apart or the chrono funtions not working at all

[Jaguar Boy]

Eddiea - consider yourself fortunate. Two of my Speedie chrono movements disintegrated - I mean audibly. There were loose pieces inside the watches. Two of my friend's Seamaster Chronos did the same. He's on his fourth IN A MONTH - and so far it's OK. Let's hope it stays that way. I have a Fortis B42 Chronograph that cost a quarter of the price of my Schumacher Speedmaster Legend and it's the best watch I've owned. Its ETA movement is tougher, more accurate and more reliable than any of the four new Omegas I've owned. I'll never buy an Omega again, but I will warn others off them.