Amusing failure in Omega analogue watch

[Jim Yanik]

Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote in news:7f8p55F2jpo58U1@mid.individual.net:

William Sommerwerck wrote:
Where do you get the tools, and how much would you expect to pay?

I don't know what the Omega back is like -- it might require some
special, hard-to-obtain tool -- so I can't give a definitive answer.

yes, it appears that it does.


These are available from Zantech (http://www.zantechinc.com/store).
They have all kinds of watch-repair equipment and supplies. You'll
have fun browsing the site.

thanks William,

gee that seems a very slow site.

Couldn't find anything apart from a knife for opening watches.




I don't want to be a jeweler, but $35, when I know the battery
could be purchased $35/100 from China, seems a little rich.

You can get batteries even cheaper than that from Zantech and similar
companies.

Any jeweler who charges more than $5 for a battery replacement --
including the battery -- is gouging. Most batteries cost the dealer
less than 25 cents, and replacing one takes less than five minutes.
That's a gross profit of more than $50 an hour. Not bad.

Zantech are quoting on their pages $5 to $15.

I wanted a calculator battery a few months back. The common CR-2032.
Tried the little battery-clock shops at the local shopping centre.
$9.95 Checked DSE etc, $4 to $5.

Bugger them, bought a bag load from Hong Kong for that sort of money.
I think I got an assortment of 30 batteries for around $10, inc
postage. http://www.wizard-from-oz.com/dx_2.html

Still not sure what to do about my $35 battery problem when it arises
in 26 months time.

Cheers Don...

Harbor Freight has watch opening tools.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

 

[terryc]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:32:48 +1000, Don McKenzie wrote:

I wanted a calculator battery a few months back. The common CR-2032.
Tried the little battery-clock shops at the local shopping centre. $9.95
Checked DSE etc, $4 to $5.

Also keep your eye open at $2.

Bugger them, bought a bag load from Hong Kong for that sort of money. I
think I got an assortment of 30 batteries for around $10, inc postage.
http://www.wizard-from-oz.com/dx_2.html

Also available from $2 shops around here (Our 'city' is infested with
them).

--

Great advances in Debian Linux; post a bug report and get spam in three
days.

 

[Tom]

Don McKenzie wrote:

Still not sure what to do about my $35 battery problem when it arises in
26 months time.

I've stopped wearing watch about 20 years ago and never missesd it. Funyy thing I've bought a couple since then (I like nice watch) but they just sit in a drawer.

Tom

 

[F Murtz]

Tom wrote:

Don McKenzie wrote:

Still not sure what to do about my $35 battery problem when it arises
in 26 months time.

I've stopped wearing watch about 20 years ago and never missesd it.
Funyy thing I've bought a couple since then (I like nice watch) but they
just sit in a drawer.

Tom

Stopped wearing a watch when mobile phones came out.

 

[David L. Jones]

William Sommerwerck wrote:

Where do you get the tools, and how much would you expect to pay?

I don't know what the Omega back is like -- it might require some
special, hard-to-obtain tool -- so I can't give a definitive answer.

The most-common backs use either a slotted ring -- which can often be
removed with a pair of chain-nose pliars -- or a press-to-fit back,
which is removed with a "case-back knife".

The latter is simply a knife with a very thin blade. You simply press
the knife into the seam, and twist a bit. (Well, that's the theory.
It's sometimes a bit more difficult, and there is the chance of
scracthing the back.)

These are available from Zantech (http://www.zantechinc.com/store).
They have all kinds of watch-repair equipment and supplies. You'll
have fun browsing the site.


I don't want to be a jeweler, but $35, when I know the battery
could be purchased $35/100 from China, seems a little rich.

You can get batteries even cheaper than that from Zantech and similar
companies.

Any jeweler who charges more than $5 for a battery replacement --
including the battery -- is gouging. Most batteries cost the dealer
less than 25 cents, and replacing one takes less than five minutes.
That's a gross profit of more than $50 an hour. Not bad.

That depends on the type of watch.
If you've got a proper 200m pressure rated watch for example, you have to
(or should) inspect or (more usually) replace the o-ring, grease it up
again, and do a full pressure test after it's all done.

If you don't like changing batteries, Casio (and probably others) have
watches rated for a 10 year battery life.

Dave.
--
---------------------------------------------
Check out my Electronics Engineering Video Blog & Podcast:
http://www.alternatezone.com/eevblog/

 

[David L. Jones]

F Murtz wrote:

Tom wrote:
Don McKenzie wrote:

Still not sure what to do about my $35 battery problem when it
arises in 26 months time.

I've stopped wearing watch about 20 years ago and never missesd it.
Funyy thing I've bought a couple since then (I like nice watch) but
they just sit in a drawer.

Tom

Stopped wearing a watch when mobile phones came out.

I still wear a wrist watch for the same reason I still have a real
calculator on my desk instead of using the PC.

Dave.
--
---------------------------------------------
Check out my Electronics Engineering Video Blog & Podcast:
http://www.alternatezone.com/eevblog/

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:32:48 +1000, Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A>wrote:

William Sommerwerck wrote:
Where do you get the tools, and how much would you expect to pay?

I don't know what the Omega back is like -- it might require some special,
hard-to-obtain tool -- so I can't give a definitive answer.

yes, it appears that it does.


These are available from Zantech (http://www.zantechinc.com/store). They
have all kinds of watch-repair equipment and supplies. You'll have fun
browsing the site.

thanks William,

gee that seems a very slow site.

Couldn't find anything apart from a knife for opening watches.




I don't want to be a jeweler, but $35, when I know the battery
could be purchased $35/100 from China, seems a little rich.

You can get batteries even cheaper than that from Zantech and similar
companies.

Any jeweler who charges more than $5 for a battery replacement -- including
the battery -- is gouging. Most batteries cost the dealer less than 25
cents, and replacing one takes less than five minutes. That's a gross profit
of more than $50 an hour. Not bad.

Zantech are quoting on their pages $5 to $15.

I wanted a calculator battery a few months back. The common CR-2032.
Tried the little battery-clock shops at the local shopping centre. $9.95
Checked DSE etc, $4 to $5.

Bugger them, bought a bag load from Hong Kong for that sort of money. I
think I got an assortment of 30 batteries for around $10, inc postage.
http://www.wizard-from-oz.com/dx_2.html

Still not sure what to do about my $35 battery problem when it arises in
26 months time.

Cheers Don...

If the watch is old enough it may require a mercury battery. Since the
mercury battery is of a different voltage than what currently replaces
it the watch will need calibrated. I own a 1965 Bulova Accutron that
was designed for a mercury battery. I found a jewler that could
replace the battery and adjust the watch for $20. Had some kind of
device that listened to the watch to determine how to adjust it.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

If the watch is old enough it may require a mercury battery. Since the
mercury battery is of a different voltage than what currently replaces
it the watch will need calibrated. I own a 1965 Bulova Accutron that
was designed for a mercury battery. I found a jewler that could
replace the battery and adjust the watch for $20. Had some kind of
device that listened to the watch to determine how to adjust it.

I believe there are non-mercury 1.35V batteries, or 1.5V batteries with
dropping diodes.

The Accutron tuning fork vibrates faster at a higher voltage. (The user
manual warns that the watch will run slightly fast with a new battery, until
the voltage has stabilized. It takes a couple of days.) I don't know if the
adjustment has enough range to cover a 10% voltage increase.

I still have my father's Accutron. I ought to get it out and wear it. Very
stylishly retro.

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:46:45 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

If the watch is old enough it may require a mercury battery. Since the
mercury battery is of a different voltage than what currently replaces
it the watch will need calibrated. I own a 1965 Bulova Accutron that
was designed for a mercury battery. I found a jewler that could
replace the battery and adjust the watch for $20. Had some kind of
device that listened to the watch to determine how to adjust it.

I believe there are non-mercury 1.35V batteries, or 1.5V batteries with
dropping diodes.

The Accutron tuning fork vibrates faster at a higher voltage. (The user
manual warns that the watch will run slightly fast with a new battery, until
the voltage has stabilized. It takes a couple of days.) I don't know if the
adjustment has enough range to cover a 10% voltage increase.

I still have my father's Accutron. I ought to get it out and wear it. Very
stylishly retro.

Mine was an inheritance from my dad. Solid gold body and flat braided
gold band.

I don't wear a watch too often but when I do it's a Timex Indiglo
Ironman. It's light and waterproof plus has a molded rubber band so
it's not a burden.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I don't wear a watch too often but when I do it's a Timex Indiglo
Ironman. It's light and waterproof plus has a molded rubber band
so it's not a burden.

I bought one of those when they first came out. Still works, but the buttons
are corroded.

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:41:28 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I don't wear a watch too often but when I do it's a Timex Indiglo
Ironman. It's light and waterproof plus has a molded rubber band
so it's not a burden.

I bought one of those when they first came out. Still works, but the buttons
are corroded.

Also have an older Ironman that you can program via a PC. It does it
by reading your monitor flash in patterns.

 

[AZ Nomad]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:24:16 -0400, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:41:28 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I don't wear a watch too often but when I do it's a Timex Indiglo
Ironman. It's light and waterproof plus has a molded rubber band
so it's not a burden.

I bought one of those when they first came out. Still works, but the buttons
are corroded.


Also have an older Ironman that you can program via a PC. It does it
by reading your monitor flash in patterns.

That great if you don't mind never upgrading from the particular microsoft
windows major release for which the watch driver was written.
Just keep a windows 95 machine around dedicated to programming the watch.

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:35:01 -0500, AZ Nomad
<aznomad.3@PremoveOBthisOX.COM>wrote:

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:24:16 -0400, Meat Plow <meat@petitmorte.net> wrote:
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:41:28 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

I don't wear a watch too often but when I do it's a Timex Indiglo
Ironman. It's light and waterproof plus has a molded rubber band
so it's not a burden.

I bought one of those when they first came out. Still works, but the buttons
are corroded.


Also have an older Ironman that you can program via a PC. It does it
by reading your monitor flash in patterns.

That great if you don't mind never upgrading from the particular microsoft
windows major release for which the watch driver was written.
Just keep a windows 95 machine around dedicated to programming the watch.

Hell yes!

 

[William Sommerwerck]

Also have an older Ironman that you can program via a PC.
It does it by reading your monitor flash in patterns.

It's a lot easier to store needed data on a PDA. No, a PDA can't be strapped
to your wrist, but they're hardly huge.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

An Omega watch of any kind is a high quality instrument for life. Its
long term accuracy will far exceed any off the shelf lower end watch.

I've owned "cheap" watches that were accurate to within a few seconds a
month.

This is obviously a matter of taste, but I've always found Omega's case
design fussy and unattractive. Excuse me, that's Rolex. Sorry.

 

[Jerry G.]

I don't know the model of your watch. Omega watches are very expensive
and considered very high end. It would pay to service the watch. Some
models had problems with their timing module. You can send the watch
to an authorized Omega service center to have it repaired. If you go
to the Omega web site, they can assist you to find a service rep
nearest to you. These high end quartz watches require mechanical
service about once every 10 years.

An Omega watch of any kind is a high quality instrument for life. Its
long term accuracy will far exceed any off the shelf lower end watch.
All of their watches meet very strict standards and would recognized
to navigate a ship or an aircraft. If you try to buy one new from a
certified dealer (not something from the net that is not authorized),
their most basic quartz watches in a stainless steel case can start at
about $1800 US and up. If it is a chronometer type watch, they can
start at over $2500 for a basic type.

I have been wearing a mechanical (windup) Omega Speedmaster Mark II
Professional watch since 1974. I was 25 years old when I bought it. I
get it cleaned and maintained by the Omega service people every 4
years. It is mechanical, and over the long term it is more accurate
than any of the other newer watches that I have.


Jerry G.



On Aug 20, 8:29 pm, Franc Zabkar <fzab...@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

My father gave me his gold watch, a 25 year old Omega analogue quartz.
It had been lying idle in his drawer with the time-setting pin
disengaged. After re-engaging the pin, the hands began advancing at 4
times the normal rate. After 1 hour it has gained 3 hours. I assume
the crystal is oscillating at a higher overtone, maybe due to a weak
battery.

In any case I now have a watch to match the reverse Dick Smith wall
clock above my desk. Maybe I should start collecting misbehaving
timepieces.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[rebel]

On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:51:34 +1000, Don McKenzie <5V@2.5A> wrote:

geoff wrote:

Have you thought of maybe changing the battery ?

geoff

My Omega costs $35 a battery change.
They give you a 2 year warranty, and they always run out in 26 months.

Have seriously though of getting a $19.95 throw away watch, and flogging
my engraved gold retirement Omega.

I have an Omega *real* analog auto-wind (no battery) from the early sixties
that still runs like a swiss clock (cough!). It has a "one-piece-case" i.e. no
rear access - probably part of the 100m immersion rating. It needs a special
tool which apparently flexes the glass/perspec/acrylic front to remove it.

Recently had it serviced to assure ongoing watertightness, new stem seals etc
and the front polished to remove scratches. Probably good for another forty
years - will certainly outlast me.

Also use as my daily drive a Casio which runs about five years between battery
replacements (has barometric altimeter etc). But the replacement cost of
necessity includes seals and pressure testing, so it runs about $40 a time.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

I have an Omega *real* analog auto-wind (no battery) from the early
sixties
that still runs like a swiss clock (cough!). It has a "one-piece-case"
i.e. no
rear access -- probably part of the 100m immersion rating. It needs a
special
tool which apparently flexes the glass/perspec/acrylic front to remove it.

If it's a "good" watch, it has a mineral cover, not plastic. Some watches
have undoped sapphire (aluminum oxide) covers.

 

[Meat Plow]

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:52:57 -0700, "William Sommerwerck"
<grizzledgeezer@comcast.net>wrote:

Also have an older Ironman that you can program via a PC.
It does it by reading your monitor flash in patterns.

It's a lot easier to store needed data on a PDA. No, a PDA can't be strapped
to your wrist, but they're hardly huge.

Yep nowadays but this watch was from the days before PDA. I retired it
when I bought my first PDA a Philips Neno back in 1999.

 

[geoff]

Don McKenzie wrote:

geoff wrote:

Have you thought of maybe changing the battery ?

geoff

My Omega costs $35 a battery change.
They give you a 2 year warranty, and they always run out in 26 months.

And ?

Have seriously though of getting a $19.95 throw away watch, and
flogging my engraved gold retirement Omega.

I'll give you $35 dollars for it - same cost as the battery you can't
justify investing in !

geoff