Service: Omega Seamaster 600 135.011 calibre 601

This lovely Omega Seamaster 600 belongs to Janne from Finland. This is exactly my type of watch – understated, great movement, clean design.

The watch is running, but needs a service. The amplitude is a bit low, and it’s apparently been a while!

This watch has the calibre 601 movement, which is a hand-winding movement with a central second. I like the fact that it has a proper cock for the second arbor which is jeweled.

With the movement taken out of the case and the dial and hands removed, I take out the balance jewels for cleaning.

I take out the balance, pallet fork and the wheel bridge.

Only the barrel and the centre wheel left on the top plate.

The mainspring and barrel. I order a new spring.

The parts are cleaned, rinsed and dried.

The new mainspring.

The barrel and bridge, wheels and wheel bridge are mounted, then the pallet fork goes in.

I slightly wind the mainspring and put the balance in, which starts moving straight away.

With the movement only slightly wound, this is a good amplitude. I adjust the beat error to 0ms.

Now I can put together the bottom plate. The discoloration on the plate comes from somebody using glue for the dial….

The dial is put back on. Quite aged, but in good condition for the age.

The movement goes back into the case.

The case back gets a new gasket.

I ordered a new generic crystal for the watch, but as it has a tension ring, only the original Omega crystal will fit. At over £40, we give that a miss.

A great watch! I didn’t polish the hands, as the luminous compound would have come off. As it’s the original compound, and it’s complete, I don’t want to do that. The watch looks its age, and I like it that way.

Just too bad it has to go back to Finland!

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

Not so fast, young man! That’s why I keep all watches a day or two on the bench … This one ran out a couple of hours after winding. I did wonder when winding why the mainspring slipped very soon. Firstly, this is a manual, and it shouldn’t slip, and secondly, after a couple of turns …

I opened the watch again, and on closer inspection of the barrel, I saw the problem. The groove in the barrel that is supposed to hold the mainspring is worn, and now forms an ideal ramp for the mainspring to break loose.

As an original Omega part, the barrel costs £50! Good thing that someone on eBay sells a complete barrel for £20 + postage! I’ve ordered it, and hope it’s in better condition.

Monday, June 18th, 2012

The new barrel has arrived, I fit it, and everything is fine! You can now fully wind the watch, and it comes to a definite end point, as a hand-winding watch should do.

To celebrate, I lightly polish the hands, and the luminous compound stays in place. Hurrah!

 

23 thoughts on “Service: Omega Seamaster 600 135.011 calibre 601

  1. Hi!
    I live in Argentina and recently acquired a vintage omega seamaster cosmic 136.022 – tool 107. The crystal only has a few bumps and bruises, the dial is silver with only a tinge of yellow, very little, and it seams to work ok. I don’t know if it has ever been serviced and I am afraid to use it, thinking I might damage it. I can’t find any decent watchmakers here in Argentina so I was wondering if you could tell me how to test the watch and see if it needs a service without opening it, giving that I don’t have the right tools for the job. Thank you
    Cheers!

    • Put it on a timegrapher – you can get one for £150 on eBay, or just to into a watch repair workshop and let them do it. It will show if the watch needs a service or not.

  2. Got anyone good in Australia?. I had mineserviced for a fortune and it doesn’t run. So I don’t want to go back there!

  3. Can you please tell me the difference between a 601 Seamaster and a 601 Geneva with a screw on back marked as waterproof (I know its not)? Apart from the name they look to be the same watch.
    Regards
    Chris

  4. Hi. How much would it be to service a seamaster 600. I have been told it is a little worn although it keeps perfect time. Thanks.

  5. Hello I have a Omega, with a 601 movement that seems to race when wound up…is it possn to set the timing on the balance wheel…watch in hand, crown to the right and balance to the left,,,,which way do I move the regulator..right for faster…left for slower….is that the way…….kindest regards John Lomax….Lancs England

  6. Hi, did you find the hour hand difficult to fit? I have the same watch (but with different hands) and the hour hand does not seem to want to sit properly and slips.

    What do you think?
    Thanks
    Matt

  7. I have seamaster 600 Omega. I lives in Sri Lanka. How can I get this watch service.This watch was my father’s watch.
    Kindly advise me.
    Regards Panduka

    • There are various oils to be used for different locations. Moebius 9010 for the balance jewels and escape wheel, Moebius 9020 for the third and fourth wheel, D-5 for the centre wheel and barrel arbour, etc. You can’t just use one oil.

  8. Nice to read your blog about this watch! My father died this summer and left me an Omega Seamaster 600. No idea about serial number. Although he used several watches in his life, this one is the one he used when I was a kid.
    It runs, but far too fast and sometimes it stops. Guess it needs some cleaning or mayby another spring. Is that right or is it just broken? Do you have an (vague) idea about the costs?
    Greetings,
    Tom

  9. Great job!
    It made some extra work for you but trust me, I was thinking it would be in far worse condition inside, considering in how rough use it has been for over 3 decades… Running on it’s 3rd crystal now.

  10. Great job on a great movement. I have an Omega Geneve with the exact same movement. Hope you don’t mind that I copied your photos, because they are so much better then mine 🙂
    Greetings, Louis.

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