Service: Omega Seamaster 166.002 calibre 565

IMG_0267Jerod from Oklahoma sent in this Seamaster, and I quite like the patina and discolouration of the dial.

Some of the luminous compound of the hands has come off, and the movement rattles in the case…IMG_0268

Jerod included a little sketch of the movement in his notes, and I quite like it!IMG_0269

The movement definitely needs a service.IMG_0271

The case clamps are loose, so no wonder the movement was rattling around in the case.IMG_0273

The hands will need some new luminous compound.IMG_0274

The dial back – I can definitely make out a fingerprint.IMG_0275

Looks like some heat damage to me…

IMG_0276

The movement is in good condition.IMG_0277

Time to take it apart.

IMG_0282

The wheel train.IMG_0284

The old mainspring.IMG_0285

The bottom plate.IMG_0308

All cleaned and ready for reassembly.IMG_0309

The new mainspring goes into the barrel.IMG_0310

Then I put in the balance jewels.IMG_0311

Now the gear train goes in.IMG_0312

Then the pallet fork, and I’m ready for the balance.IMG_0313

Beating again!IMG_0314

That looks a lot better than before.

IMG_0316

The bottom plate is ready for the dial and hands.IMG_0318

The hands get new luminous compound.IMG_0322

And the case gets a new crystal.IMG_0323

Dial and hands are back on, and the movement is ready for the case.IMG_0325

Cased.IMG_0326And back in business!

 

45 thoughts on “Service: Omega Seamaster 166.002 calibre 565

  1. Hi WG. love the site, it becomes more of a resource and more useful the more I learn about watch repair. I have just serviced an Omega 565 and being a Cosmic the movement has a split stem and loads from the front. Can you please help me with the procedure for refitting the hands without bending the tiny retaining spring and then refitting the movement, presumably without the retaining clips. ( I replaced the dial and hands in the case and got the classic down side stutter indicating I had distorted that little spring)

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Neil Miller

    • The automatic device bridge holds the seconds pinion in place, so you can adjust your spring properly, but everything together, and then set the seconds hand.

  2. Hello Christian, I found this 565 article very informative. I am a retired aerospace engineer and enjoy working on vintage watches in my spare time as a hobby. I recently purchased a ’68 Seamaster 120 with 565 in questionable working order. It would run for about 6 hours before stopping. Handing winding felt very rough and it would always stop after 6 hours at random spots regardless of hand winding or being auto wound while being worn. The ratchet and ratchet gears all seemed fine and I suspected the mainspring. In the last few weeks I did a total cleaning and rebuild. The mainspring shape and bridal looked great with no kinks but was dry. After cleaning I used 8200 on the barrel wall and a film of 9020 on the same spring. The barrel, spring and cap all went back together without any issues. Before assembling the wheel train, I checked that the barrel, ratchet, ratchet wheels and center wheel alone turned smoothly with the stem/crown (The mainspring still had not been wound at this point). The watch is re-assembled now and works great, being wound while worn and now has proper reserve, however when I try to hand wind it, the same roughness is still there. Any idea why the auto wind and mainspring power reserve are all nominal now, but the hand winding roughness is still there as before? I know the arbor/spring connection is solid since it runs for almost 2 days stationary, after being worn for a few days. Thanks for any insight.

    • Hi James,

      It’s an automatic watch, which means that you have to manually wind against the two reverser wheels. It will never feel like a manual wind.

      Kind regards,

      Christian

  3. I have the same movement in a Geneva that isn’t working. Got it and it was running, tried to wind it and it stopped. For the sake of comparison, how much did this service costs the customer?

  4. In the current climate of parts restriction and exorbitant charges for service/repair, the Swiss are doing themselves no favours by this attitude. Already there are so many generic parts on the market, and the Chinese are producing a very good replica of the ETA 2492 and 2892 movements as is also Selica, (a Swiss manufacturer!!).
    Heres hoping that current court proceedings helped along by Anthony Cousins will give a favourable conclusion although I would not take bets on the result.

  5. Is the dial pressed in between the crystal and body or is the dial mounted with the movement from the back?

    Best regards

  6. Out of curiosity, my internet sleuthing suggests these movements have a lift angle of 49 degrees. Your timegrapher suggests that you use 52 degrees as the parameter. Am I mistaken about the discrepancy?

    Thank you kindly. Greatly enjoy your site.

  7. Could you tell me what is the diameter of the new omega crystal that you fitted into the case?
    Thanks in advance,
    Tiago

  8. I have a project, an Omega Geneve. To complete the project I only need the case clamps and screws. Does any one knows where to buy them, I have been searching the usual places but no luck.
    Thanks for any help,

    Carlos

  9. BeautifuI watch!
    However, I always wonder how that Rotor will stay in place. Is it pressed on? Is there some sort of bearing or would you have to replace the whole rotor?
    Would be nice if someone could enlighten me 🙂

  10. I am a Sri Lankan, who is a proud owner of a Omega Sea-master automatic watch, which I have been using since 1980. The watch is presently not in working order due to some defect in the mechanism and the casing (outer cover) is also getting corroded.Ironically, I am unable to get the watch repaired or serviced, and it is now lying at home unused.

    A local company said to be operating in Sri Lanka, representing Omega Watch-repairs, from whom I made inquiries regarding repair/service of my watch, said his charge for the services is Rs. 45,000.00/(US$ 350.00), and
    repair cost will be estimated after examining the watch. In view of the exorbitant charges levied by the local party, which I cannot afford, I have decided to represent matters to the Omega Company and seek redress to get my favorite watch back to working order.

    Over to OMEGA Manufacturer for a favourable response.

    With Best Regards.

    Alfred Gunaratne
    Reply ↓

  11. I am a Sri Lankan, who is a proud owner of a Omega Sea-master automatic watch, which I have been using since 1980. The watch is presently not in working order due to some defect in the mechanism and the casing (outer cover) is also getting corroded.Ironically, I am unable to get the watch repaired or serviced, and it is now lying at home unused.

    A local company said to be operating in Sri Lanka, representing Omega Watch-repairs, from whom I made inquiries regarding repair/service of my watch, said his charge for the services is Rs. 45,000.00/(US$ 350.00), and
    repair cost will be estimated after examining the watch. In view of the exorbitant charges levied by the local party, which I cannot afford, I have decided to represent matters to the Omega Company and seek redress to get my favorite watch back to working order.

    Over to OMEGA Manufacturer for a favourable response.

    With Best Regards.

    Alfred Gunaratne

  12. Pingback: Omega vintage and classic call to action!

  13. I have read all the comments regarding Omega restricting the availability of spare parts to the public and I’m truly saddened too.

    But out of every bad moment there can be a good one……

    Jim mentioned about the EU and the availability of car parts etc. I’m sure some bright spark will be able to come up with a manufacturing process to develop generic parts (like we get with cars) that might be able to fit into our old Omega watches. With the onset of 3d printing now taking hold and the technology now moving into metal printing who knows what’s in store? Obviously there are the factors of copy right etc that have to be built in……but the same problem existed when it came to car parts and this was over come. Why not apply the same theory to the watch industry?

    Just a thought……..

  14. Time to start stocking up on various parts. That will drive prices up, and I guess many nice watches will be no longer serviced and restored but rather broken for parts. A big shame!

    • You wonder if Mr. Hayek has thought this through. I can see that he wants to keep the newer watches within the Swatch service centre structure.
      But Omega service centres often don’t touch vintage watches, and they are a huge part of the brand. If customers perceive that an old Omega is worthless junk as it can’t be fixed, the reputation of the whole brand will suffer.
      Also, selling parts for old Omegas must make a pretty penny for Swatch, as they certainly aren’t cheap (£23 for a crystal from Omega, £4 for a generic one…), so they are cutting off a nice chunk of their turnover and profit.
      Thirdly, all of us vintage Omega lovers do a great service to the brand by promoting their watches. You google for Omega, and you get to a lot of places showing their vintage watches. The results of those searches will lead to bitter people complaining that they can’t get their Omegas repaired any more.
      All bad for your brand.

      • What terrible news. I think that really is a poor decision. Are they not producing these parts anymore, or just not letting independents have access to them?

        There must hundreds of thousands of happy owners of vintage omegas in the UK alone – where do we go now for a service? I can’t imagine the cost of servicing a 1960 cal. 268 at Omega. Not that they’d even want to know.

        What about vintage models that are still being produced, like the Speedmaster? are they cutting those of as well?

        This stinks.

        • Received this reply from Swatch group.

          “Dear Mr Duff,

          Thank you for your correspondence.

          I have noted your comments and can advise our current policy is, the agent (independent jeweller) requires an active service account with us in order to access parts and a contract permitting them to carry out various grades of service.

          We should advise our factory in Switzerland guarantee the availability of parts for any particular calibre for a period of approximately 15 years from its last date of distribution. After this time stocks of certain items may become exhausted and the model may, therefore, be deemed obsolete by our Head Office. In these circumstances, we are unable to effect any further repairs.

          Given that you timepieces are of the vintage calibre, they may require sending to our head office in Switzerland, therefore we would kindly ask for the watch along with a covering letter to be sent into our service department at PO BOX 1642, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 9AZ. We would recommend sending the watch via Royal Mail “special delivery” service to ensure a signature on arrival.

          Alternatively, we would kindly ask that you provide your full name, address and contact details (contact number/email address) so that we may forward appropriate pre paid packaging for you to send your watch to our service department, please be aware the pack is quite large and may not fit into your letter box. Therefore, please make sure someone will be at home to receive the pack or arrange to send it to an alternative address such as work address if possible.

          I must advise that we are unable to comment on parts/costs prior to examination of the watch, however a full estimate will be drafted and sent for your approval prior to any work being carried out. Please be advised a postal charge of £10.00 + VAT will be applied to all services.

          If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

          Many thanks and kind regards

          Jody Grennell
          Customer Support

          The Swatch Group UK Limited
          Charter Court
          3rd Avenue
          Southampton
          Hampshire
          SO15 0JA
          0845 899 0086

  15. Hi Christian love the cal 5xx from Omega quite simply the best automatic movement ever, maybe i am a bit biased. I have quite a few and they were all very accurate. Some people might say the dial has character but i think i would replace if it was mine.Thanks again Mark. Ps Christian have you seen the news tab on Cousins web site bad news for all us watchmakers.

    • Oh dear – I hadn’t seen that yet. Looks like the Swatch Group is clamping down even more on us independents …
      As if Omega would service a 1967 Constellation. So they are basically leaving their customers with vintage watches out in the cold.
      Customers have to make their own decision what brands they will buy I guess.

      • Seems strange to me that the EU does not see this in the same light as car manufacturers and washing machines where parts should be made available to independents. In fact it seems they are positively encouraging this type of restriction.

        I have read in a number of cases where they even suggest that there is an economic argument as there is for ink jet printers and games consoles that as prices rise in the aftermarket that the prices in the primary market will reduce. So has anyone noticed that the rising costs of manufacturer servicing has meant that the price of new rolexs and omegas has dropped?

        • If I might make a suggestion then – if anyone who is reading this popular blog, and is passionate on this subject uses Cirrus’ link above to share your concerns with Omega, perhaps a shared first paragraph be used? Something along the lines of:

          ‘As a vintage Omega owner/collector (delete as approp.) I wish to express my concern over the strategic direction the Swatch Group is taking in regard to the availability and supply of spare parts for the Omega brand into the artisan watchmaker and service network. I value the personal service, care and interaction the use of an independent craftsman gives me, and I strongly believe that this move will be both detrimental to the current and future heritage of the Omega brand and convey a negative and domineering attitude from the Swatch Group.’
          Etc.
          Just a thought?
          B

  16. Great write up, I love these Omegas, I want to add an automatic to my little collection (currently of one).

    The picture of the dial made me think it should be a moon watch, because the dial discolouration made me think of one of those pictures of very bright stars, not unlike the background used on the latest iPhones..

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