Vintage Omega watch repair: what to check before you send it

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A repair quote is only as good as the identification behind it. Before a vintage Omega goes to a watchmaker, know three things: the calibre inside it, the reference of the case, and the part numbers it is likely to need. All three come from the factory's own catalogues, and all three are free to look up here.

Watch Breaker doesn't repair watches. We identify vintage Omega movements and list their parts, from Omega's printed parts catalogues and technical guides, so you can ask for the right thing.

Before you send it

1. Find the calibre

   The calibre number is stamped on the movement, under the caseback. If you can't open it, the reference inside the caseback points to it: the reference lookup gives the calibre Omega lists for each reference, and the calibre lookup covers the rest.

2. Date it

   The movement serial dates the movement, not the case. The serial lookup shows both published serial tables and the range they give.

3. Photograph the movement

   A straight-down photo of the movement, one of the serial and one inside the caseback. A watchmaker can quote from them, and you have a record of what went in.

4. Write down what is wrong

   Stops after a few hours, won't set the hands, crown won't stay in, date won't change. Each points to a different part of the movement, and the symptom is what the quote is for.

Stems and mainsprings, from the catalogues

The winding stem and the mainspring are two of the parts a repair most often needs, and both are calibre-specific. These are the numbers Omega's parts catalogues list. Each number opens the parts finder (every calibre it fits) or a search on eBay.

Part numbers are copied by hand from Omega's printed catalogues and may contain errors. Check every number against your part or movement before you buy.

Parts many calibres share

Some parts are listed for dozens of calibres, which makes them easier to find:

• Cap jewels for the balance, 100.1342 eBay: listed for 49 calibres.
• Screw for the hairspring stud, 2154 eBay: listed for 48 calibres.
• Click spring 240.1105 eBay: listed for 42 calibres.
• Click spring 450.1105 eBay: listed for 16 calibres, among them the 455, 550 to 565 and 750 to 752.

Quartz batteries

The battery depends on the calibre. Omega's technical guide for the 1430 gives a 9.50 × 1.60 mm battery, type 373. The catalogue for the 1450 lists two, 9938 and 9939, which is why its total height is given as 2.10 or 2.46 mm. The vintage quartz guide has the calibres and where each one carries its number.

Choosing a watchmaker

• Ask whether they have serviced that calibre before, by number.
• Ask for a written quote that names the calibre and the parts to be replaced.
• Ask for the old parts back. They are yours, and some are worth keeping.
• Ask how they source parts for that calibre, and whether replacements are genuine, used or made to fit.

Want to see inside first?

The Bench is a free browser game: strip and rebuild a vintage Omega calibre part by part, with every Omega part number on screen. Practise there before anyone opens yours.

Which oil goes where: the Omega oil map.

Questions people ask

Watch Breaker is an independent identification specialist and parts dealer and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Omega SA or the Swatch Group. Omega is a trademark of Omega SA. Watch Breaker does not repair watches. This guide is general information; see the Terms.