Everything You Need to Know About Servicing Your Omega Watch

Omega has been making quality watches since the 19th century. Today, Omega produces both mechanical and quartz watches. Every now and then, your watch will need maintenance to make sure it’s running properly. Read on to find out how to best take care of your Omega watch.

Cleaning

No matter how clean you think you might be, the inside of your watch can and will get very dirty. Because of this, your watch needs to be cleaned regularly. When cleaning your watch, avoid using water or other kinds of liquid. Instead, check the official instructions provided by Omega to ensure you clean your watch correctly. Don’t be afraid to contact a professional if you’re unsure.

Watch Overhaul

Your Omega watch is a complicated piece of machinery. If you wear it often, you should give it a complete overhaul every three to five years. This is done by a professional service provider. The watch will be completely checked over to make sure there are no problems. Sometimes small problems can lead to much bigger—and more expensive—problems down the road, if not properly taken care of.

Regular Use

If you don’t wear your Omega watch often, and it’s mechanical, then it’s a good idea to wind and run the watch once or twice a month. The watch has oils inside it that can dry out if the watch doesn’t run, so running the watch helps keep it lubricated.

Water Resistance

If your watch is water resistant and you regularly get it wet, you should service it more often—at least every two years. This is because it will have an O-ring inside it, which is a rubber gasket, as well as screw-down threads. If these become compromised in any way, water can leak into the watch and cause a lot of costly damage. 

Also, check the water resistance rating of your Omega watch. If it’s less than 50 meters, you should keep it away from water. While a rating like 30 meters might sound like a lot, 30 meters is actually the bare minimum rating for a watch to be called water resistant. If you want to swim or shower with your watch on, the  water resistance rating should be 50 meters or more.

Foggy Lens

If the outside of your watch gets wet, you may find that the glass gets foggy. This is normal, and is caused by condensation inside the watch. The lens should clear up after a couple of minutes. If the glass stays foggy, however, this could indicate trouble with the water sealing. In this case, it’s best to get the watch to a service provider as soon as you can.

Shock Resistance

If your Omega is mechanical, you shouldn’t take it to go golfing, play tennis, or do any other activity that would expose it to physical shocks. While there are shock absorbers inside the watch to help protect it, it’s best to avoid any sources of undue stress. If your watch has a quartz movement, then you’ll find it’s more durable in this area.

Magnetism

If your Omega watch is mechanical, you should try to keep it away from electronics such as televisions and speakers. This is because these types of electronics have magnets in them, which can cause problems for the watch. If you find your watch is running a lot faster than it should, then it likely needs to be demagnetized by a professional.

Polishing Crystal

If the acrylic crystals on your watch become scratched, you can polish them. Polywatch is a product made for this purpose, although headlamp leans cleaner can also work, as well as a metal polishing product called Brasso.

Polishing The Case

The case of a Omega watch can also be polished. Polishing kits are available that include abrasive fabric designed to restore the finish of a watch case.

Watch Bands

If your watch has a metal band, it should be cleaned every now and then to make sure it looks optimal. Before cleaning, remove the band from the watch. Clean it with a soft brush and some warm, soapy water. If you can’t remove the strap, and your watch’s water resistance rating is less than 50 meters, then it’d be best to have the strap cleaned by a professional.

If your watch band is leather, you should try to keep it away from moisture. Wipe it every day with a soft, dry cloth, both inside and out. This is also a good time to check the buckle and pin, to make sure they’re still working optimally. If your leather watch band gets wet, remove it from your wrist and let it completely dry before you wear it again.  

If your watch band is made of rubber, you should clean it regularly. This because it can absorb sweat, oil, and salt water. To clean a rubber band, use an old, soft toothbrush, as well as some mild dish detergent and water. Clean both sides of the strap, then rinse it and allow it to dry. If salt water touches your strap, rinse it with fresh water as soon as possible. There are products available that protect rubber, enabling you to prolong the strap’s life.

Conclusion

For a very long time, Omega has been making quality watches. While internal repairs are best left to a professional, there’s still plenty you, as a watch owner, can do to ensure your Omega watch is well-maintained and free of problems.