Batteries and capacitors can fail; so can the electronics

I tried to get a friend's Omega Time Computer repaired. The original battery size is no longer available - no problem, a pair of smaller NiMH batteries can be fitted into the battery recesses and held in place with a spacer. This done, the watch came to life - for a few days. Then it stopped working again. I thought maybe there had been excessive power drain causing the batteries to run down very quickly - but no, the batteries were fine.

I dropped the watch off at the local Omega service centre, from where it was sent to Switzerland - and returned a couple of months later with the message "Cannot be repaired - replacement part no longer available". The replacement part being the electronic control board.

This is Omega we're talking about. My understanding is that Omega sublicenced the movement from Pulsar, who made the very first LED watch (Omega being the second one to come to market in about 1972). Pulsar are still around. What gives?

Even scarier - an Omega Time Computer was sold with a two-year warranty at last year's Omegamania auction. How can they offer a warranty, when by their own admission they no longer keep spare parts???

By their very nature, electronic watches are disposable items. They will never last the distance, and there will never be a serious collector's market for them. How could anyone in their right mind invest in a "collectible" electronic watch? Even if it works today, it may stop working tomorrow, and if the chip is no longer made, that's the end of the watch.

Cheers
Tony P

Citizen Eco Drives Don't last!

By: vendzilla : January 16th, 2008-15:05

I bought one of the first eco-drives, a Titanium one, I loved this watch for about 7 years, 2 years past the warranty. Here's the problem, the "Power Cell" Stopped holding a charge, I've taken it back to the jeweler a couple times while under warranty and...

Sorry to say this vendzilla but to throw away and swear

By: mkt33 : January 16th, 2008-17:14

off a brand that you've loved for 7 years (2 years past the warranty) over $140 is pretty extreme don't you think? Did Citizen exaggerate on their marketing? Perhaps, but you got pretty good use out of your eco-drive. While I empathize with your complaint...

He's right to swear off.

By: mkvc : January 16th, 2008-20:28

My AD told me the same thing.

By: れい : January 16th, 2008-17:42

Apparently the battery won't last forever though solar charged. Oh well, that's why quartz watches are never popular among collectors! Except for maybe 1 guy, the Gr8 Kurt Behm (I mean it, not intended as an insult...He's a truly passionate collector of C...

Everyone does not have that problem with Eco-Drives...

By: Ronald Held : January 17th, 2008-02:56

the cell usually last 10-20 years. I am not going to comment on the quartz watch collectors.

i've sold a load of stuff over the years, mostly cheap quartz ex display

By: G99 : January 17th, 2008-10:14

Rechargeable batteries and capacitors

By: Harry Bishop : January 17th, 2008-17:57

I too loved the concept of Citizen's Eco-Drive. Before that however, I had similar feelings about Seiko's Kinetic watch lines. It was the only non-mechanical type of watch that I really liked the technology in. They marketed it as being better than rechar...

Tony, you are 100% correct(as you know). when i collected purely Omegas i had all the 'important' quartz watches like Timecomputer, chronoquartz, marine chronometer, beta 21 electroquartz , all the olympic models, thinking that i should have them in a com...

WOW, it's amazing all the...

By: vendzilla : January 18th, 2008-09:29

WOW, it's amazing all the response I got over this. I do plan to start shopping for a new watch. I work in the adult industry and having a cool watch is kinda important, but I do love quality. I was looking at the mavado watch made out of Tungston Carbide...