Omega

larryyap
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My terrible experience with the Swatch Group Servicing Centre in Singapore

I stayed in Hong Kong for over twenty years and used to service all my watches in Hong Kong until 4 years' ago when I moved back to Singapore for family reason and brought with me all my watches (I have a collection of close to 70 watches) to Singapore. Henceforth, I started sending my watches to the respective servicing centers in Singapore whenever servicing of watches are required. So far, I have been quite satisfied with the servicing centers of Patek Philippe, Audemars Puguet, etc but would like to share with you fellow watch enthusiasts on my disappointing experience with the Swatch Group Servicing Centre in Singapore. 

In December 2014, I sent in my 13 years' old Omega Speedmaster (one with Calibre 863) to Swatch's servicing centre in Singapore for servicing. 

When I entered the centre, the receptionist asked what watch I wish to service today, I answered "a Speedmaster", she then asked " Quartz or automatic ?" I replied "manual-winding", she asked again "automatic ?", I repeated "manual-winding", she then asked "mechanical ?" I answered "yes but it's hand-winding and not automatic !", she concluded with a remark that "over here, we call all mechanical watches AUTOMATIC !" 

Two days later, the watchmaker after her complete assessment of the watch, sent me an email quoting the estimated servicing cost and also mentioned in her email that after checking with their Specialist, they suggest that I also change the dial and hands of my Speedmaster as Calibre 863 is a Flyback chronograph movement (the first time I have heard that !!!) and when they dismantle the watch, the hands and the dial need to be separated from the movement and there is no guarantee that the same hands can be used again due to mechanical stress occurring during this process, hence she suggested to replace all the hands. I almost fainted ! I immediately went down to the servicing centre and picked up my watch. 

Following that terrible incidence, I immediately took steps to clear all my Breguet, Omega and Blancpain collection (all are under the Swatch group and share the same Servicing Centre). 

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