I'm happy to announce that I received a replacement watch from Omega Tokyo yesterday via the local Omega boutique. All is good and my thanks and appreciation to everyone here for their valuable feedback. Otherwise, it could have been a nagging issue that never goes away every time I look at the watch.

My hats off to Omega and their customer service; especially helpful was the Retail Manager of the Swatch Group in Japan, who fully understood the problem and cooperated efficiently to insure my satisfaction.
The new arrival.
As I mentioned, issues can crop up with any brand but it's the way that it is handled thereafter that distinguishes its integrity and commitment to its customers.
Best Regards,
fernando