just as you said, was:Re: Beginner´s concern: loose part in Omega ?

[Harald Reinholdt]

Hello Forum.

I am a beginner in mechanical watches, so i hope this question isnŽt too
ridiculous:

Since a few weeks i own a DeVille Prestige Chronometer with the Omega 1120
movement. The watch works very well but i have a slight concern:

When i hold the watch display vertical / crown right and shake it a little
back and forth there seems a little "play" in the direction of the rotorŽs
axle. Of course i donŽt mean the somehow metallic scratchy sound of the
rotor, when rotating in itŽs meant (horizontal) direction. It seems, that
some parts whithin the watch are allowed to move 0,5 mm ?!

BTW: all the 3 of my (cheap) mechanical automatic Swatches show a similar
behaviour. I thought this beeing normal because of the plastic body of this
watches.

But as far my Omega is concerned: is this a normal thing in watchmaking and
has something to do with the ability of the movement / the metallic parts to
compensate different temperatures ?

Any hints that could dissipate my concerns welcome :-)

Thank you
Harry

[Jack Denver]

The rotor is mounted on ball bearings and yes there is some free play in it,
partly as it would require design effort to remove the free play (ball
bearing joints are naturally "floppy") and partly because the free play is
beneficial in that it helps to absorb shocks - think of the difference
between a flexible tree that waves in the wind vs. a rigid pole that will
just snap when subjected to force.

All the Swatch group watches that are ETA based including your Omega (which
is derived from the ETA 2892) have similar autowinding systems and exihibit
similar free play. If they are autowinding on your wrist, there is nothing
wrong with them.

This has nothing to do with expansion and contraction as a result of change
in temperature. Although temperature stablity of the balance and hairspring
was (until the invention of Invar and other temperature stable alloys) a big
issue, it has no meaningful effect on the autowinding system.

Post by Harald Reinholdt
Hello Forum.
I am a beginner in mechanical watches, so i hope this question isnŽt too
Since a few weeks i own a DeVille Prestige Chronometer with the Omega 1120
When i hold the watch display vertical / crown right and shake it a little
back and forth there seems a little "play" in the direction of the rotorŽs
axle. Of course i donŽt mean the somehow metallic scratchy sound of the
rotor, when rotating in itŽs meant (horizontal) direction. It seems, that
some parts whithin the watch are allowed to move 0,5 mm ?!
BTW: all the 3 of my (cheap) mechanical automatic Swatches show a similar
behaviour. I thought this beeing normal because of the plastic body of this
watches.
But as far my Omega is concerned: is this a normal thing in watchmaking and
has something to do with the ability of the movement / the metallic parts to
compensate different temperatures ?
Any hints that could dissipate my concerns welcome :-)
Thank you
Harry

[Harald Reinholdt]

Jack, thank you for this answer. I want to believe this, and the explanation
makes sense to me. Please donŽt be angry that i posted a similar question in
the omega-brand forum of www.timezone.com.

There the predominant opinion is, that thereŽs a loose clamp that holds the
movement in the body.

For example: http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=950545&rid=0

I think i am going to see my jeweller - his watchmaker respectively :-)

Thank you again.
Harry

[Honest John]

Please donŽt be angry that i posted a similar question in
the omega-brand forum of www.timezone.com.


Do we look like guys that would get angry with anyone ?

NAAAH...

[Jack Denver]

Every single watch you own (all 5) can't have loose clamps. I believe those
who answered you misunderstood what you were hearing/seeing. You should take
the watch to the jeweler just to put your mind at ease, but I'll be
extremely surprised if there is anything wrong with it.

Let us know either way.

Post by Harald Reinholdt
Jack, thank you for this answer. I want to believe this, and the explanation
makes sense to me. Please donŽt be angry that i posted a similar question in
the omega-brand forum of www.timezone.com.
There the predominant opinion is, that thereŽs a loose clamp that holds the
movement in the body.
For example: http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=950545&rid=0
I think i am going to see my jeweller - his watchmaker respectively :-)
Thank you again.
Harry

[Harald Reinholdt]

Hi Jack, hello all

IŽve been at my jeweler / watchmaker and to make it brief: yes, the metallic
clicking sound, when moving the watch (dial vertical / crown right) in the
direction "back and forth" comes from the ball bearing of the rotor. The
rotor of this movement is allowed to move a little in the direction of the
steel back. The watchmaker opened the watch and showed it to my, by gently
pushing the rotor near the ball bearing opposite the rotor mass. Then one
could see that the rotor isnŽt tight fixed in itŽs rotating plane.

The jeweler took three other watches off his shop window, that all have the
ETA 2892-2 derivated movements like my omega. They made similar sounds,
given the different masses of their cases.

So, everything is like it should be :-) Nevertheless an interesting
investigation

Harry

Post by Jack Denver
Let us know either way.

[Jack Denver]

So much for the "experts" on the Omega forum.

I know this is your new "baby" and it is natural to be concerned that you
got your money's worth and not a defective watch, but try to be more relaxed
about it in the future. I'm sure the jeweler was polite this time (more than
polite in taking the time to show you all those things), but if you keep
visiting him with "problems" that aren't real you will wear out your
welcome.

Post by Harald Reinholdt
Hi Jack, hello all
IŽve been at my jeweler / watchmaker and to make it brief: yes, the metallic
clicking sound, when moving the watch (dial vertical / crown right) in the
direction "back and forth" comes from the ball bearing of the rotor. The
rotor of this movement is allowed to move a little in the direction of the
steel back. The watchmaker opened the watch and showed it to my, by gently
pushing the rotor near the ball bearing opposite the rotor mass. Then one
could see that the rotor isnŽt tight fixed in itŽs rotating plane.
The jeweler took three other watches off his shop window, that all have the
ETA 2892-2 derivated movements like my omega. They made similar sounds,
given the different masses of their cases.
So, everything is like it should be :-) Nevertheless an interesting
investigation
Harry

Post by Jack Denver
Let us know either way.

[Harald Reinholdt]

Jack, youŽre perfectly right. The next time heŽll see me is when iŽm
pressing my nose aganist his shop-window looking out for new beautiful
watches.

Bye from Hannover, Germany

Post by Jack Denver
So much for the "experts" on the Omega forum.
I know this is your new "baby" and it is natural to be concerned that you
got your money's worth and not a defective watch, but try to be more relaxed
about it in the future. I'm sure the jeweler was polite this time (more than
polite in taking the time to show you all those things), but if you keep
visiting him with "problems" that aren't real you will wear out your
welcome.

[Honest John]

Jack, youŽre perfectly right. The next time heŽll see me is when iŽm
pressing my nose aganist his shop-window looking out for new beautiful
watches.

Thatta boy....Harold !

[John S.]

And most importantly enjoy that new watch. That is a fine looking
model with a high quality movement from a company with an excellent
reputation.

Jack, you´re perfectly right. The next time he´ll see me is when i´m
pressing my nose aganist his shop-window looking out for new beautiful
watches.
Bye from Hannover, Germany

Post by Jack Denver
So much for the "experts" on the Omega forum.
I know this is your new "baby" and it is natural to be concerned that you
got your money's worth and not a defective watch, but try to be more

relaxed

Post by Jack Denver
about it in the future. I'm sure the jeweler was polite this time (more

than

Post by Jack Denver
polite in taking the time to show you all those things), but if you keep
visiting him with "problems" that aren't real you will wear out your
welcome.

[Harald Reinholdt]

Hi there.

Yes, i really do. BTW: stainless steel, black dial and black leather strap.
I love that sound of the 4 Hz movement :-)

http://www.omega.ch/omega/co_watch?ID=36105&line=118&gen=G&sublineID=379

Fun story: when i bought the watch, 3 jewelers said, they wonŽt be able to
get the watch anymore, because Omega only wants to sell the Co-Axial
movements. "My" jeweler was told that there were "5 watches left" in
Switzerland. I canŽt quite believe this. Anyone heard of sth. similar ?

Bye, Harald

Post by John S.
And most importantly enjoy that new watch. That is a fine looking
model with a high quality movement from a company with an excellent
reputation.

[Mark South]

Post by Harald Reinholdt
Yes, i really do. BTW: stainless steel, black dial and black leather strap.
I love that sound of the 4 Hz movement :-)
http://www.omega.ch/omega/co_watch?ID=36105&line=118&gen=G&sublineID=379
Fun story: when i bought the watch, 3 jewelers said, they wonŽt be able to
get the watch anymore, because Omega only wants to sell the Co-Axial
movements. "My" jeweler was told that there were "5 watches left" in
Switzerland. I canŽt quite believe this. Anyone heard of sth. similar ?

Well, I was wandering through Geneva this afternoon, idly looking in the windows
of the jewellers (as one does) and I saw loads of Omegas. (I wasn't looking out
for Omega, but I am in the process of deciding whether I like the new
Constellations. I'm starting from a position of instinctively not liking the
heavy claws.)

I saw all sorts of co-ax and non-co-ax models. In fact, I saw 3 of the DeVille
automatics like yours (different dials, one was the black one) in a single
window.

So no, Switzerland hasn't run out of watches, or Omegas, or non-co-axial Omegas,
or even non-co-axial DeVilles. It's even a safe bet that there are more than 5
in any of the aforementioned sets.

[j***@gmail.com]

Post by Harald Reinholdt
Hello Forum.
I am a beginner in mechanical watches, so i hope this question isn´t too
Since a few weeks i own a DeVille Prestige Chronometer with the Omega 1120
When i hold the watch display vertical / crown right and shake it a little
back and forth there seems a little "play" in the direction of the rotor´s
axle. Of course i don´t mean the somehow metallic scratchy sound of the
rotor, when rotating in it´s meant (horizontal) direction. It seems, that
some parts whithin the watch are allowed to move 0,5 mm ?!
BTW: all the 3 of my (cheap) mechanical automatic Swatches show a similar
behaviour. I thought this beeing normal because of the plastic body of this
watches.
But as far my Omega is concerned: is this a normal thing in watchmaking and
has something to do with the ability of the movement / the metallic parts to
compensate different temperatures ?
Any hints that could dissipate my concerns welcome :-)
Thank you
Harry