Frequently asked questions

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General technical information

The quality standard for Master Chronometer calibres goes far beyond the COSC certification by which all watches are usually measured. Although COSC remains an integral part of the process, OMEGA has doubled its certification with a standard approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

METAS is the official authority of the Swiss government in all matters relating to measurements and measuring equipment and procedures. As a totally independent institute, METAS is at the forefront of measurement accuracy in Switzerland and is able to establish exact and impartial criteria for defining what accuracy really is. To be awarded with the title of Master Chronometer, a watch must pass the 8 rigorous tests established by METAS. For more information on METAS certification, click here.
Go to the Master Chronometer section of our website and enter the information reported on your Master Chromometer card.
There are 3 categories of tolerances for Master Chronometer watches:

0 to +5 seconds per day for movements with a diameter greater than 26 mm

0 to +6 seconds per day for movements up to 26 mm and over 20 mm in diameter

0 to +7 seconds per day for movements up to 20 mm in diameter
There are 2 categories of tolerances for COSC certified watches :

-4 to +6 seconds per day for movements with a diameter greater than 20 mm

-5 to +8 seconds per day for movements up to 20 mm in diameter
A chronograph is a watch with a permanent time display function and an independent mechanism that can be started, stopped and reset to measure time intervals.

The term "chronometer" refers to a watch whose movement accuracy has been certified according to the international standard ISO3159. This certification is carried out by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
Mechanical watches are driven by a mechanical movement. There are two types of mechanical watches, those known as automatic, which are wound by the movement of the wrist, and those known as manual, which are wound solely by means of the crown.
Quartz watches are powered by a battery.

Buying an OMEGA product

These are the most reliable ways to recognise an authentic OMEGA timepiece:
Counterfeit products are often offered on unreliable websites. OMEGA watches purchased from unauthorised sources might be damaged or counterfeited and may not benefit from a warranty. Therefore, you should only buy an OMEGA watch from an OMEGA Boutique or an OMEGA authorised retailer. If available in your country, our online shop is also a secured purchase channel.
Authentic OMEGA timepieces are supplied with a warranty card, duly completed with an 8-digit numeric or a 7-digit alphanumeric serial number, the watch reference, the purchase date and the retailer's full name and address.
Every authentic OMEGA timepiece has a unique serial number. For watches of the current collection, an OMEGA Boutique or an OMEGA authorised service centre will be able to tell you if your model corresponds to the serial number of the watch. Although this does not guarantee the authenticity of the timepiece, it is an important indication. In fact, OMEGA calibres cannot be replicated. Components such as the Co-Axial escapement wheel are exclusive to the brand. If the wrong movement is found inside a watch, it will prove that it is not an authentic OMEGA.
Moreover, if the watch is a certified Master Chronometer, it will not be affected by magnetic fields. By placing a magnet close to the timepiece, you can easily detect if it is authentic or not. A Master Chronometer watch will continue functioning normally, while a fake timepiece will stop ticking.
All new OMEGA watches are covered by a 5-year International Warranty.

The OMEGA International Warranty covers material and manufacturing defects existing at the time of delivery of the purchased OMEGA watch ("Defects").

The warranty is only valid if the warranty certificate is dated, fully and correctly completed and stamped by an authorized OMEGA retailer ("valid warranty certificate").

This warranty does not cover

• The life of the battery
• Normal wear and tear and ageing (e.g. scratches to the crystal; changes in the color and/or material of non-metallic straps such as leather, textile, rubber).
• Any damage to any part of the watch resulting from inappropriate/abusive use, lack of care, negligence, accidents (knocks, dents, crushing, broken glass, etc.), incorrect use of the watch and non observance of the operating instructions provided by OMEGA SA.
• Indirect or consequential damages of any kind resulting from the use, non-operation, defects, or lack of precision of the OMEGA watch.
• The OMEGA watch handled by an unauthorized person (e.g. for battery replacement, service or repair) or which has been altered in its original condition beyond OMEGA SA’s control.

E-commerce

All orders will be delivered within 2-5 working days, including collect from Boutique orders. Deliveries to UK offshore addresses may take longer. An additional 3 working days are required in case of a request for adjustment of the watch bracelet. Due to Brexit regulations and procedures, orders including alligator leather straps (CITES) may be delayed and delivered between 8 to 10 working days. Please allow additional processing time for orders placed on UK and Swiss Bank Holidays. At this time, we do not ship on Saturdays and Sundays.

For delivery by Christmas order by 17th December to receive your order in time. Please allow a couple extra days for watch orders that require a bracelet adjustment. For any orders containing alligator leather, we recommend ordering by 10th December to allow for the CITES customs procedures.
We are pleased to offer complimentary returns within 14 days of receipt of the order. For collect from Boutique orders, items can be returned within 14 days of the order arriving at the Boutique. The order can only be returned to Boutiques that offer the collect from Boutique option. The item must be returned in its original condition with its box and all the articles included in it, including any Refunds will be made in the same form as payment. To make a return, log into your My OMEGA account and follow the instructions. If you do not have an account, you can request a return by clicking here. For more information, please see our delivery and returns policy. Please note that we do not offer exchanges or credit notes.
As we are not a registered valuation service, we're not able to provide a valuation for previous models.

The value of an OMEGA watch can vary depending on numerous factors. These relate to working condition, general physical condition, sentimental value, along with rarity and the prevailing supply and demand for similar watch styles or models of the same type.

If you would like to have your timepiece valued accurately, then we would next recommend examination by an auction house, specialist jeweller or watch dealer of your choosing. For reasons of impartiality, we refer it to you to make your choice based on your own preferences or your location.
Yes, at checkout, you are able to select boutique pick up as a delivery option. Currently orders can be collected from our Regent Street and Royal Exchange OMEGA Boutiques in London. Your order will still ship directly from Switzerland to your chosen boutique and once ready for collection, you will be notified by email. If you choose to return the item, you'll still be able to do so within 14 days of it being collected. It may be returned to the original Boutique of collection or via courier arrangement.

Using your OMEGA watch

The winding of a watch with an automatic mechanical calibre depends on the movement of the wrist. If your watch has not been worn for several days or if your wrist movement is insufficient to guarantee automatic winding, the power reserve of your watch will be less than its maximum capacity. In this case, it is necessary to wind it manually, following the instructions given in the user manual.
The use of a watch winder can help you to ensure that the power reserve is within the calibre's specifications. This applies even if you don't wear your OMEGA timepiece daily or if your wrist movement is insufficient.
We recommend that you use a watch winder from the OMEGA leather goods collection. You can find more information about our leather goods here.
This document will help you to set the watch winder to ensure a power reserve according to the calibre specifications.
During OMEGA's homologation process, watches are tested to the limit. This includes shock tests to confirm the reliability of each timepiece and to ensure that its accuracy is maintained after a strong impact. All OMEGA timepieces are designed to withstand shocks equivalent to a one meter drop onto a hardwood floor. For a standard 150 g timepiece, this sudden and rapid acceleration represents an equivalent force on the watch head of up to 5,000 G.
Our watches are designed to withstand active sports such as golf and skiing. The optimum operating conditions for your timepiece are between 0°C (or 32°F) and 60°C (or 140°F). Use outside this temperature range may affect the performance of your watch. In addition, we recommend that you avoid exposing your timepiece to wide temperature variations.
All current OMEGA watches are water resistant to the depth defined by the model specifications, provided that the components ensuring the water resistance are intact. This means that an OMEGA watch that is water resistant to 30 metres can be worn for swimming at depths of up to 30 metres underwater for extended periods without restriction.
We would like to emphasize that the water resistance of a watch is ensured by gaskets placed between the crown, the pushers, the crystal, and the watch case. These gaskets deteriorate over time under the influence of external factors such as temperature variations, pollution or chemicals and must be regularly replaced to guarantee the water resistance of the watch.
In addition, heavy impacts on the crown, pushers or helium valve are known to affect the water resistance and should be avoided.
The following tips will help you keep your OMEGA watch water resistant:
- Have the water resistance of your watch checked once a year by an OMEGA authorised service centre
- Always rinse your watch with tap water after swimming in salt water
- If your watch is equipped with a screw-in crown, always screw it in after handling it
- If your watch is equipped with an unscrewed crown, push it back against the case in the wearing position to prevent moisture from entering the case
- Avoid operating the chronograph pushers under water to prevent infiltration into the movement. Exceptions: the Seamaster 300M and 600M chronographs are equipped with pushers that can be operated under water

Caring for your OMEGA

We offer a twenty-four (24) month warranty on each service performed by an OMEGA authorised service centre. In the event of a fault covered by the service warranty, we will, at our discretion and without cost, repair or replace any spare parts and/or rectify any faults as identified as such by our customer service. All other rights resulting from the faulty execution of our services are expressly excluded. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or damage caused by accidents, lack of care or negligence. This warranty is rendered void if the work is carried out on the watch by persons who are not authorised to do so by OMEGA SA.
The service frequency depends on the use of the watch and the environment in which it is worn. The water resistance can, for example, be affected by the aging of the gaskets or by an accidental shock. Therefore, we recommend that you have the water resistance checked once a year and a complete service performed every 5 to 8 years. Contact details of OMEGA authorised service centres are available here.
The life of a battery depends on the type of the watch and the use of its functions. Most of today's OMEGA quartz movements are equipped with an end-of-life (EOL) indication system. When the battery is nearly exhausted, the second hand will move in 4-second jumps. Although the watch will continue to function for a few days, we recommend that you have the battery replaced by an OMEGA authorised service centre without delay to reduce the risk of leakage which could damage the movement.
Before performing a service, our specialists will assess the condition of the watch.

If the movement and watch are head entirely built with the matching OMEGA parts, the timepiece is eligible for service.

If a watch contains counterfeit components or genuine OMEGA components which have been altered in appearance or function or which do not correspond to the OMEGA nomenclature, we may, at our sole and entire discretion:

• offer to replace such components with identical or similar genuine OMEGA components against payment
• refuse to perform the service or discontinue the service and return the watch

In the following circumstances, the service will be denied:

• absence of movement
• non-OMEGA movement

The service will be denied, and the timepiece might be confiscated if:

• the watch is a counterfeit
• the OMEGA watch is a prototype or marked “NOT FOR SALE”

Find information about the brand and our product

All watches purchased from OMEGA authorised retailers are authentic. They are supplied with a warranty card, which includes the 8-digit numeric or 7-digit alphanumeric serial number, the watch reference, the date of purchase and the full name and address of the retailer.
An authentic OMEGA watch has its own serial number. For pieces of the current collection, your nearest OMEGA Boutique or authorised service centre will be able to tell you whether your model matches the serial number on the watch. Although this does not guarantee the authenticity of the watch, it is an important indication. In fact, OMEGA calibres cannot be reproduced. Some components such as the Co-Axial escapement wheel are exclusive to the brand. If the timepiece is equipped with a different movement, it will prove that it is not an authentic OMEGA watch.

Moreover, if the watch is Master Chronometer certified, it will not be affected by magnetic fields. By placing a magnet near the watch, it is easy to detect whether it is authentic or not. A Master Chronometer watch will continue to function normally while a counterfeit will stop functioning.
The value of a pre-owned OMEGA watch may vary depending on its functional and aesthetic condition and the supply and demand for similar watches on the market. Prices also depend on factors specific to each country.

Watch assessment is a specialized field of expertise in which we are not active and therefore we cannot provide any information on this subject.

We recommend that you have your timepiece examined by an auction house or antique dealer of your choice.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some major auction houses:
- Sotheby's: http://www.sothebys.com/en/inside/locations-worldwide.html
- Christie's: http://www.christies.com/locations/
- Bonham's: http://www.bonhams.com/locations/
- Antiquorum: http://antiquorum.com/locations/
This information can be found on the warranty card that is given to you at the time of purchase. The serial number is also engraved on the back of our current watches, or on one of the lugs. For vintage watches, this information is usually engraved on the inside of the caseback and on the movement. OMEGA authorised service centres are available to assist you in retrieving this information.
Click here to enter the fascinating world of the brand and discover the key episodes in its history since 1848. From the Moon to the Olympic Games, OMEGA has left its mark on all the major events!

A visit to our museum is also a must for anyone who wants to learn more about OMEGA's past, present and future. Located at the brand's headquarters, this institution takes you through the captivating history of our House through atmospheric videos, exciting exhibitions and interactive experiences.
All the watches worn on the Moon were part of the Speedmaster collection and were equipped with the legendary calibre 321.

During the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 lunar missions, the astronauts wore Speedmaster model references ST 105.012 and ST 145.012.

Captain Eugene "Gene" Cernan also wore a Speedmaster ST 105.003 during the Apollo 17 mission.

The Speedmaster is still part of our current collection and has since become an icon in the watchmaking world.

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Frequently asked questions

Search Help

General technical information

Buying an OMEGA product

E-commerce

Using your OMEGA watch

Caring for your OMEGA

Find information about the brand and our product

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