Omega Seamaster 200 Cal. 1002 Bienne Service

flightmaster71 · 2011-03-30T19:26:45Z

See a vintage 70's Omega Seamaster 200 (Cal. 1002) restored by Omega Bienne. Flightmaster71 shares service details, before/after photos, and expert insights.

flightmaster71

WPS member · Omega forum

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Flightmaster71 shares his experience with a vintage 70's Omega Seamaster 200, detailing its journey through Omega Bienne for service. His post highlights the meticulous restoration process, particularly the case and movement, offering valuable insights for collectors considering official brand servicing for their vintage pieces. The discussion explores the nuances of vintage watch restoration and the availability of parts.

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Hello all,

some of you may remember when I got this watch last year. Well it developed a problem with the date mechanism in the 40 year old cal. 1002 movement and I decided to send it off to Omega Bienne for a service. After some less than confidence inspiring interactions with Swatch Group Australia I got assurances that the dial, bezel and hands would not be touched but that other necessary movement works, a new crystal and full water resistance measures would be attended to. Total time from authorisation of work to return of watch was 11 weeks. Not bad as that was bang on the exact estimated time. They also restored the case to it's former glory and you'll notice in the pictures how crisp the edges on the case work are now.

The restoration of the sunburst finish really shows nicely in Melbourne's bright Autumn sun:

As does the dial's mat slate grey almost black texture:

The case back which was marked from bad attempts at opening it by previous watch makers came up nicely as well:

I'm sure I have written here before about my love of the 70's pilot line cases as they have such an interesting wrist presence. Perfect size for me and such an interesting shape.

I find that I stare at it most often from this angel as that is how you see it casually from the wearer's point of view:

For those who understand the mechanicals, here are the replaced parts, and it is now running beautifully.

In fact the reason I didn't pose the hands at 10 to 2 in these shots is because I am timing her accuracy and did not want to change the time until I have a sense of it better. So far very accurate indeed. It was also nice of Omega to give me a new set of OEM spring bars, as the set that were on it were un-matched and not Omega issue. They were perfectly functional and I would not have know if they just returned the watch with them in it.

And now the watch is reunited with it's original box and instruction booklet to be preserved for another 40 years.

I hope you guys enjoy the pics.

Regards,

Zac

Key Points from the Discussion

Omega Bienne's service, including CNC machining, can achieve impressive case restoration, bringing back crisp edges and original finishes, as demonstrated by the before-and-after results on the Seamaster 200.
A full-on service for a vintage watch, even if not strictly necessary, establishes a reliable baseline for the timepiece, and in some cases, a restoration can cost less than acquiring a mint version.
Some vintage Omega parts, like those for the Flightmaster, are difficult to source independently, often requiring service through Omega directly as they no longer release them to independent watchmakers.
The sunburst finish restoration on the case is a specialized skill, and Omega Bienne's ability to perfectly continue radiating brush strokes over case edges is highly commendable.
The cost of Omega's vintage watch refurbishment is a common concern among collectors, with many seeking transparency on pricing for similar services.
It can be more cost-effective to buy a well-preserved vintage watch than to acquire a 'basket case' and invest heavily in its restoration, especially for models like the Flightmaster 910 or Seamaster 300.

The Discussion

Dr No

Mar 30, 2011

. . . of rejuvenation, especially when the hero is an Omega! I was at a local vintage dealer a few days ago, perusing his stash of '70s classics, including two 911 Flightmasters and a 176.005 Seamaster. All were fairly worn and nary a crisp edge, other than a Mk 4.5 Speedy. I've seen Bienne's work before, and it's reassuring to have a reminder of the level of restoration they're capable of achieving. Thanks, Zac . . . cordially, Art

grigo

Mar 30, 2011

and the watch just looks great. Best regards, George

flightmaster71

Mar 30, 2011

I was nervous about the case restoration as nothing would have been worse than to send it away and receive it back in a worse state with rounded edges etc. But rest assured Omega Bienne can work wonders with their CNC machines etc. Here is a pic of it before the restoration: Which really doesn't show the extent of the bad refinishing because consciously I tried to make the watch look as good as possible in the photo (as the shot was taken prior to making the decision to send it away not as a bef

aroma

Mar 31, 2011

a really lovely piece now. You sometimes do hear horror stories about Omega's refurbishment of vintage watches but I have had no direct experience - I don't suppose you'd mention the order of cost for all this - or is that something we don't do on this forum. I'd love to know as I may be doing the same thing in the near future. Cheers

Dr No

Mar 31, 2011

. . . one of those well-worn 911s from the vintage shop and restore it after seeing how well yours turned out . . .

mrsnak

Mar 31, 2011

For many of our older watches. Besides the case polish, how much else was replaced on this?

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Omega Seamaster 200 Cal. 1002 Bienne Service

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