[gambiting]

I recently had my Omega watch serviced, and it worked the same way - parts are X if you send them the old part in exchange, or Y if you want to keep the old part. I'm assuming they refurbrish the old parts and re-use them, seeing as 50-year old watches don't exactly have plenty of parts stock available.

[donthellbanme]

The Swatch Group is doing everything they can to get the consumer to send the watch back to the factory when it needs a Service, or repair. They claim it's for quality assurance, but it just a money grab. They want that after sale guaranteed income. They don't want parts on the secondary market so guys like myself (Watchmaker) can procure, and charge customers a fair price.

The Reichmont nonprofit does the same thing. (I love throwing in nonprofit status. I don't know how they get away with that business entity.)

(NCWAA has been fighting for access to parts since the 70's with zero progress.)

[gambiting]

I didn't have to send it back to factory - there is an authorized Omega workshop in my city, they can order all the original parts directly from Switzerland. The watch is even getting a new dial(50 year old "new" stock!) and yeah, Omega is just sending it to them on a replacement basis.