The short version. A full service is a complete teardown and rebuild: clean everything, replace what is worn (always the mainspring), re-oil, regulate, reseal, pressure-test. Omega charges $1,000 for a steel mechanical chronograph with a 24-month warranty (verified on omegawatches.com, September 2026). A reputable independent runs roughly half — get current quotes.
On the bench, step by step
- Complete disassembly — the movement comes apart down to its plates, wheels, and springs.
- Cleaning — agitation and ultrasonic baths strip every trace of old lubricant and grime.
- Inspection — every pivot, jewel, and tooth checked under magnification.
- Replacement of worn parts — and a new mainspring as a matter of course. Omega returns the parts it replaced.
- Reassembly and lubrication — proper movement oils (Moebius and its peers), applied in microscopic, specified quantities at each friction point.
- Regulation — timed in multiple positions until the rate sits inside tolerance.
- New gaskets, case and bracelet ultrasonic cleaning, and a pressure / water-resistance test to close.
Why it matters
- Movement oils dry and congeal over time. Dry pivots and jewels then grind metal on metal.
- The damage is invisible until the watch is stripped — a watch can look fine and run acceptably while its bearings quietly wear. Moisture intrusion accelerates everything.
- This is the entire argument for servicing: you are not paying for the watch to run today, you are paying to stop invisible wear from becoming expensive parts replacement tomorrow.
Omega factory vs. independent
- Omega factory: $1,000 for a steel mechanical chronograph ($1,200 precious metal), 24-month warranty on the intervention. Expect weeks to several months — long waits are normal even for a simple caliber 1861.
- Independent watchmaker: typically around half the Omega price (older US data points run $275–$550; treat those as dated and get current quotes with trusted recommendations). Usually much faster — days to weeks.
- The collector's caveat: Omega refinishes cases and bracelets by default and may replace dial, hands, and bezel with service parts. On a vintage piece, decline refinishing in explicit writing on the work order — and know that even that may not guarantee compliance. More on this in When to service.