Dropped new Seamaster on tile floor. Does it need a service?

YVR785 · Jun 18, 2025

Long story short: was drying my watch at my office bathroom and it fell about three feet on to the tile floor.

It was a hard bang but the watch is miraculously running fine. One lug took some serious damage and the crystal appears slightly more elevated than before (not flush with bezel anymore).

Question: carry on or take it to the service centre for a diagnostic / water resistance test? Could there be invisible damage?

big case · Jun 18, 2025

let check the watch by timkeeper - perhabs everything is still ok

YY77 · Jun 18, 2025

YVR785
Could there be invisible damage?

Very certain there is damage. Read this link which may be helpful to have it checked out and repaired possibly without any charge:

https://omegaforums.net/posts/1947258/

Archer · Feb 28, 2022

Pius XIII
I just spoke with an OB manager and was informed that Omega will now honor accidental damages under the updated Omega warranty effective 3 weeks ago. The manager said yes, even accidental drops will be covered under warranty now.

Interestingly, an update to the customer care policy was released today. There is a section under accidental damage, and yes some minor things will be covered, but this is far from Omega covering everything.

"Our watches are perfectly suited to resist heavy shocks. All Omega watches are tested according to the official NIHS norms (Swiss watchmaking...

ErichPryde · Jun 18, 2025

Yeah- if your crystal is now sitting higher, that's (to me) a fairly serious concern. if it isn't seated you're asking for water intrusion! Definitely worth a trip to the spa.\

Also- super sorry to hear this happened, and best of luck getting it straightened out.

YVR785 · Jun 18, 2025

YY77
Very certain there is damage. Read this link which may be helpful to have it checked out and repaired possibly without any charge:

https://omegaforums.net/posts/1947258/

Archer · Feb 28, 2022

Pius XIII
I just spoke with an OB manager and was informed that Omega will now honor accidental damages under the updated Omega warranty effective 3 weeks ago. The manager said yes, even accidental drops will be covered under warranty now.

Interestingly, an update to the customer care policy was released today. There is a section under accidental damage, and yes some minor things will be covered, but this is far from Omega covering everything.

"Our watches are perfectly suited to resist heavy shocks. All Omega watches are tested according to the official NIHS norms (Swiss watchmaking...

Thanks for sharing. I’ll check with the service center.

ErichPryde
Yeah- if your crystal is now sitting higher, that's (to me) a fairly serious concern. if it isn't seated you're asking for water intrusion! Definitely worth a trip to the spa.\

Also- super sorry to hear this happened, and best of luck getting it straightened out.

Thanks, and I agree. I’ll get it checked out. Hopefully it’s just cosmetic and won’t need a $800 service. I’ll have to live with the external damage as a replacement case alone is $2,200 (per the OB).

And thanks for your words. Ruined my week given how much I babied the watch over the years only to have it drop on tile. The thing is definitely built tough though - I expected so much more damage.

Hope this serves as a reminder to everyone to not take your watches on/off often (especially when on a pin buckle strap and over hard flooring). I’ve never dropped a watch in my life but it just so happened in the worst way possible!

YY77 · Jun 18, 2025

YVR785
I’ll have to live with the external damage as a replacement case alone is $2,200

If it doesn't get covered by Omega warranty, any house insurance where you can put in a claim?

Not take your watches on/off often (especially when on a pin buckle strap and over hard flooring)

A deployant clasp could also be an option to make it safer to put on/take off the watch.

Meme-Dweller · Jun 18, 2025

YVR785
Hope this serves as a reminder to everyone to not take your watches on/off often (especially when on a pin buckle strap and over hard flooring). I’ve never dropped a watch in my life but it just so happened in the worst way possible!

Yup, this is why I always spend the extra $$$ to upgrade to the clasp version when available. I once had a ceramic Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon fall off my wrist when trying to put on the buckle. My heart stopped for a moment! Thankfully, it was on top of my bed. A clasp + strap will always be cheaper than a new case.

bsowers34 · Jun 18, 2025

Meme-Dweller
Yup, this is why I always spend the extra $$$ to upgrade to the clasp version when available. I once had a ceramic Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon fall off my wrist when trying to put on the buckle. My heart stopped for a moment! Thankfully, it was on top of my bed. A clasp + strap will always be cheaper than a new case.

That's part of the reason my Snoopy 50 is on a bracelet, I dropped it 3 times with the strap, luckily over carpet.

YVR785 · Jun 18, 2025

YY77
If it doesn't get covered by Omega warranty, any house insurance where you can put in a claim?

A deployant clasp could also be an option to make it safer to put on/take off the watch.

I’ll look into that but I doubt home insurance will cover this.

The watch wouldn’t have dropped if I had a deployant clasp. I usually always keep it on the bracelet too. Lesson learnt I guess.

Speed2Sea · Jun 18, 2025

I'm really sorry to hear you accidentally dropped your Seamaster. I hope you can get it repaired without too much expense. As an aside, last week, I had lunch with some friends on an outdoor patio who asked to see my Seamaster. I let them, but I told them to hold the watch over the table.

Knebo · Jun 18, 2025

Oh man, that sucks, sorry to hear.
There's two aspects:
1. damage to the case/bezel/crystal
2. damage to the movement.

Frkm what you're describing, we can be certain about No 1. You may be lucky that the movement (No 2) wasn't damaged.

If you bring it to Omega, they'll replace the case (etc) and force you to do a movement service as well, even if it's still fine.

I'd suggest yiu first have the movement checked on a timegrapher. If there's damage to the movement, it should be rather obvious (big daily deviation, low amplitude or large differences in rate between positions). But you may be lucky and the movement is fine.

If that's actually the case, you may consider a repair of the case only (bend lug back into place and fix the glass/bezel). There are few people around the world who can probably fix this. For example, check out VintWatches on YouTube. The guy is in Germany and very approachable.

YVR785 · Jun 18, 2025

Knebo
Oh man, that sucks, sorry to hear.
There's two aspects:
1. damage to the case/bezel/crystal
2. damage to the movement.

Frkm what you're describing, we can be certain about No 1. You may be lucky that the movement (No 2) wasn't damaged.

If you bring it to Omega, they'll replace the case (etc) and force you to do a movement service as well, even if it's still fine.

I'd suggest yiu first have the movement checked on a timegrapher. If there's damage to the movement, it should be rather obvious (big daily deviation, low amplitude or large differences in rate between positions). But you may be lucky and the movement is fine.

If that's actually the case, you may consider a repair of the case only (bend lug back into place and fix the glass/bezel). There are few people around the world who can probably fix this. For example, check out VintWatches on YouTube. The guy is in Germany and very approachable.

Thanks, very helpful reply. The movement appears to be okay. The watch is running exactly how it did before the drop but you’re right about a timegrapher settling the score.

The lug is damaged beyond repair unfortunately. It would take a magician to get it back to OEM.

All this sucks because the repair would cost $800 for the basic service (mandatory), $2,200 for the case and a few more hundred for the crystal. That’s about the same money for a used one on the market. I think it’s time to get a Casio and retire from this hobby for good lol.

redpcar · Jun 18, 2025

Pics of the damage?

Walrus · Jun 18, 2025

Meme-Dweller
Yup, this is why I always spend the extra $$$ to upgrade to the clasp version when available. I once had a ceramic Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon fall off my wrist when trying to put on the buckle. My heart stopped for a moment! Thankfully, it was on top of my bed. A clasp + strap will always be cheaper than a new case.

Ha ha I make it a point to put on my watch standing over the bed. I dropped one once while I was rushing luckily it hit a soft area rug and tragedy narrowly averted

STANDY · Jun 18, 2025

Last watch I dropped on a hard surface I was lucky enough to kick it down the hall with my foot to dampen the fall.

( Usually my Instinct being a ex-butcher is always to move my feet when I drop anything )

Knebo · Jun 19, 2025

YVR785
The lug is damaged beyond repair unfortunately. It would take a magician to get it back to OEM.

PLEASE do yourself the favour and at least ask the VintWatches guy. Some of his work is nothing short of magic. If you're not in Europe, there are also a few of these magicians elsewhere.

Why don't you post a picture of the watch/lug?

Larry S · Jun 19, 2025

it cost me several thousand dollars to learn the lesson you are now learning. Never off and on over a drop and hard surface. Nightstands are deadly as are door frames. Off to the spa.