Omega Chronostop Calibre 865 – Service

Peter sent me this Omega Chronostop Geneve watch for a service and a bit of TLC. The watch is not keeping good time and has a “sticky” pusher.

This quirky vintage chronograph is powered by the Omega Calibre 865, and has an unmistakable design with a crown at 4, and a one pusher operated Chronograph complication. Omega Chronostop Service

 

Opening the watch reveals the Omega Calibre 865. Omega Calibre 865

 

Movement out of the case, dial and hands are in remarkably good condition on this watch, beautiful!

 

Starting disassembly with the dial side.

 

And then moving on to the upper side of the movement.Calibre 865 Chronostop

 

The chronograph parts have now been removed, and with the train and barrel bridges off you can see the “base” movement powering the watch.

 

The movement is now fully stripped down, ready for a cycle in the cleaning machine, and subsequent detailed inspection of the parts.Omega Calibre 865 Stripped Down

 

 

All is well with the movement parts, none have excessive wear, so it will be a straighforward re-assembly and lubrication service, with no parts being replaced other than the mainspring.

 

 

 

 

Upper balance end stone lubricated and back in place, with the spring about to be closed up on top of it. At this kind of magnification you can start to appreciate how everything is so well made and fits beautifully together!

 

 

 

Assembly of the train

 

Chronograph layer now being built.Omega Calibre 865 Service

 

And finishing with the dial side, ready for dial and hands to go back on the movement.

 

The watch had a stuck pusher, and upon disassembly it is not surprising to see why: the old gasket had turned into a sticky goo as they sometimes do.Omega Chronostop pusher

 

 

This can be quite tricky to clean up but I got there in the end.

 

 

 

The caseback gasket was also in poor condition, so it was replaced.

 

Omega Crystal

 

 

The watch has its original crystal on, it is heavily scratched but as it has the Omega logo in the centre, it’s definitely worth trying to save it.

 

 

 

And it worked, the original crystal looked great after a polish. Here is the watch, serviced, and working great again.Omega Chronostop

 

I would like to conclude this post by thanking Peter for sending me his beautiful Chronostop for a service. These watches are always a pleasure to work on.

 

 

 

 

4 Replies to “Omega Chronostop Calibre 865 – Service”

  1. A very interesting article, it’s good to appreciate the skill and work that is involved in getting these items back into top working condition.

Comments are closed.