OMEGA Manuals / Operation / Battery & Failures

How does my OMEGA work? Especially when you talk about battery operated watches, OMEGA has a wide variation of different movements. All work differently, and many are not intuitive.

On this page, we share the main features of different calibers by OMEGA. We do that in text format, as OMEGA manuals are still under copyright by them. Also, correct batteries for each movement are mentioned and possible failures and what to do to resolve them (for professionals).

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Caliber 1332 / 1342 / 1343 /1345

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Caliber 1332:

The Caliber 1332 has two Features. A crown and a push button sitting ABOVE the crown and being integrated into the watch case.

Neutral position - no function.

Pull position - here you can turn the crown and set the hour hand ONLY. By doing this, you also change the date. Very interesting and often not mentioned you can turn the date forward or backward. This can safe you many many turns.

Push Button - always use a toothstick from wood. Never use a metal tool, also no pen and also no paper clamp. When you push shortly, the second hand moves single steps. Each push one move. Here you can really set the second hand very accurate. If you push the Button 5 seconds and hold it in push position, the second hand stops. if you than release the button and immediatelly push again, the second hand starts to circle around by this you also set the minute hand. The hour hand also MUST move during this operation.

VERY IMPORTANT - the push button is extremly sensitive to mechanical stress. Never push the button with extreme force otherwise it can get stuck in the case. And very very often than its damaged.

Battery use a VARTA 391.

Failures - most important is to really take care for the push button. We have seen watches being damaged by metal tools used to push the button. If the housing of the button is scratched by the tool it already can get stuck. This basically is almost impossible to repair. Also lost buttons can occure as they are holded only by a small rubber ring in the housing. If your watch does not work, first replace battery. The battery holder of the 1332 is extremly thin metal and can break. Ensure BOTH screws are opened when you start turning the holder to one side. Otherwise you can break the holder easily. If your watch still does not work replace the coil first or the platine in a later stage. If your second hand does not move correctly and does vibrate when you set the minute hand, the mechanical wheels need to be cleaned or replaced - very often a small dirt piece is blocking than the wheels.

Caliber 1342 & 1343

The caliber 1342 watches have a very specific crown. This crown can be pulled only one position and can also be pushed if it is in the neutral position:

Neutral position - no function

Pull position - here you can turn the crown and set the hour hand ONLY. By doing this you also change the date. Very interesting and often not mentioned you can turn the date forward or backward. This can safe you many many turns.

Pushing crown - always use a toothstick from wood. Never use a metal tool, also no pen and also no paper clamp. You damage the surface of the crown. When you push shortly, the second hand moves single steps. Each push one move. Here you can really set the second hand very accurate. If you push the crown 5 seconds and hold it in push position, the second hand stops. if you than release the crown and immediatelly push again, the second hand starts to circle around by this you also set the minute hand. The hour hand also MUST move during this operation.

The battery for the 1342 from the 70s is not available anymore. Instead you can take the battery called VARTA 329, its smaller than the original one. Place it in the middle of the carrier and fix it by the clamp (two screws). Normally it can stay in its position. There are sometimes small plastic spacers available, to place around the battery to fit it better. However we found out if the right and original clamp is used the battery spacer is not a must.

If your watch stops first replace the battery. If the watch does not work anymore either the step engine needs to be replaced or the platine. If your second hand does not move correctly and does vibrate when you set the minute hand, the mechanical wheels need to be cleaned or replaced - very often a small dirt piece is blocking than the wheels.

The caliber 1342 is a VERY reliable caliber. And if you take care for timely battery replacement you can have fun with your watch for a very long time.

Caliber 1345:

The Caliber 1345 has two Features. A crown and a push button sitting UNDER the crown and being integrated into the watch case. The Caliber is similar operated as the 1332 BUT is coming technically very close with the Caliber 1342!

Neutral position - no function.

VERY IMPORTANT - the push button is extremly sensitive to mechanical stress. Never push the button with extreme force otherwise it can get stuck in the case. And very very often than its damaged.

The battery for the 1345 from the 70s is not available anymore. Instead you can take the battery called VARTA 329, its smaller than the original one. Place it in the middle of the carrier and fix it by the clamp (two screws). Normally it can stay in its position. There are sometimes small plastic spacers available, to place around the battery to fit it better. However we found out if the right and original clamp is used the battery spacer is not a must.

Failures - most important is to really take care for the push button. We have seen watches being damaged by metal tools used to push the button. If the housing of the button is scratched by the tool it already can get stuck. This basically is almost impossible to repair. Also lost buttons can occure as they are holded only by a small rubber ring in the housing. If the watch does not work anymore either the step engine needs to be replaced or the platine. If your second hand does not move correctly and does vibrate when you set the minute hand, the mechanical wheels need to be cleaned or replaced - very often a small dirt piece is blocking than the wheels.

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Caliber 1611

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Caliber 1611

First of all there are various OMEGA calibers which Work similar like the Caliber 1611. However do not have a LCD section. So here we discuss just the Caliber 1611 for the OMEGA Chrono Quartz. First obvious remark - this movement/watch has NO second hand.

The analog movement works very similar to the Caliber 1342. But again has No second Hand:

Neutral position - No function

Pull one position - Here you can circle the hour Hand. And by this set the date too. You can also circle Backwards. VERY IMPORTANT this watch has NO second pull position and especially for the Chrono Quartz its important, that you dont pull further beyond the First Position of the crown. We have seen customer pulling the crown out. OMEGA has used several different stem fixation set ups during the production. However If you pull the crown out NEVER EVER push it back but consult a watch maker !

Push function - Push the crown by a toothstick to set the minute hand. Never use a pen or metal tool to not damage the surface of the crown.

LCD section. TOP Push button start and stop the LCD. Bottom Push Button reset to ZERO. Middle Push Button start to Push for intermediate times. Reset also by bottom Push Button.

This model can have various failure modes. Its a complex movement and one really needs deep Insights to repair it. Batteries you can use two types - we prefer VARTA 393. Not a Common battery - you need to order. You can use a smaller, less high battery - but this results in the need of modification of the battery clamp. We dont prefer that. As the clamp can break during that adaption. The Varta 393 is higher than the battery originally used in the 70s for this movement. If the battery clamp touches the inside of the watch case the watch shuts down fully. So use a thin clear tape than in the middle of the case back section as an isolation. This happens not often but also it depends how new, good the main sealing is. If it is worn out or too thin, a touch becomes more likely.

The Caliber 1611 is an extremely reliable movement. The Chrono Quartz Albatros a watch you can wear daily.

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Caliber 1620

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The Caliber 1620 is a LCD only watch. A broad range of OMEGA watches has been equipted with this movement. All starting with 186.00XX upto 186.0010. There was a Tritium Background technology movement also with 1621 number. But OMEGA decided to use a small bulp instead to light Up the display. This was a wise descision.

Button left top - This is the most important button. Press one time and you switch from seconds to date and back again. Press 3 Times and you come to stop watch mode. Press again 3 Times and you go out of stopwatch mode.

Button right top - Start and Stop the Stopwatch

Button right bottom - Reset

Button right middle - Light

Setting watch by integrated Button left Bottom. Press one time for each Digit and set by Button top left. Each time you press the integrated button, the digital changes to another position.

After Setting time, date and day. The Second remains in 00 mode. If you want to start the time you push top left Button and seconds start running.

Batteries use LR41 Two Times. One is for the watch and the other for the light.

There are various failures possible. However in my eyes all come from leackaged batteries, being either to cheap (no-name) or having not exchanged in time. Its utmost important you use high quality VARTA, Maxwell or even better ENERGIZER batteries. Dont safe 2 Euro on batteries. You will regret this. Especially with the Caliber 1620.

If light is dim often the correct sequence of plastic light diffuser and reflektor is wrong. The diffuser MUST be directly under the LCD. Many many watchmakers do that wrongly.

The Caliber 1620 is extremely reliable. As long as you take care for battery exchange in time!