I bought my Omega Seamaster 300m Mid 2551.80 in Feb 2001. I wore the watch almost every day from 2001 until 2010 when I joined the military, and had it serviced and refinished in 2005. It needs a full service and refinish again too, but that is for another thread.
It wasn't until recently that I pulled the box out of the safe and this is what I noticed. The watch box and manual/warranty card holder deteriorated inside the outer box. Has anyone else had this happen? It's not the end of the world, as I don't ever plan to sell this watch, but none of my other watch boxes have ever done this.
Yes this is common for boxes of that time period: my circa 2002 box looks the same. While I don't know for a fact, I suspect that this reaction may be caused by or catalyzed (accelerated) by a chemical that leaches out of the white foam it contacts. Because the deterioration and shedding always looks worse where you have contact or pressure points between the foam and box.
I've noticed that most of my recent Omegas shipped with a thin layer of tissue paper separating the foam from the red box. Perhaps this will help.
Overall - I wish Omega would simply ship a durable, natural leather (or varnished wooden) box, that we could expect to last as long as the watch will.
Yes - Omega boxes are notorious for decomposing. I have to say, I am really surprised that a watch sold at this price-point includes a box that is so, well, cheaply made.
I agree, it is my belief if you want to associate your company with quality and sophistication you don't put your item in a imitation leather box.
It should either be real leather, or utilitarian.
If you don't want to waste your customers money on items that do not increase the value of the item, then put the item in a sturdy cardboard box that will protect them in shipping and storage.
I don't know about all of you but the packaging has nothing to do with my watch selection.
Same thing happened to mine. I left it one summer in a wooden chest of drawers. The stupid box got stuck to the wooden board and it had to be pried out gently as it got stuck there. The drawer bottom still has some red material stuck to the wood........... now i call it "OMEGA RED".
& i fondly call the middle drawer of my cabinet the Omega drawer :-d
My older Omega box is doing the same, it's kinda sad to see the 20 years old Rolex leather box is doing better than the new Omega faux leather box of few years old.
A real leather or polished wooden box would be a great alternative like some of you said, the wooden AT box looks fantastic.
Comparitively, your boxes fared quite well... From feedback I have received, the closer to the tropics you are, the worse they survive..
I'm in two minds.. Would I pay an extra $100 (most probably $200+) for a decent Omega Watch box, or take it as it is. Even the New Boxes are pretty ****e, when compared to a Pam, or similarly classed watch. Even my Sinn's have a better box!!
So, pay the extra, or put up with plastic and cardboard!!
Maybe then it is better to put some moisture absorbing dessicadent gel packets is the solution to saving these boxes. We do the same for our certain product shipments to save them from moisture and the elements even if they are going in a sealed container.
fwah..that doesn't look too bad..when i dug out the box of my speedy in 2013 which i purchased new in 2006, it had "shed" and parts of it were covered in mold (thanks to the high humidity here) even though it wasn't exposed to moisture. The leather card holder within the box was also moldy...everything went into the trash, except for the cards.
Unbelievable... Due to health and safety precautions, you are forced to throw away a couple of hundred dollars worth of value, from your valued Omega watch... If perchance, you ever wish to sell it.
Well if they want they dont even have to use real wood (at least for their cheaper models) but it can easily be made to look like real wood!!! I have seen examples......maybe compressed wood with some sort of waterproof veneer............Someone please call up Omega and advise their customer care.....
Authenticity check right there! spot on for a 'mega box.
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