Andre Fleury - Swiss Watch Company
Quality and service since 1968
Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega, Tiffany & Co., Longines, Rado, Union Glashütte, Tissot, ck watch & jewelry, Balmain, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Swatch, Flik Flak, Endura and Tourbillon.
Luxury Swiss watch companies under investigation
For anti-trust, anti-competitive practices that include:
Monopoly, Price fixing, Tying arrangement, allocation of costumers, Fraud, Deceit.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/952&type=HTML
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE
"Antitrust: Commission investigates luxury watch manufacturers:
Brussels 5 August - The European Commission has opened formal anti-trust proceedings to investigate an alleged refusal by several luxury watch manufacturers to supply spare parts to independent repairers, in breach of EU competition rules".
Swatch group U.S. closing thousands of independent watchmakers parts accounts
An Omega course is offered to watchmakers in the U.S. by Swatch. However the Omega course is not just offered but tied to spare parts availability not solely from Omega but all companies owned by Swatch. This is done regardless of the qualifications of the watchmakers.
Mrs. Faivet, President/CEO Swatch U.S. states: "We put our Service Provider Training Program in place in October 2010 for the purpose of protecting the goodwill of the Swatch Group brand names. With this purpose in mind, the program allows us to assess the skills of all watchmakers who have, or desire, parts purchasing privileges for the applicable brands of our Group. The Program provides these watchmakers with the latest training techniques and skills to best service the customers and products of our Group."
That latest training is how to lubricate what Omega assert shouldn't be lubricated!!! The co-axial escapement.
Http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/watchmaking/co-axial/the-escapement.
"The Co-Axial system reduces sliding friction compared with the lever escapement, virtually eliminating the need for lubrication."
http://www.omegawatches.com/spirit/watchmaking/co-axial/how-it-works
"In contrast, the Co-Axial Escapement transmits energy using tangential forces provided by the components' radial movements. Its very short sliding movement considerably reduces the contact surfaces and, therefore, the friction in the escapement. As a result, the escapement function is similar to that of a gear wheel meshing with a tooth, which means that it is unaffected by lubrication (a mere protective film on the tip of the escapement wheel teeth is sufficient to preclude wear and tear) and thus ensures a stable rate over the long term."
Omega own statements as fact about the co-axial lubrication
