So basically I have a watch that requires specialist equipment to change the battery and needs to be sent away.
Every time it is sent away I risk it being 'cloned'
It depends where you send it. I only buy and have maintenance done at Micheal Spiers. I wouldn't send one of my Omegas off to some backstreet place...they could swap it for a good replica (£200) and then sell it for a grand. The papers and box etc can be copied also. Huge market in fake watches. A friend of mine owns about 5 replicas (and also the real ones), when he goes out at night he wears the reps in case he gets mugged or some girl he pulls nicks it.