[Closed] Automatic watches ... How robust are they? Omega Seamaster interest

If you're paying more than £1 for a watch that won't withstand that, then you will have been ripped off 🙂

On a side note, I jumped in the bath with the mrs last weekend after spending a few days wild camping. Still had my Suunto Core on, which she bought for me. She went in a right mood because I'd "wrecked" the watch. She didn't realise that an outdoor bombproof watch which has a compass, altimeter, barometer etc (oh yeah, and can tell the time), also tended to be waterproof. Who would have thought it eh? 😉

Automatic? The last time I seen a watch that didn't move it's hands automatically, it was broken.

My Dad has an automatic Seamaster from 1964 - never been serviced in that time and still works well. It will be fine with the activities you suggest.

However, I have a modern Seamaster, and I take it off for sports because it's just a bit too bulky. Something to consider. It is pretty rugged though.

Speedmaster owner here - automatic - I don't ride wearing mine - really should not be an issue but, having dropped it twice 🙄 once fixed under warranty, the second time at the cost of a service - think that was approaching £300?? - I tend not to take a chance on it anymore....
should add - both 'drops' were kitchen table / worktop to tiled floor so, not exactly a small drop with cushioned landing, I figure that would test most analogue watches....

I have a Seamaster Planet Ocean,I too was worried about the knock's and jolts.I've now had it for 2 years and wear it most of the time(riding pub bike including a few crashes!)been jogging with it on and it has been fine.Although as cheshirecat said they are rather bulky and heavy.I did find that they also scratch quiet easily.

Just buy a gshock for all of that and buy a smart watch to wear out. I've got a Breitling but I wear the G shock nearly all of the time.

I've got a Rolex Submariner and I never wear for any sports as it might get damaged and repairs are very expensive. Stick with the Casio for sporting activity and wear the expensive automatic for showing off - much like Chelsea tractors and offroading.

I use my Monaco every day regardless of the activity. Just found this paragraph from their gumph.

The Monaco Twenty Four Calibre 36 Chronograph is able to withstand an impact of 24,000 G, the equivalent of a 65-foot fall, compared with the industry standard of 2,000 – 5,000 G, or a three-foot fall. These additional safeguards ensure the Monaco and its components will remain unscathed whether the wearer is skydiving from 15,000 feet or attending a very enthusiastic business meeting.

My Submariner is now over 20 years old and I've never done anything special with it regards sports. It's a watch, just blimmin wear it 🙂

i've been wearing my sea dweller for 6yrs now, don't ride with it because it doesn't allow me to do up my glove but every other minute it's on my wrist, auto tool watches are designed to take the knocks, buy it wear it, simples..

Got two Seiko automatics, both diver's watches. They've stood up to anything thrown at them for the last 10 years, so an Omega for 10 - 15 times the price should do too.

I've got a Seiko and a very nice Tissot automatic but I ride with a light charged/radio signal accurate G-shock mainly since its lighter and bombproof - with hands too!

The only thing there that makes me wonder a bit is the tennis - but then you would normally wear the watch on the other hand from the one you use to hold a racquet.
I know golf is not a good idea and automatic watches don't hold up to that; personally I'd be a bit wary about wearing it while riding too, just because of the risk of wiping out and making a real mess of things.

But in terms of actual durability, those sound fine.

The only time I take my Sub off is for mountain biking; it's just not comfortable in really choppy conditions.

Otherwise it does everything else with me.

golf breaks automatic watches? Really? Another good reason to leave those sticks alone.

I've got a Seiko Tuna 300m from Japan not cheap but not Rolex or Omega money, can wear it for everything including numerous scuba dives, tough as old boots. I like the fact I don't have to think about it.

I have anautomatic Seamaster. I wouldn't wear it for any of the activities listed in the OP. I've got a G-Shock for that.

IIRC the advice from Omega is don't wear it where it can be jolted. Squash, Golf etc.

to continue the willy waving , i have a Paneri Luminor Marina & i take it off whenever i bike play sports its far too lovely to scratch/ruin.

As above i have a G shock or a heart rate watch for activity .. There should be watches for show and watches for go ! 🙂

Sorry not much help !

ive had a ltd seamaster for over 10 years now...only take it off for bedtime but have it on all the time otherwise...mtb/diving/road cycling havent damaged it....i think the first and only scratch came from me tripping up....i wouldnt recommend golf though! (just generally like) the best thing ive ever bought...just wear it

This is my Yokobies mod Seiko 5 automatic: [IMG] [/IMG]

This is the standard watch:
[IMG] [/IMG]

I'd have no qualms about wearing it on my bike, I wear it to work, the only thing I have reservations about
is water resistance, as it doesn't have a screw-down crown. If you have that much of a problem, you can get a really neat G-Shock with solar power for £50, mine cost $144.

I Have a Brietling automatic, have worn it for mountain biking, dinghy sailing, sailing, tennis, diving, swimming, general ****ting about and it's fine. Really they should be. I will admit that I do take it off for mountain biking, but thats more to do with comfort (it's quite heavy and I get a chaffed wrist) than worry about breaking. Doesn't keep as good a time as a £10 casio I have though! Wore a Seiko Titanium for all of the above prior to that, and it was also fine.

You'll be fine, it'll just be a bit heavy for mountain biking, reminding you it's there and making you feel uncertain as to whether you should take it off to save from breaking it.

I prefer not to check the time when I'm mountain biking though.

I have had an automatic sea aster for the past ten years and it has barely left my wrist. In that time it's been white water kayaking, mountain and road biking, skiing, running etc' in fact everything I've done really. And yes, it's fine for tennis and golf as well if you can consider my cackhanded attempts at those sports as actually playing them.

So yes, just get on with it.

Well aint I glad that I didnt get an expensive Omega and I also plumped for the Seiko auto as pictured but in cheaper desert storm colour way. So far its been crashed bashed ridden sub zero and soaked at speed-keeps good time too.

I've got a Tag Link and wear it for everything except cycling. More because it chafes my wrist than any other reason.

Automatic watches need to be calibrated - which is dependent on your "average" level of physical activity - which is what winds the watch.

Wearing a self-winder for jogging and tennis isn't going to do anything for its accuracy, which as someone else has already pointed out, isn't nearly as good as a £10 Casio.

What about throwing a ball and frisbee for the dog? Is that going to knacker my auto Stowa?

I treated myself to an automatic Omega Seamaster in 2005. Always wanted one as I liked the style ect and wanted a tough dependable watch that was accurate and battery free. Within 24hrs I ate s**t on a descent at Afan and scratched the bracelet! I wore it every day for everything. Gardening, riding, tree felling, hammering ect. Only took it off for boxercise due to punching the bags. I really liked the styling, it's weight, colour (had a black one) and it's build quality. But, as much as I loved it, there were a few problems. Firstly it was never very accurate. It would lose more time than quoted in the handbook as being acceptable. Secondly the pins kept snapping. First time round I was felling in one of our woodlands when it dropped off my wrist whilst using the chainsaw. Luckily it landed on my boot otherwise I would have never of found it in the undergrowth. Unfortunately the second time was winter before last and it slipped off my wrist when we had all that snow. Someone got lucky when the snow melted. Currently have a solar powered G-shock that keeps it's self updated time wise. Would I have another one or something similar again? Yes, but only for light duties/best.

Bought the limited Sea master for casino royal film slightly different face etc all individualy numberd.
great watch & never asked of is it a FAKE !! all going great for 4 years wear it in the sea on holiday etc never take it of until one day, groan... dropped it on a tiled floor and it stopped instantly.

Thank god for contents insurance, £400 to be sorted but also a full service polished strap fully cleaned etc like new.

Wouldn't hesitate to buy another but not drop the blooming thing !

Cheers

Mark

I have an automatic sea master, I've had it for about 10 years. I've worn it for all sorts of activities, mountain biking, swimming, snowboarding etc, and its been fine. Its a bit battered looking these days, but works fine still.

I've never bothered having it serviced either , it still keeps pretty accurate time , not as accurate as my £50 gshock though, but that shouldnt surprise anyone.

I have an automatic seamaster too. I wouldn't wear it biking as it's too heavy and that's how I came across it! Found it buried in mud while on a night ride (pin had fallen out of the bracelet), about 8 years ago though so not yours Marin.

I tend to wear a cheap timex digital mostly these days for the stopwatch while running, but I wore the seamaster every day (except when riding) for years without any major issues, although it did lose a bit of time but hadn't been serviced for years.

I eventually had to get it serviced after stopping a fierce shot while playing footy (in goal). The shot was so hard I thought I'd broken my wrist and the watch started gaining about 15 minutes every hour 🙂

thanks all and makes sense. I have had my Seamaster for 6 years now, and never considered taking it off and it's been v accurate until recently, the chrono pin got stuck. Sent it to an independent but registered Omega specialist, and since then, it seems to be gaining up to 10 secs per 24 hrs. Sent it back to the service centre as thought this was unreasonable, and worse than pre servicing, and they've recalibrated it so it's slightly better but not much. That's what got me wondering if I maybe am heavy handed with it!

Out of interest, what sort of accuracy are others getting on their autos?

A couple of winters ago I found an old Seamaster Automatic, little bit scratched but works a treat. I guess someone must have dropped it in the snow.

Out of interest, what sort of accuracy are others getting on their autos?

Mine drops 6 seconds a day (99.993% accurate), which is still within tolerance.

I used to wear another watch with a metal bracelet when riding. I had a nasty fall (broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder) and the impact on my wrist, as my hand was the first bit of me to hit the ground, pulled the watch apart. The pins didn’t fail but the strap was elongated and badly mangled. The watch itself never worked again.

Cheap watches with rubber straps for bike rides now.

£35 Swatch that I bought from the airport a few years ago.

Fit and forget, as its very slim compared to the majority of watches you don't notice it while wearing it, face can get marked if you fall off etc but they seem to wear out over time.

I would like a fancy watch for best, my girlfriends working at a jewellers now, so I might make use of her massive discount.

as others have said, i wear my Seamaster most of the time except biking as too heavy when bouncing around. Cheap casio for riding and swimming

I've had my Omega Seamaster Auto for about 3 years now and had a few issues with it. It's actually away getting repaired at the moment following a 'bump' that ended up with it running fast. The thing is on this occasion I cant remember ever 'bumping' it! This is the 3rd time it's been back to the shop for a 'service'. I'm really thinking of trading it in and getting a Quartz one as the cost to repair it could fund loads of bling on the bike! In fairness up till now it's worn all the time which includes circa 80 road miles a week and 40 off road miles. I guess like us all I've had my fair share of unexpected meetings with terra firma, but going forward I'm going to join the £5 timex crowd and put Omega in a nice box when I'm out and about on the bike.

What previous people have said really, I have a battery powered seamaster bought in 2001. It's only been off for the battery change every 5 years.

I've DIY'ed 3 houses, changed engines in cars, all sorts of sports, diving, the watch appears to be indestructable and never loses time. I take it off on the bike purely for comfort but I have ridden with it and doesn't seem to do any damage.

I dropped the head from a 3.5l BMW on my wrist (ouch) and took a chunk out of the bezel detail but the sapphire glass didn't even scratch.

They're more than twice the price I paid for the same watch though....

I've got an Oris automatic which I have had for about 7 years. very robust but wouldnt wear it for anything like running or biking because it is heavy and would bounce against your wrist.

If I wanted to tell the time however I would go for a battery powered watch my Oris and my mates Rolex keep diabolical time!!!

my dad has a speedmaster (admittedly a manual wind) and it survived a pretty good crash in Mammoth mountain about 15 years ago. Still worn and works fine everyday, but did get a little scuffed. That polished out though!

rosscopeco - Member

<snip> but going forward <snip>

Titter.... 😀

Before reading the posts by some of the Omega owners, I'd have said wear an Auto just as you would a quartz.

I own several Autos and never give them a thought when on any of my bikes.

Again, any activity, working on cars, bikes, DIY, whatever.
The watches are worn.
They get dropped and knocked about will no ill effect.

I have an Omega De Ville from the early noughties, one of the earliest mass run models with a Co-Axial movement.
Its Chronometer rated, keeps great time and is worn without regard for whatever I'm doing.
I'd suggest a Co-Axial movement as they are supposed to require less servicing and are more accurate.

I've a Breitling Chrono Colt from the late 90s.
Tough as old boots, taken loads of bangs and wallops.
Doesn't miss a beat.
But servicing intervals are about 3 years, constant wear.
Last service was Dec, at 385 GBP.

My suggestion to the OP is that if you buy an Auto, then wear it all the time.

I'm going to join the £5 timex crowd

For the same price you could get one of [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_F91W ]these.[/url]
The timepiece of choice for all discerning jihadis.

Solo and others ... how accurate - roughly how many secs are your watches gaining / losing per 24 hrs?

Aus - hard to say as I've never really paid that much attention. I usually set it when it gets to about 5 minutes out which is maybe every other month.

Edit to add: Other than when it proper broke and started gaining time it's always lost it. I always assumed this was to be expected of a self winding watch.

golf breaks automatic watches? Really?

I learned this the hard way, unfortunately; the verdict from the official service centre was that it had had "a serious impact", which basically stopped it from winding.

Makes me laugh/ groan every time I see Rolex sponsoring golf tournaments...

Aus.

Firstly, I do not own auto watches for ultimate accuracy.
We have atomic clocks for that.
😀

Ime, each Manufacturer should quote their accuracy for any given calibre.

For example. My Breitling, being a Chrono[b]graph[/b], was rated by Breitling as not gaining or lossing more than 5 mins a month.
After the first service, the watch was gaining more than this.
I returned it to my jeweller, explained that the watch was out of spec according to Brietling's own literature, and Breitling duely corrected this, FoC.

The movement in my De Ville is rated as a Chrono[b]meter[/b].
I forget the exact accuracy as quoted by Omega, but have the feeling that it is losing / gaining seconds a week, rather than upto 1 in 15 sec, as the breitling would.

As you will know, this is the principle reason for the price difference between Chronographs and meters.

I'm seriously contemplating a Jeager Le Coultre reverso.
Lady luck is about to ride into town and I have wanted a reverso for a long time.
Jaeger are again, slightly unique, quoting their calibres by their own 1000 hour standard.

Basically, do some research into the calibre you want and ascertain its rated accuracy.
Also get some idea of servicing costs, if that is a consideration for you in the future.