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HELP! Planet Ocean stuck on wrist

A
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Hi. I could use this forum’s wisdom here: my wife has a Planet Ocean 39.5mm steel on steel (215.30.40.20.04.001). She wears it daily and last night, for unknown reasons the clasp is jammed and, as a result, she cannot take the watch off. Were away for a long weekend so we don’t have any tools with us. Any advice?

We were planning on going o a local watch shop to ask them undo one of the link screw and get the bracelet off that way. Any other ideas? Is this a known issue with an easier, DIY solution that I’m unaware of?
Thanks!
 
Yehoshua
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THAT has been a concern to me. And it really happens I see.
 
blufinz52
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Go to a hardware store and buy an inexpensive hack saw. Carefully cut the bracelet with the saw and purchase a NATO strap.
 
Wetworks
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Try soaking it in very warm, soapy water for awhile? Sounds like something could be gunking it up
 
Donn Chambers
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There have been reports of this happening with Seamaster Pro 300m clasps, and Omega has been replacing these under warranty. Looks like something similar has happened here.

Your idea of going to a jeweler to remove the screws and a link is the best one — please don’t try the hacksaw idea (which hopefully was said tongue in cheek).

Then contact Omega about having a warranty repair on the clasp — assuming it is still under warranty.

Think I’m going to travel with a small screwdriver from now on, just in case!
 
Yehoshua
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A Andtylertooth
Hi. I could use this forum’s wisdom here: my wife has a Planet Ocean 39.5mm steel on steel (215.30.40.20.04.001). She wears it daily and last night, for unknown reasons the clasp is jammed and, as a result, she cannot take the watch off. Were away for a long weekend so we don’t have any tools with us. Any advice?

We were planning on going o a local watch shop to ask them undo one of the link screw and get the bracelet off that way. Any other ideas? Is this a known issue with an easier, DIY solution that I’m unaware of?
Thanks!
So...what's happening?
 
watchthinker
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I'm so curious about this!! I've never heard of this happening - and now I've got the total "freaks" about my new 300M! I hope this resolved.

I think the hacksaw idea is interesting, but, being a little clumsy myself, I can't imagine how that conversation would go with my own significant other. Perhaps a screw driver might be less dramatic. When I recently adjusted my own 300M bracelet using a HiWa 1.8MM, the screws popped right out. Since you may not care that much about marking under the circumstances, I'd think any 1.8MM might do, assuming the screws are the same.
Edited:
 
time flies
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I had a grain or two of sand stuck in mine some years ago. A little water pressure and a bit of gentle lovin' took care of it in short order.

20190613_135710.jpg


have fun
kfw
 
arno
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Sand grains can indeed avoid a deployant clasp to open.
Try to rince with a shower or something similar.
Don’t cut her hand
 
watchthinker
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How common is this problem??? I've worn a Speedmaster for years ( and years and years ) - never experiencing a hiccup. I've been having this wonderful love affair with my new Seamaster 300M and now I'm a little spooked.
 
Dsloan
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I don't have any advice, but a story: I was window shopping at our local AD. The store was empty and the sales staff were bored. A salesperson saw me eyeing a 6-figure Patek and pulled it out and asked me to try it on. I assume they just wanted to have something to do. The clasp got jammed and we had to wait for some sort of tech to come in to get me out of it. We were afraid of damaging what I assume was a 5-figure bracelet. In the end the tech just forced it harder and it popped open. 🙄
 
JwRosenthal
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Dsloan Dsloan
I don't have any advice, but a story: I was window shopping at our local AD. The store was empty and the sales staff were bored. A salesperson saw me eyeing a 6-figure Patek and pulled it out and asked me to try it on. I assume they just wanted to have something to do. The clasp got jammed and we had to wait for some sort of tech to come in to get me out of it. We were afraid of damaging what I assume was a 5-figure bracelet. In the end the tech just forced it harder and it popped open. 🙄
You should have told the store manager that being shackled and held against your will resulted in horrific emotional trauma and that the only recompense was to give you that watch for pain and suffering.
 
Annapolis
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Happened to me with my Seamaster 300 pro. Twice. Once with the original clasp; again with the new clasp Omega sent to replace it (under warranty). It was annoying and scary enough that I ended up selling the watch. Other people here have had no such issues, but I personally would never buy another Omega with a deployant clasp. I’m not clever enough with engineering to judge whether it’s a bad design or just poor qc; all I know is that it’s very distressing having a watch stuck on your wrist and having to remove it using a tiny screwdriver at a funky angle.

I posted about it here on OF and folks commented then that it’s a known issue—you’ll find other such posts here too.
 
DavPM
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blufinz52 blufinz52
Go to a hardware store and buy an inexpensive hack saw. Carefully cut the bracelet with the saw and purchase a NATO strap.
Prreetttyy sure you got that the wrong way round.... not the bracelet surely ?
 
M
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Annapolis Annapolis
Happened to me with my Seamaster 300 pro. Twice. Once with the original clasp; again with the new clasp Omega sent to replace it (under warranty). It was annoying and scary enough that I ended up selling the watch. Other people here have had no such issues, but I personally would never buy another Omega with a deployant clasp. I’m not clever enough with engineering to judge whether it’s a bad design or just poor qc; all I know is that it’s very distressing having a watch stuck on your wrist and having to remove it using a tiny screwdriver at a funky angle.

I posted about it here on OF and folks commented then that it’s a known issue—you’ll find other such posts here too.
Probably something 99% of any spring loaded clasp can experience, regardless of maker or cost. Also they aren’t handcuffs. These things have a dozen joints that can be easily disassembled, are designed to be easily disassembled, and are easily disassembled all around the world by jewelers, watchmakers, store associates, or anyone with most of their fingers that simply feel like it. Really not a big deal.
 
Annapolis
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M matlt
Probably something 99% of any spring loaded clasp can experience, regardless of maker or cost. Also they aren’t handcuffs. These things have a dozen joints that can be easily disassembled, are designed to be easily disassembled, and are easily disassembled all around the world by jewelers, watchmakers, store associates, or anyone with most of their fingers that simply feel like it. Really not a big deal.

Sure, but I’d argue that a several-thousand-dollar wristwatch ought to come with some implied assurance that it won’t end up stuck on its users’ wrists at such a high rate because of a tiny, cheap spring. (Not saying that happens to most owners, but it gets posted about quite a bit, and my AD said it was hardly her first [or second] rodeo with this clasp.) I get that the Omega is a mass-produced consumer good, but so is the Rolex Submariner or any number of Seikos, and I don’t believe this happens (frequently? ever?) with them.

You’re right that it’s not a big deal when compared to, say, a medical issue or a fire. I didn’t have to move house or spend hours in therapy as a result. 😀 But it’s not unreasonable to demand that you be able to remove your watch on your own without a screwdriver at the end of the day, especially when you paid used car money for it.

Omega makes fantastic watches. They can and should do better than this. To your point, it could be an argument against the spring-clasp design itself.
 
josiahg52
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My watch getting stuck on my wrist but not really stuck since I could likely remove it with some difficulty by myself is on, like, page 745 of things that I actually worry about after things like an engine falling of an overflying aircraft and landing on me sitting in my recliner.
 
Annapolis
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josiahg52 josiahg52
My watch getting stuck on my wrist but not really stuck since I could likely remove it with some difficulty by myself is on, like, page 745 of things that I actually worry about after things like an engine falling of an overflying aircraft and landing on me sitting in my recliner.

Yeah, not something you’re likely to worry about until/unless it actually happens to you. 😀 Again, it happened to me. Twice. With two different clasps. Happened to the OP too, apparently. Not something to lose sleep over. But definitely a reason to consider other models and brands.
 
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