my first watch: dark side of the moon

shane0mack · Jul 1, 2014

Archer
Oh, and don't knock that ceramic watch around too much...they are scratch resistant, but brittle. A new case will set you back $7k.

Cheers, Al

I realize it's brittle, but I really don't think it chips or breaks that easily. If you drop it onto a hard surface from a few feet? Sure, it'll break. But so will a lot of watches -- maybe not the case, but the movement likely will, and you'll probably have a nice divot in the case.

Archer · Jul 1, 2014

shane0mack
I realize it's brittle, but I really don't think it chips or breaks that easily. If you drop it onto a hard surface from a few feet? Sure, it'll break. But so will a lot of watches -- maybe not the case, but the movement likely will, and you'll probably have a nice divot in the case.

I have no photos of a broken DOSTM case....yet...but ceramic cases in general are not going to hold up to large shocks well, as these photos would show:

Not my photos, but a couple I have gathered from the net. The first photo is the most telling to me, because the Radiomir case is quite thick and sturdy, but it appears to have hit the corner, and caused the fracture.

Just like the photo I have posted before of the hour vision sapphire insert...

Even this, protected inside the steel case, was damaged by a drop. I'm not saying the ceramic cases are super fragile, just that they need to be treated with some care, and replacements are certainly not cheap. It's not a "knock around" watch IMO. I would certainly not want to drop one from "a few feet" onto a hard surface, as I think that would be an expensive mistake. Much more so than say replacing a balance staff, which is what would be likely the most serious damage from a steel cased watch from a similar drop.

Cheers, Al

shane0mack · Jul 1, 2014

Al, I definitely didn't mean to come off as if a ceramic watch is a that can be treated recklessly. However, the fragility of ceramic watches seems to be overstated by some folks. They can and will break in the right situation, but it's not to say they need to be handled like a Faberge egg.

Archer · Jul 1, 2014

Of course I never said they had to be handled like a Faberge, or any other kind of, egg. I invite you to buy a DOSTM if you don't have one, and drop it from a few feet onto a hard surface, the post the photos. Evidence trumps opinion, so have at it mate. 😉

I was only trying to make people aware that these are brittle, and very expensive to replace.

Cheers, Al

shane0mack · Jul 1, 2014

Archer
Of course I never said they had to be handled like a Faberge, or any other kind of, egg. I invite you to buy a DOSTM if you don't have one, and drop it from a few feet onto a hard surface, the post the photos. Evidence trumps opinion, so have at it mate. 😉

I was only trying to make people aware that these are brittle, and very expensive to replace.

Cheers, Al

I think we're arguing past each other here, because I don't disagree with what you're saying at all. And if I had the money to buy a DSotM just to experiment with it, I would certainly do so. 💰

kox · Jul 1, 2014

Does it make any difference whether the ceramic case has an inner steel case (like most have as I understand it) or if the case is made throughout from ceramic (like the Dark Side) ... properly not, just wondering ...

And if I ever drop mine, I'll let you know the result ... or perhaps not 🤦

dsio · Jul 1, 2014

On the plus side the Darkside is microwave safe, if you remove the movement you can cook baked beans in it 😉

shane0mack · Jul 1, 2014

dsio
On the plus side the Darkside is microwave safe, if you remove the movement you can cook baked beans in it 😉

Well $hit, as if I needed another reason to want a DS! 😜

jcmartinez98 · Jul 3, 2014

perhaps i should have started with this instead? looks classy, timeless, badass, durable. the ultimate high-end 'beater.'

Privateday7 · Jul 3, 2014

dsio
On the plus side the Darkside is microwave safe, if you remove the movement you can cook baked beans in it 😉

That's the only meal I could cook if I bought DSOM now.

Diverdown · Jul 3, 2014

Yep, keep you DSotM dry, and wear it everyday as you see fit. Too expensive to risk it in the water. Get a dive watch to get wet. Obviously a SM or PO would be an excellent contrast to the beautiful piece you've already acquired. Well done.

Caller · Jul 10, 2014

I'm a DSOTM owner and also have a PO (orange bezel), so cover both bases, I guess?

But I'm interested in the ceramic damage issue. I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that there are different grades of ceramic and that the DSOTM is at the very top end, so in theory making it much sturdier, than say for example, the ceramic coating on a Christopher Ward Typhoon?

I keep reading about being careful not to drop a ceramic watch on a hard surface, but I guess the advice should be not to drop any watch on a hard surface, as it won't do any watch much good!

dsio · Jul 10, 2014

Caller
I'm a DSOTM owner and also have a PO (orange bezel), so cover both bases, I guess?

But I'm interested in the ceramic damage issue. I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that there are different grades of ceramic and that the DSOTM is at the very top end, so in theory making it much sturdier, than say for example, the ceramic coating on a Christopher Ward Typhoon?

I keep reading about being careful not to drop a ceramic watch on a hard surface, but I guess the advice should be not to drop any watch on a hard surface, as it won't do any watch much good!

Nice combination those two, and welcome mate

Archer · Jul 10, 2014

Caller
I'm a DSOTM owner and also have a PO (orange bezel), so cover both bases, I guess?

But I'm interested in the ceramic damage issue. I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that there are different grades of ceramic and that the DSOTM is at the very top end, so in theory making it much sturdier, than say for example, the ceramic coating on a Christopher Ward Typhoon?

I keep reading about being careful not to drop a ceramic watch on a hard surface, but I guess the advice should be not to drop any watch on a hard surface, as it won't do any watch much good!

Welcome. I am not familiar with the CW model so I can't comment on that one. Certainly you are correct that dropping any watch is not a good idea. But it's the consequences of that drop in terms of damage and cost to repair it that are different depending on the watch.

I go through this with some of the people who buy the watches I make, because in some I use vintage movements without shock protection. I always make sure that they know up front before purchase that the vintage movements have to be treated with care, and if they are "rough" on their watches it's probably better to get the modern version. So comparing 2 watches I make to illustrate the point...

If you drop this watch from say 3 feet to a hard floor, I would say that maybe 5% of the time the balance staff would break, since the movement is modern and the balance staff has shock protection:

In contrast if you did the same with this watch, I would say 90% of the time the staff will break. The jewels are not in shock settings, and the balance wheel is much heavier than in the modern watch.

So 2 watches that look quite similar, but have to be treated very differently. In fact I had one of the Hamilton based watches come back with a broken staff, and a dent on one the lug of the case. The owner said it had not been dropped, so the only thing I can think of is that he knocked it walking through a doorway, and didn't really notice the hit.

Not trying to spread panic, just saying people need to be aware that not all watches can be treated equally, and some will be very expensive to fix if damaged.

Cheers, Al

pascs · Jul 10, 2014

Good time to fit some type of deployment to the DSOM strap instead of the standard buckle, less chance of an accidental drop 😉

Very nice watches by the way Al 👍

Caller · Jul 10, 2014

Fair point about the deployment / deployant (it's a big issue in some places, so I'm sitting on the fence), that's worth thinking about and I like the Archer watches as well - new to me.

And thanks for the welcome!

Edit - out of interest do Omega sell their own straps? Can't find anything on their website.

pascs · Jul 10, 2014

Either name is good in my book 😁

I think with the wide holes in the DSOM strap it might be more difficult to find the correct deployment / deployant fit, the standard Omega deployment is not a suitable fit for this strap.

I find that some of the Omega straps are too short for my wrist and I can only buckle it on the last hole, this makes it extremely easy when removing for the strap to pop out too quick and the watch drops to the floor 🙁 Its not such a problem on longer straps though.

dsio · Jul 10, 2014

Caller
Fair point about the deployment / deployant (it's a big issue in some places, so I'm sitting on the fence), that's worth thinking about and I like the Archer watches as well - new to me.

And thanks for the welcome!

Edit - out of interest do Omega sell their own straps? Can't find anything on their website.

Omega do sell straps, but I tend to go aftermarket or custom more often than not, for the money of an OEM Omega strap you can get an amazing custom leather strap made to your own specifications.

cicindela · Jul 10, 2014

larryganz
oh... hmm... $7K for a case?

I see a SMP in your future...

Privateday7
😲

It is quite a case, here it is in the making.

amblin · Jul 10, 2014

The so called 'hi tech ceramic' is also known as Zirconia (ZrO2) . With microscopic ultra fine grain and extreme hardness it's the best of the lot. It's the same material used in many of the better ceramic knives. And its closely related single crystal brother the 'CZ', or cubic zirconia widely used as a man made diamond simulat.

This 'super ceramic' is indeed super hard, super scratch resistant but very brittle. Drop it or knock it on a hard surface and it can crack or chip on the edges. Unlike SS or any gold/ platinum alloy, polishing at your local watchmaker is not an easy option .

It's too costly drop or knock a $7k case around and see if it breaks. But one can try that with the $50 Kyocera ZrO2 knife. 😉

It's a great watch, and the cal. 9300 is IMO one great auto chrono movement. In fact it could be one of the best if they include a date quick set feature. But just remember, almost everything else is made of ceramic, so handle with care or pick up a SS watch as your daily beater. 😀

my first watch: dark side of the moon

shane0mack

Archer

shane0mack

Archer

shane0mack

kox

dsio

shane0mack

jcmartinez98

Privateday7

Diverdown

Caller

dsio

Archer

pascs

Caller

pascs

dsio

cicindela

amblin

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