Anyone else worried abiut how the rubber will hold up to UV over decades?

I'm sure the engineers considered it but it seems that rubber just isn't that durable-I mean, it stays around forever but tends to lose integrity with time.

 

I'd never buy a watch with rubber (in the) bezel.
Especially not an Omega with ceramic, knowing that the replacement will cost ~1000$.

The ceramic is scracthproof.
The aluminium gets used, but can look nice, vintage, etc, you can live with that...
But the rubber will be scratched, gets dirty (in the scratches), starts fraying, gets disgusting even after a few years.

 

I guess it depends on what "rubber" really means. Have they actually said what the specific material is? I'm thinking it's not natural rubber...

The only rubber bezels I can think of recently were those that were rubber on the outer diameter to aide in gripping the bezel for turning while diving. The one that comes to mind was an Oris model - the rubber didn't hold up all that well from what I remember.

Being protected "inside" the bezel will probably help it stay fairly nice, but long term it does seem like an odd material choice.

 

And the rubber degrades with salt water exposure as most divers with rubber bracelets know.

So.... Not the best idea for a watch at that price point. Now if it was an under $500 Diver then ok. Sort of.

 

I had a tag heuer aqua racer couple of years back with a rubberized bezel insert. It was a really hard rubber and it stayed perfect for the time I had it so maybe it is possible to have a longer lasting rubber...

 

I'm talking decades...or is that what you mean too?

 

According to 'A Blog to Watch,' they're using caoutchouc rubber which is a natural rubber. If this is accurate, I'd be a little concerned. It's susceptible to prolonged sunlight exposure, hotter temperatures (> 30C), as well as bacterial degradation. In other words, not very resilient.

I would presume their engineers have developed a treatment for it or created some specific derivation which increases its durability. However, I don't know. While I seem to be in the minority whom like the looks here, this even has me feeling some trepidation.

 

Not a fan. Better than some old school orange ceramics

 

[emoji15] By Golly Miss Molly !

@Archer 's Absolutely Spot On !

[emoji46] Wait Sir...lemme run upstairs & find my brother's Oris Colonel Moschin LE 2010. It's been in hibernation for quite a while. ~ Temp 28-30 C Humidity 85- 90%. I'l snap pictures & show Mr Archer & the Guys

 

There's a post on ablogtowatch where omega said they performed accelerated aging tests on the rubber (equivalent to 10 years) and it still looked fine.

 

That's shocking Megan!

Which models is the new material expected to be found in?

 

will there be any new PO in 43.5mm without the orange rubber insert. I for one generally prefer a single colour bezel.

 

Yes it will be in all black and all blue as well

 

yeah - why be the guinea pig when there are soo many watches competing for your hard earned moneys

I am always worried about:

- long term technical aspects
- long term aestetical aspects (might be very out of fashon)

the farther away you strive from the mainstream the more you expose yourself gratiously

 

Where are pics of these?

 

Good Lord those Col. Moshin's are garbage. How many collectors will be seeking that out in 30 years? Lol. Rubber is a seemingly ridiculous component of fine jewelry.

 

Would like to see them, too.

 

you can see the plain black (without rubber) here: http://www.watch-insider.com/news/b...ovelties-presented-by-jean-claude-monachon/5/
I've seen some blue on IG.

However it is very strange for me, that there are new colors, that were not introduced during Baselworld, not mentioned by watch related websites/news, and they are not present on www.omegawatches.com

 

Well there you go! Those who are not too sure about the rubber bezel insert can still go with the full ceramic bezel.

 

That's very good news guys! Thank you. I was very curious as Ariel on aBlogtoWatch also mentioned more references that are shown at Baselworld.