Omega Speedmaster questions

Bizcut1

I would never swim with my Speedmaster or expose it to salt water...that's what Seamasters are for.

O owl.

if I’m not mistaken should be water resistant to 100m.

2. I feel like there should never be scratching after a service. Yes we all make mistakes, but those guys do that for a living.

3. I’ve never had a watch polished by anyone. But I’m sure if you do some research here, or post a thread, someone will answer that for you. Rolex I’ve heard, the polishing is like bringing the watch back to new. But Omega I’ve never heard a thing.

4. and 5.

Whether or not Omega checked for accuracy is on them. The watch should be running a lot better than that, and I would send it back. Exercise shouldn’t affect a watch that bad.

Also, if you decide to send it in, mention the dirt in the movement, and take pictures of everything before you send it in, in case it comes back scratches some more.

hronists

Did you bought new or second hand? Speedmaster is no diver watch but is should handle rain and occasional dip into water. Have it pressure tested, something doesn't sound right.

L Linas

Hi All,

I had few questions about my watch and just wanted to hear opinions to make sure I have right expectations and my understand is correct. Now I have several questions after the year of using it so sorry in advance for long post.

So... last year I have presented myself Omega Speedmaster Racing watch, to be honest I wanted moonwatch, but when trying out the watches true moonwatch with haselite just didn't feel right on the hand, I wanted sapphire crystal and case back, and automatic movement so ended-up with still quite classic looking 329.30.44.51.01.001. In the end I thought to myself - if I every going to be in position to travel to space I might as well be able to buy spare moonwatch 😀

The more practical consideration was water resistance, as this substance is not that difficult to find on Planet Earth and I know Speedmasters are not exactly great for that (5ATM/50M) rating. For this reason I have as well considered Seamaster, but I just prefer looks of Speedmaster. Discussing realistic application and meaning of water resistance rating I was advised that watch should still be fine for swimming, but the key thing to avoid was diving in a way that crown is hit with the water. So I though ok... that should be practical enough to go to the beach and if I am planning to do diving from heights in the pool then I can leave watch in the locker...

Anyhow - first time I went to the beach... sea was completely flat and I just did most careful swimming ever, but almost instantly there was slight fogging-up. Took of the watch, and when I got home just opened the crown and left it in sunny terrace, there was very little of fogging and it was gone within couple of hours.. So on one hand I was slightly disappointed, but on other hand I just thought - "ok 5ATM means take it to the shower and nowhere else - remember to add Seamaster into shopping list for next occasion".

The situation being as it is, I haven't ventured much out from home since then, but this summer travelling opened-up so I was out again. This time around watch steamed-up much worse with much less reason. Once I was cycling in the rain, it was heavy rain to be fair, but nothing even comparable to normal shower at home... again watch steamed-up. And then I decided to detail my car and watch got some spray bouncing back from the car.. again just mist at most... and again it steamed-up. This time around fogging was gone within few hours without me even opening the crown. So I decided it must be something wrong with seal. Just to note - I regularly go with the watch to the shower, but somehow that is fine?!

Called warranty service explained the situation and all was good - they said send it for service to be re-sealed and that is it. Not amazing considering omega claims to test each watch before shipping, but everyone can make mistakes, so it is fair to let them rectify it.

So question #1 - what is your experience with Speedmasters and water, am I just expecting too much or was it not properly sealed from factory?

Now - watch went out for service, came back couple of weeks later, all free of charge, good so far... No way to test if sealing problem is fixed at home and to be fair I am kind of afraid to take it near the sea now.

But, I have noticed several scratches on the case, which were not there before and which are what I consider "artificial" i.e. looks like they are made by the tool (press/vise maybe) rather than what I would expect from normal wear and tear. Not exactly the attention of the detail I would expect from "master watchmaker", but I just thought - "this is my daily watch and there will be more and bigger scratches over the time". Then I noticed there is like tiny stain or some dirt under the case back on the movement itself. Yes sure - it is tiny, but again just not attention to the detail I expected.

So I started thinking whenever I should be asking it to be serviced and cleaned again, and maybe even re-polished (not sure about that, as I am afraid re-polishing won't match original finishing).

So question #2 - what amount of scratching you would expect/accept after authorised service... and #3 if watch is re-polished is it noticeable or does Omega does job that you could not distinguish from original finish?

Finally, as I was considering whenever to make issue out of this or not... I started noticing my watch not being accurate. It was exceptionally accurate before service or it was at least accurate enough for me not to notice. Honestly, even 15 second a day I could never notice or bother about, if it is within same minute after a week it would be good enough for me. So I started tracking the time every day at midnight... and it is horribly fast. First day - exactly + minute (an no... I have not set it minute wrong), second day +42s, then +47s, then +6s and yesterday +53s. After 5 days it is nearly 4min ahead! Now there was one day with only +6s, which is borderline on the stated accuracy (-4/+6) and the difference that day was that it was raining and I decided to slack-off and not do my running.

So there are multiple questions I have here - #4 could it be that service centre didn't check accuracy after assembling/servicing #5 could exercising impact accuracy so much (it is not like I am just shaking hand like crazy for hour either - it is just 3k jog), besides I was exercising with this watch for nearly a year before and I didn't notice much of impact previously #6 is this accuracy is as terrible as I think?

Any feedback would be appreciated

Linas

Evitzee

I just don't think a Speedmaster's design and specs lends it to swimming and dunking it in water, but many people do it. Some pass fine, some don't. There are better watches designed for this type of activity. Personal choice.

ckhaing

seamaster chronographs are intended for more robust water related activities i presume

Bizcut1

Sure. Go ahead and engage the chrono’s pushers while you are in the water and see what happens.

Hint: It won’t be good.

Bizcut1

Sure. Go ahead and engage the chrono’s pushers while you are in the water and see what happens.

Hint: It won’t be good.

Calibre 51

I certainly would never swim with my speedy, asking for trouble, why risk it? makes no sense to me, but i understand its a personal choice, could be a very expensive swim.