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Speedy Durability

dreamfinder
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Longtime lurker, first time poster.

I have a significant life event coming up this Spring and I have been saving for several years to buy a Speedy to celebrate. Now that the time is getting closer I have spent more time processing and I have a question: how durable is the Speedster really? This will be an every day wear watch for me. Lurking in this forum I see concerns over wearing it while mowing the lawn, or accidentally wearing it in the shower. I find it hard to believe that a watch that survived the vibrations of a Saturn V taking off would have trouble handling the vibrations of the lawn mower.

I have no plans to abuse it or wear it swimming, but I want a watch I don't have to worry about babying.

What are your thoughts/experiences?
 
MRC
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dreamfinder dreamfinder
I have a significant life event coming up this Spring and I have been saving for several years to buy a Speedy to celebrate.
Excellent plan!

dreamfinder dreamfinder
Now that the time is getting closer I have spent more time processing and I have a question: how durable is the Speedster really? This will be an every day wear watch for me. Lurking in this forum I see concerns over wearing it while mowing the lawn, or accidentally wearing it in the shower. I find it hard to believe that a watch that survived the vibrations of a Saturn V taking off would have trouble handling the vibrations of the lawn mower.
Have you never held the handles of Briggs&Stratton single-cylinder mower? It could shake the barnacles off a ship's hull!

However it's best not to believe everything you read on the interweb. There are evil people with jocular intent around, and OF is a known hot-spot.


dreamfinder dreamfinder
I have no plans to abuse it or wear it swimming, but I want a watch I don't have to worry about babying.

Don't worry, wear and be happy.


From a serial abuser of chronographs for 50+ years.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Hundred of members on this forum wear Speedmasters every day, including myself, and perform all sorts of physical activities while wearing theirs. Including, yes, mowing the lawn. I have yet to see a thread detailing how a Speedmaster catastrophically failed to survive typical daily wear/tasks.

If it survived space, it can survive your daily life.

Heck, I swapped an airplane engine while wearing mine, which was dated from 1984. Don’t mind the loose bracelet, it was very hot that day.
IMG_1274.jpeg
 
Annapolis
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The lawnmower thing became a meme here. A SpeedMaster will survive pretty much anything you're likely to do in your day-to-day life unless your day-to-day life involves underwater demolition or jackhammering.

That said, these are luxury "tool watches," and are not designed to be smacked hard in door-frames, or dropped on hard surfaces. And they pick up scratches and dings easily---so if it will bother you to see your $7,000 celebration watch marred by life, you might consider another watch entirely (one of Sinn's "tegimented" pieces, perhaps?--those are practically indestructible), or treating yourself to a second "beater" watch that you can wear for those times when the Speedy just isn't the right choice.
 
keepsonticking
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I've been wearing Speedmasters most of the time since about 1990, and I've owned/own a few dozen pre 1970 Speedmasters. They are at least as durable as any watch I've owned/worn. Broken mainsprings are rare, for me. And you should, of course, have yours serviced and cleaned/lubed ever few years, but I have had many watches that sat for decades and they ALWAYS run. I'd say I've had one watch of maybe 37 to 40 old Speedmasters (mostly 321, some 861) that actually stopped running. That's pretty f ing amazing. I have had 3 or 4 that had mainsprings let go, and even then...they would wind partially and could be worn. So, yeah...I'm a big supporter with a lot of experience.
 
Scarecrow Boat
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Annapolis Annapolis
That said, these are luxury "tool watches," and are not designed to be smacked hard in door-frames, or dropped on hard surfaces.
YMMV but even if these events happened, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. It might result in an unexpected service fee or, in this instance, result in a cracked crystal. Just playing devils advocate 😉👍
 
NGO1
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I treat all of my watches like I treat my wife. 25 years in (both) and I'm ok so far.
1) Don't get her wet.
2) If I have to ask "will she be ok with this?". The answer is no.
 
gbesq
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Here’s my 55 year old Speedmaster. It’s one of five that I have owned and they have all been bulletproof. They will dent, they will scratch, the bezels will chip and fade, but with proper maintenance they will still be ticking long after you are gone. NASA chose this watch for a reason - it’s that good. That being said, I would opt for a used one with caliber 1861. They are readily available in the 4-4.5k range and the movement is as rock solid and reliable as they come.
IMG_6528.jpeg
 
Aroxx
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The Speedmaster is an excellent daily watch. Treat yourself and enjoy it every day.
 
vbrad26
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Oh another one!
ROv0LK@facebook.gif
 
texasmade
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NGO1 NGO1
I treat all of my watches like I treat my wife. 25 years in (both) and I'm ok so far.
1) Don't get her wet.
2) If I have to ask "will she be ok with this?". The answer is no.
So many jokes...
 
keepsonticking
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NGO1 NGO1
I treat all of my watches like I treat my wife. 25 years in (both) and I'm ok so far.
1) Don't get her wet.
2) If I have to ask "will she be ok with this?". The answer is no.
Um. What? So one of your main goals with your wife is to not get her wet? And the last part...were you asking a watch if it will be ok with...sorry, I lost my way again.
 
ErichPryde
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Water resistance concerns are incredibly overblown. One of our Forum watchmakers has shared how the pushers work, and even if they accidentally become depressed under water, it's highly unlikely that water would enter through the pushers... the watch is rated to five atmospheres of pressure, well beyond anything you will encounter washing your hands or playing in a 6-ft swimming pool.

I don't know if these concerns were born of Internet ignorance just because this is a luxury product and it isn't a Seamaster, or if these concerns were born because vintage watches actually suffered water damage, or where they originated. In a sort of ironic turn, it really isn't in omega's best interest to discourage the water resistance concerns because that means they can convince you that you have to own both a Seamaster and a Speedmaster....

Any watch with failing seals is at risk of having water into the case.
 
Dan S
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Just get two watches, one for mowing the lawn, and the Speedmaster for everything else.
 
BlackTalon
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keepsonticking keepsonticking
Um. What? So one of your main goals with your wife is to not get her wet? And the last part...were you asking a watch if it will be ok with...sorry, I lost my way again.
yeah, I was reading his post thinking "oK You know help is available"
 
Pastorbottle
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Everything we do has some element of risk…..if we let that fact worry us too much, we’d never gat outta bed!
That reminds me….. I better get outta bed!
 
keepsonticking
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NGO1 NGO1
Tsk tsk tsk.
Had to check the domain which OF I’m on.
IMG_9965.png
Hey...(doing my best Rodney Dangerfield) you quoted me quoting him. That wasn't my brilliant creation. I don't get no respect.
 
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