Upgrade?

My 2264.50 is coming up on five years of constant wear. This year I managed to kill the movement (manual breaching on my department's swat team) and sent it to Omega for repairs. It came back with new gaskets, crowns and most importantly a new movement. Unfortunately, my perception of quartz durability has been slightly altered. I figured, if quartz isn't significantly tougher than a well made mechanical movement, why not just wear the mechanical? Works for James Bond right?

MY "upgrade" arrived a couple of days ago and I'm smitten. I went with a 2235.50, which has been a grail of mine for some time. I swapped out the grey insert for a spare I had for my 2264. The weight difference is wild! Even being automatic, it's significantly lighter than the quartz. Accuracy so far has been about+2, which is the best I've ever seen from a mechanical watch. Cons wise, I prefer the dial of the quartz; subtle differences, like the three lines of text vs 4 and the symmetrical 3 o'clock marker vs the stubby one.

I bought this watch with the intention of selling my Quartz to help cover the cost, but I'm having a hard time letting it go. I can't logically justify keeping both, but I have a sentimental connection with the 64. It has been on my wrist through some sketchy stuff over the past five years. Do I let go of the new hotness and stick with what's tried and true? Or do I thank the 64 for it's service and allow someone else to enjoy it?

My apologies you are correct, 2231.50.

Well, I sold my 2264 yesterday as the 2231 has been rock solid.Like clockwork, Murphy's law took effect and the 2231 died today, technically at 0437 last night, while still on my wrist. I wore the watch all evening and to bed. I woke up to sunlight and checked the time on my phone, just a little after 0600. I unscrewed the crown, gave it a few turns and the watch is running like normal. I can hear the rotor spinning, but I'm worried it's not winding the watch. Thoughts?

It happened to my 2254 too. After some time sick in bed, the watch just stopped. I did not move enough to wind it.

Or the power reserve on your watch is low.

Thanks for the response. I'm assuming your 2254 ran normal once you were up and moving again?

Thanks, but that's not really my style, which is wild considering a little over a decade ago all I wore was G-Shock and Protrek. Regrettably I mailed the quartz off yesterday. I did ask the buyer to reach out to me first if he feels like moving the watch along. I bought the 2231 with the intent of it replacing the 2264.

I felt confident enough in it after a week on the wrist I was ok selling. Literally the day after, it stops dead on my wrist. I'm going to give it a few days on wrist and see if the problem repeats itself. If it does it will going in for service and I'll be down to just the Sub for awhile.

Yes thats right and no problem since then.

I would not have sold the 2264. The automatic is going to give you way more headaches down the line.

After hitting watch collecting hard the last 10 years, which has included mostly mechanical watches, I've been converting back to quartz. They are more accurate, more reliable, cheaper to purchase and to own (service), and more convenient (no constantly setting the time or wondering if the watch is set to the right time). Thankfully Omega made some really good quartz watches in the 90's and 00's so my go to watches right now are a 38.5mm white Aqua Terra (the one with applied indices) and a 2541.80 GoldenEye SMP. I've own the mechanical versions of both and I can say from experience I'm not missing anything by going quartz. All my mechanicals (save one sentimental piece that is not terribly expensive) are getting sold off.

And I will add that since I have the proper equipment to remove the casebacks, I can replace batteries when necessary for nothing more than the cost of a new battery (and would replace the caseback gasket at the same time).