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Water resistance question for those with the new Moon Watch 3861

fc3861
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Hello,

I just thought I would like to compare notes for those with the new 2021 Speedmaster Moon Watch regarding water resistance.

I purchased mine in person at an Omega Boutique and the sales person advised me not to get it wet if possible. He knows that I already have a Seamaster since I brought that in for service and suggested if I know I'm going swimming or some other water activity, to use the Seamaster and refrain from taking the Speedmaster in the water.

Was anyone else given this same advice? It kind of surprised me since the watch is still rated for 50 meters or something like that right? What do you guys think about that? Or was this just a one-off overly cautious sales person?

Thanks,
Frank
 
Matt87
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fc3861 fc3861
Hello,

I just thought I would like to compare notes for those with the new 2021 Speedmaster Moon Watch regarding water resistance.

I purchased mine in person at an Omega Boutique and the sales person advised me not to get it wet if possible. He knows that I already have a Seamaster since I brought that in for service and suggested if I know I'm going swimming or some other water activity, to use the Seamaster and refrain from taking the Speedmaster in the water.

Was anyone else given this same advice? It kind of surprised me since the watch is still rated for 50 meters or something like that right? What do you guys think about that? Or was this just a one-off overly cautious sales person?

Thanks,
Frank

Hi Frank,

What i can tell you is that a watch with a 50m WR is ok just for swimming but personally i wouldn't risk it... first of all because the water resistant feature need to be tested at least once a year, secondly because the Speedmaster in particular doesn't have any particular feature to increase its water resistance.

in addition, bear in mind that the water proof tests are done in a static condition in a lab with all the machinery... it not exactly the same than surfing in the pacific ocean with 2 meter high waves!! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜
 
JwRosenthal
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@fc3861 - welcome to the forum BTW, you may already see there is much history around this topic- and it involves drinking and snorkeling.

As a 20 year owner of a 49 year old Speedmaster- who regularly serviced and replaced all seals on my watch, I can tell you that I have taken spills in rivers, been caught in rainstorms, sweated through my clothes, and vigorously washed my hands- all while wearing my Speedmaster. My watch has never leaked. That said, I have never been so cavalier to think that my Speedmaster could be considered a watch that was designed for watersports so exercised intelligence when approaching any activity in which I was planning to submerge the watch. Sure, it could probably do it- but do I want to risk that?
 
Archer
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Hey time for yet another installment of..."Can it swim?" ๐Ÿ˜€

Omega rates their watches for a specific depth, and they can go to that rated depth. Omega doesn;t make you refer to some oddball third party chart that then tells you 50m is only "splashproof."

So the salesperson is spreading misinformation - not unusual for salespeople to not fully understand the technical details of the products they are selling.

Matt87 Matt87
What i can tell you is that a watch with a 50m WR is ok just for swimming but personally i wouldn't risk it... first of all because the water resistant feature need to be tested at least once a year, secondly because the Speedmaster in particular doesn't have any particular feature to increase its water resistance.

in addition, bear in mind that the water proof tests are done in a static condition in a lab with all the machinery... it not exactly the same than surfing in the pacific ocean with 2 meter high waves!! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

Couple of things...the Speedmaster does in fact have specific features that allow it to go in water - the seals.

Secondly, the "dynamic pressure" argument is made ad nauseum in these threads, but watches that leak don't do so because they were taken deeper than they were intended, or because the wearer moved their arms really fast, or dove, or got hit by a wave. They fail primarily because they don't get maintained.

In preparation for the continuation of these endless arguments, I present the following...


If you look at the ratings of the watches, and the depths they go to, and the modes of failure, it is safe to assume that there is a significant safety factor built into these watches that aren't going to be exceeded by dynamic pressure from any activity a human is likely to survive.

And because I loved these old commercials, another example of what a watch can take and still not leak:


In the end, you should only do what you are comfortable with, but that is a very different thing that what the watch is actually capable of.

Cheers, Al
 
Matt87
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Dear Archer,

Thank you very much for your kind reply.

First of all, i didn't say that you can't do that, i said that if you really want to do that you have to be aware to some stuff (like have your seals regularly checked, etc...), in addition, when i said "he Speedmaster does in fact have specific features that allow it to go in water" i meant that it doesn't have any screw down crown or pushers...

Because, like you, i'm working with watches every day, i wouldn't personally use my Speedmaster for diving up to 50m depth... not even if it has been just checked... after that everyone is absolutely free to do whatever they want with their watches but, talking from experience, i personally saw Navitimer (30m WR) transformed in fish tanks after be exposed to an heavy rain in the middle of the street...
๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

Archer Archer
Hey time for yet another installment of..."Can it swim?" ๐Ÿ˜€

Omega rates their watches for a specific depth, and they can go to that rated depth. Omega doesn;t make you refer to some oddball third party chart that then tells you 50m is only "splashproof."

So the salesperson is spreading misinformation - not unusual for salespeople to not fully understand the technical details of the products they are selling.



Couple of things...the Speedmaster does in fact have specific features that allow it to go in water - the seals.

Secondly, the "dynamic pressure" argument is made ad nauseum in these threads, but watches that leak don't do so because they were taken deeper than they were intended, or because the wearer moved their arms really fast, or dove, or got hit by a wave. They fail primarily because they don't get maintained.

In preparation for the continuation of these endless arguments, I present the following...


If you look at the ratings of the watches, and the depths they go to, and the modes of failure, it is safe to assume that there is a significant safety factor built into these watches that aren't going to be exceeded by dynamic pressure from any activity a human is likely to survive.

And because I loved these old commercials, another example of what a watch can take and still not leak:


In the end, you should only do what you are comfortable with, but that is a very different thing that what the watch is actually capable of.

Cheers, Al
 
Archer
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Matt87 Matt87
First of all, i didn't say that you can't do that, i said that if you really want to do that you have to be aware to some stuff (like have your seals regularly checked, etc...), in addition, when i said "he Speedmaster does in fact have specific features that allow it to go in water" i meant that it doesn't have any screw down crown or pushers...

Screw down crown and pushers are not needed to go in water obviously. This view that items like this are required to go in water, is a view propagated by misinformation on forums mostly. Omegas dive chronographs rated to 600m don't have screw down pushers, and those can be used under water.

Matt87 Matt87
Because, like you, i'm working with watches every day, i wouldn't personally use my Speedmaster for diving up to 50m depth... not even if it has been just checked...

That is completely irrational but again your choice as I stated. I'm simply trying to make sure people understand actual capabilities.

Matt87 Matt87
talking from experience, i personally saw Navitimer (30m WR) transformed in fish tanks after be exposed to an heavy rain in the middle of the street...
๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

I've also seen plenty of flooded watches, and repaired many flooded watches. They didn't flood from being taken too deep, but as I stated, from a failure of the seals due to lack of maintenance.
 
fc3861
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Great info everyone . . . If I'm going fishing or swimming, I'll swap out the Speedy for my old Seamaster but I won't sweat too much the occasional splash from hand washing or rain.

By the way, they told me the new genuine master chromonometer in this bad boy only needs to be serviced every 10 years. Do the water gaskets last that long or do those need to be replaced sooner to maintain the 50m WR?

Thanks,
Frank
 
S.H.
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fc3861 fc3861
Great info everyone . . . If I'm going fishing or swimming, I'll swap out the Speedy for my old Seamaster but I won't sweat too much the occasional splash from hand washing or rain.

By the way, they told me the new genuine master chromonometer in this bad boy only needs to be serviced every 10 years. Do the water gaskets last that long or do those need to be replaced sooner to maintain the 50m WR?

Thanks,
Frank

FWIW, Seiko (a maker of good diving watches) recommends having WR checked every one or two years. Not a bad thing to do if you want to get your watch wet.
 
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