How (often) do you wear your Omega/Rolex/Etc.?

Peppermill

Having just bought my first Omega (the new Seamaster 300M in blue) I was wondering how often do you wear your more expensive watches? Are you really careful with them or do you wear them whenever, wherever you want? De you swim with them?

To my watches have always been a tool (except for the golden Eterna that I inherited from my grandfather when he passed away, I only wear that as a dress watch) and I will use my Seamaster as such. However there are people who will make sure it never gets wet or scratched.

RAINbowTRAIL

Congratulations!

I wear and use mine the year round for the past 6 years (Seamaster 300M in blue co-axial). I see it as a tool and yes you will get scratches on the watch, but is that not the point?

You can swim (and dive) with them both in the pool and outdoors. But be sure to 'clean' it with regular water, especially after seawater.

ACACIA_AVENUE

I have had an Omega Planet Ocean Seamaster with Orange bezel for about 5 years, I try to wear it as much as possible, does have some minor marks on the bracelet but other wise still in good condition, never been swimming with it on.

When I am not wearing it I put it in a watch winder.

minigeff

I spent my first pay packet on an Omega Seamy Pro back in 2003. At the time I was still living with mammy, so I could get away with it. I got the usual 'what a waste of money' crap off everyone, but tbh I've never once regretted it. With other priorities in life now, I don't have the expendable income to get another, but I'm happy with what I've got. To me, my seamy is more than just a timepiece, there's loads of memories in there, and I've worn that watch through some of the best and worst times of my life, so to others it might be a bit battered and scratched and worth a few hundred at best, but to me it's priceless.

As to wearing it, I wear mine every single day, there's no point having nice things and not enjoying them. I wear it at work, doing mucky jobs, spraying things, sanding stuff and doing all sorts of crap. The only time I take it off is when I'm donig very dusty work or taking the annual shower. I have it serviced every 5 years and it keeps perfect time.

Wear it, enjoy it, it can go in a box when you do.

Ens007

Wear my Rolex daily. As Minigeff just said, there's no point in having these things to not enjoy them. Besides mine is a pleasant reminder that I 'turned the corner' in my life (bought it as a present to myself when the divorce went through!)

ACACIA_AVENUE

Hey MG never had mine serviced, do you send it away to Omega for the service?

With my first wage packet I bought a pair of Levi Jeans for 29 shillings and 6d (yes thats pre decimal)

Matt S

I've been wearing my Omega Speedmaster daily for the past 12 years, except for a few times when servicing and when going away to certain places. Though it's an expensive watch, it's not really a luxury watch. It's no Patek Philippe.

Gadget Meister

I'm with Matt S on this one, although I've beat him by a year. My Seamaster is worn daily and only comes off for servicing or when in Theatre where I wear a G-Shock. The only marks that build up are on the bracelet and these magically vanish whenever it goes for servicing to Omega (normally about £200) {[]

Vandrell

I inherited my first Seamaster from my dad when he passed and swore I would only wear it for special occasions. One day I wore it to work by accident and have done ever since! That was until I hit 30 and my wife bought be a PO on rubber, now that it my day watch and the normal seamaster comes out when I wear a shirt.

I was hesitant at first but then when you think of the money you have spent on it, you have to enjoy them IMO.

Higgins

I am wearing my Rolex on a daily basis.
The first scratches are the worst - after some time, you get over them.

As a general remark: Clean the bracelet as often as you can - best is an ultrasonic cleaner, but keep the watch case out of the liquid.

And keep in mind that an Omega is not as rigid as a Rolex

Get the watch regularly checked for waterreistance and after you have been to salt water or pool water, clean it with fresh water afterwards.
I am going so far that I am putting my watch for 1 hour into a glass with fresh water, then renew the water and leave it there again for the night.

Enjoy your new watch and post some pics here -{

CRB

I bought my Omega Seamaster in mid-1998 and its never left my wrist apart from when I service it. It's like a limb, I sleep with it, shower with it, swim with it, it's been (literally) all round the world with me including all seven continents. Still works a treat and I've no intention of replacing it. It only cost me £750 too (new).

welshboy78

I have a mix of Omegas and Rolex (Omegas rarely get used to be honest)

Anyhow if its your first watch you will end up babying it etc, the first scratch will break your heart and after a few months you will eventually realise you cant keep these things mint if you want to wear them.

Ive slowly learn't to live with scratches, they will appear without you knowing however the scratches which annoy me are the ones caused by my stupidity and clumsiness )

e.g. I bought my daughter an iPad mini earlier in the year, I surprised her with it in a restaurant and had it hidden under the table, when I whopped out the iPad from under the table I raked my Rolex on the metal frame of the table - ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHH damn annoying lol {[]

David Schofield

Got my Rolex Sub in '82.

Got my Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust in 2002: I had really gone off Bond at that time.

Got my only Omega, the CR rubber strap, in 2009, though I do love the look of the SF Aqua Terra....

Got a Corvus strap in 2010, got very poorly, got put in hospital, survived, got released. So I treated myself to a Rolex 6538.

Tend to rotate some of 'em, but the emphasis is usually on the '82 Rolex. On my wrist now. Thanks, Dad.

They must be worn, to Hell with the consequence. Why have 'em otherwise?

Youknowthename

My nine year old Seamaster is worn daily, just not at night. And yes, it has gotten scratched on the bracelet over time but that's inevitable.

BOFFER

Interesting observation. I had a mint Omega Seamaster 007 limited edition 40 th anniversary. Thought it was too nice to wear every day so locked it away in the safe. Got it back out years later only to find some rust on the hands and poor timekeeping. Sent it back to Omega to look at and they said yes we can fix it no problem, just need the standard fee of £335.00 and we can fix it. I sent it to them and it has come back as new but my wallet is £335.00 lighter and I havent even worn it. I think the morale here is, who are we saving it for ? Someone more deserving of a nice watch than us, someone who will appreciate it more and needs a mint example !!
Incidently, I think I am going to sell it now so if anyone needs an as new 007 limited edition bond watch 40th anniversary ( full size gents auto) complete with box, papers and recent £335.00 omega service, its all yours. Need about £2000.00 ono but it wont need servicing for many years and looks brand new.

Peppermill

Thanks for your replies. Great post minigeff! I hope my Seamaster will also collect many good (and some bad) memories.

Don’t get me wrong, I will wear this watch often but not daily because I have quite a few other watches that I really like to wear. Although these watches are not as expensive as this, still reasonably priced at € 2560,-, Seamaster, they are still very nice watches. The 2 I wear most are my Seiko SKX007 (great name for a watch ) on a Nato strap and my Orange Monster on a bracelet.

But to give you an example of scratching things you don’t want to scratch (O my god, this sounds terrible, let the remarks come in!). My uncle taught me a wise lesson. 11 years ago I bought a Gibson Les Paul. I was really careful with it until one day I picked up the case that it was in and remembered just a bit too late that I hadn’t closed the clasps. Needless to say, it made a very distinctive dent in the flamed top of my guitar. I wasn’t very pleased to say the least. However, my uncle who also plays guitar told me: “Don’t be sad, that is your scratch, it’s your guitar, you will make more and it only shows you use it. If you don’t want it to scratch, put it in a vault and just look at it and don’t play it.” One of the best lessons learned. I am still careful with it but it is obvious that it is a 11 year old guitar that has been played. My Seamaster will get the same treatment. Wear it, use it and don’t be sad when you can see you used and wore it.

minigeff

ACACIA_AVENUE wrote:

Hey MG never had mine serviced, do you send it away to Omega for the service?

With my first wage packet I bought a pair of Levi Jeans for 29 shillings and 6d (yes thats pre decimal)

Hi Rob,

Yeah I took my seamy to a high street jewellers where a mate of mine works. Funny story actually, cos my mate was sorting it, i got a discount, can't remember what it was but the bill was under £200. anyway, when i went in to pick it up, the snotty nosed bitch of a dep. manager said "no that can't be right, thats far too cheap for a full service", but my reciept said on it "nothing to more pay" on it. (i'd paid up front when dropping it off ya see) "well we've got your address if we need to take any more payment" said the cow.

I asked the young trainee who had hold of my watch if I could inspect that it'd been cleaned properly, she handed it over at which point I snapped it on my wrist, said thanks very much and walked out.

Next time I'll simply take it to another jewellers who will service it themselves, theres not much point in sending it back to omega again via an HRT driven soured old bag.

Higgins

welshboy78 wrote:

I have a mix of Omegas and Rolex

...... at least one of them hardly counts as a Rolex or a proper toolwatch.
It's just for folk who find green chique

Jacob

Been using my Seamaster everyday for 3 years now. Bracelet is of course scratched, but in my opinion, what's the point in having an expensive watch if you don't enjoy it often? I swim with it, but for more harsh outdoor activities I don't wear it.

BOFFER

Note for Acacia Ave / The answer is no but as with all such questions, the devil is in the detail. If it were me I would consider all points. First thing to say is that any Omega will always be better off going back to Omega, same story with Rolex as well. The downside is the cost, the upside is their knowledge. If its a quartz movement, send it to an indepndant as anyone can fix them. If its an automatic watch it needs to go to a specialist. At omega its pretty much £300.00 for whatever you need doing but for that it will have change of hands, new crown, all over polish to remove any scratches and full service / overhaul of the movement so when it returns it will be like new. If it only needs a service, you may get away with an independant service at half that amount but they will only look at what you tell them to fix, not whats actually wrong with it. If it runs perfect but just needs a polish, send it to an independant and £50.00 later it will look like new. Omega have a policy similar to Rolex now where they consider themselves to be the owner and you are merely the current custodian. On that basis they treat it as their own when it comes back to them and will always be good as new. At present they are cheaper than rolex to mainatin but catching up slowly and are now phasing out quartz models as they dont make any money on servicing them post sale. Hope this is helpful as you may have gathered watches are my hobby so please ask if you need any more advice. kind regads, mark rothwell

minigeff

Just a note, my seamy went to omega for a proper service, nothing was replaced, any parts that were to be replaced were at extra cost.

The bezel had a scratch in it at 9 o'clock, they tried polishing it out a bit, then moved the bezel anti-clockwise 90 degrees so the scratch is less noticable as it's now at 6 o'clock, the blue inlay is worn, that didn't get changed, theres a small scratch in the crown, thats still there and the hands don't look any different.

£300 = take apart, clean, oil, reassemble, test

replacing parts is extra, man.

BOFFER

Hi Minigeff, thats scandalous and although I dont know how long ago that was, they are pretty much on the ball in recent years. Its true that anything substantial on the appearance of the watch they will charge for such as new bezel or bezel insert etc but having sent many back to Omega they try and sweep up all the issues in one go. As an example if you just want a service its usually around £300.00 at Omega but its also just a nominal amount in excess of this for replacement parts, polish etc. Rolex are very similar but have been doing it longer so they are a polished act. I dont think Omega are far behind though. Also, Omega and Rolex policy is not to fit any parts that they havent just taken out of their drawer so if you send the watch to them with parts such as bezel and insert, hands etc that you have sourced yourself, they wont fit them as they class them as used. Independants are great for their flexibility in fitting aftermarket parts or cheap service etc but many dont do a proper job, thats the trouble. If anyone needs a good appraisal of their watch or service etc I would recommend Duncan at Genesis watches but as always do your opwn research. Good luck.

Coldheart96

I am currently wearing my PO on the rubber strap as my daily wear. Finishing up my latest tour in Afghanistan and when I get back, I'll send it in for servicing. Then, back in the office and I'll be wearing my daily Seamaster. I have the GE model and the CR model. I purchased the AT at xmas, right before I deployed. Looking forward to wearing it when I get back.

welshboy78

Bondtoys wrote:

welshboy78 wrote:

I have a mix of Omegas and Rolex

...... at least one of them hardly counts as a Rolex or a proper toolwatch.
It's just for folk who find green chique

Nothing wrong with green lol

Peppermill

Very cool to read all your opinions. Very good to hear someone is taking his Omega with him on his tour of duty! You must stand out between all the G-Shocks!

ics

BEST comments here, the story is so tru:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFtHjV4c4uw

nice story Jeffffff Markus.....

always shaken

I wear my Rolex GMT every day ,I swim with it both beach and pool
and have dived wearing it ,if it goes in the sea ,I just wack it under the tap
after its serviced reguly (cost about the same as me BMW) did once leave the crown
undone when I was hovering out the pool ,but it went back to Switzerland and hey presto
and£1000, later good as new ,Wore it all the time on duty the guvnors, didn't like it
they was more worried than us if they got broke they never did (we all had Omegas and Rolexs
on our squad ) I have a TAG MONACO also but I nomaly only wear that for best ,black tie ect
my insurance company advises that my wife and I get them valued independently every 2 years
so if they get nicked they will pay out the latest price

Asp9mm

Hah! I've worn my Comex (first run with handmade escape valve) on expedition in the Tanzanian desert. Bondtots wasn't happy )

Higgins

Cretin! 8-)

Asp9mm

Bondtoys wrote:

Cretin! 8-)

All the sand under the bezel, it just sounds and feels very gritty now. I shall spray some WD40 under it and see if it helps B-)

Voituer

A watch is a watch, a 2 buck one tells the same time as a 3k watch. I've worn my rolly sub nearly everyday for 12 years and it has great battle scars. I wash it with a scrubbing brush and fairy liquid and then it looks great again. I used to be a bit precious and wear a g shock for tough days but don't bother now. I guess it would be a shame to not wear it. I have quite a few 007 Omegas and seikos all mib but have never been tempted to wear anything other than me old sub. I'll probably die with it on and then its likely a relative will swap it for a seiko ) even worse a Casio 8-) They keep good time though