Expensive watches on boats.
- Thread starter fredrussell
- Start date
Minerva
Well-known member
Obi
Active member
YEMV:
I would advice against a Speedmaster onboard, they are really not that strong and whacking it on anything hard will do a lot of damage. About 15 years ago I had a Speedmaster as a replacement from Omega after six Seamasters all failed and I did not want another Seamaster. One month later, wearing it under the protection of a leather jacket sleeve, someone bumped into me in the city centre, later that day I found the bezel in my pocket which had presumably been knocked off in the bump and luckily fell into my pocket.
That was it for me and Omega, I sent it back again (used to take 5 weeks to 3 months every time) Over 15 years my Omega watches spent at least 5 months of most years back at Omega.
After it came back with a new bezel I spoke to a reputable second hand dealer in London and swapped it for a 1990s Tudor Sub from the time when they were made on Rolex machines and by Rolex apprentices. That watch is now 30+ years old and despite 12,000 nm, rock climbing, windsurfing, yacht ownership and lots of other things that might give it a hard time - it does not show any marks at all and tells the time far more accurately than any Omega I had.
Edit: To insure my watches I always was told that I had to declare them as a high value item and pay an additional premium for them. Otherwise the value would not be covered - this is worth checking with your insurer to avoid any nasty surprises.
I would advice against a Speedmaster onboard, they are really not that strong and whacking it on anything hard will do a lot of damage. About 15 years ago I had a Speedmaster as a replacement from Omega after six Seamasters all failed and I did not want another Seamaster. One month later, wearing it under the protection of a leather jacket sleeve, someone bumped into me in the city centre, later that day I found the bezel in my pocket which had presumably been knocked off in the bump and luckily fell into my pocket.
That was it for me and Omega, I sent it back again (used to take 5 weeks to 3 months every time) Over 15 years my Omega watches spent at least 5 months of most years back at Omega.
After it came back with a new bezel I spoke to a reputable second hand dealer in London and swapped it for a 1990s Tudor Sub from the time when they were made on Rolex machines and by Rolex apprentices. That watch is now 30+ years old and despite 12,000 nm, rock climbing, windsurfing, yacht ownership and lots of other things that might give it a hard time - it does not show any marks at all and tells the time far more accurately than any Omega I had.
Edit: To insure my watches I always was told that I had to declare them as a high value item and pay an additional premium for them. Otherwise the value would not be covered - this is worth checking with your insurer to avoid any nasty surprises.
Seashoreman
Well-known member
Fred, get a grip on reality 'old' boy.
A guitar will take you places an expensive watch will not.
In the evening sitting on your boat you could either sit looking at your watch or
find that lost chord? No comparison in my world. I buy Casio/Limit etc, it just tells the time,
certainly doesn't make music.
A guitar will take you places an expensive watch will not.
In the evening sitting on your boat you could either sit looking at your watch or
find that lost chord? No comparison in my world. I buy Casio/Limit etc, it just tells the time,
certainly doesn't make music.
Obi
Active member
I absolutely agree, as far as I know the Speedmaster (if the original model Moonwatch) has a plastic dome not sapphire. A watch with sapphire will take a heck of a knock, a Speedmaster without this will definately break if bashed on something like a cleat or winch. Replacement parts are expensive, even individual strap links can sell for more than a lot of the watches mentioned here, glass expensive too. The service on a Speedmaster will likely be hundreds ££.
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-known member
Perhaps it's my heritage of Scottish frugality, but I would tend to classify this as a First World problem 
Skylark
Well-known member
I don’t like the term “expensive watch” as it’s so subjective. However, I do like a quality, mechanical watch. If you hanker after one, @fredrussell why not buy one, you’ll get a great deal of pleasure from ownership.
I have a sea dweller and a Yachtmaster. I wear one of them daily, whichever takes my fancy of a morning.
If, later, you still fancy a mid life crisis Porsche, buy one of those, too. Life is not a rehearsal, enjoy it while/if you can.
I have a sea dweller and a Yachtmaster. I wear one of them daily, whichever takes my fancy of a morning.
If, later, you still fancy a mid life crisis Porsche, buy one of those, too. Life is not a rehearsal, enjoy it while/if you can.
Dellquay13
Well-known member
Omega SA is owned by swatch group, famous for making cheap fun watches
Other swatch brands include Tag and Tissot
Other swatch brands include Tag and Tissot
Momac
Well-known member
100% correct
Obi
Active member
A better bet onboard might be the Swatch MoonSwatch. About £200 with an outer design based on the Speedmaster, and made of non precious stuff by Swatch. If this interests you it could be the watch for sailing in and switch to the Speedmaster for when you go ashore. Also something to consider ,if the MoonSwatch does interest you, is watch a few of the negative reviews on youtube, I seem to recall one talking about durability and quality being surpassed by other cheaper watches. Nevertheless for a small % on top of the Speedmaster cost you could have both and possibly this would feel like it ticks the box twice and better
Concerto
Well-known member
The most waterproof watch brand is supposed to be Rolex. Well I wore a Rolex to school and going sailing. One day the screw hand adjuster came undone and salt water got inside causing some major problems. Still being in education, it hurt my bank balance to get it sorted. Now I never wear an expensive watch whilst sailing.
P.S. The Rolex cost £69 in 1971 and recently I sold it for just over £1000 after fees at an auction.
P.S. The Rolex cost £69 in 1971 and recently I sold it for just over £1000 after fees at an auction.
fredrussell
Well-known member
I think that for a while the Speedmaster Professional has been available with crystal dome (not sure how long but I haven’t reached the stage of serious research yet). And cheers for your findings on Omega, very useful to have an ex-owners point of view.
fredrussell
Well-known member
Perhaps it's my heritage of Scottish frugality, but I would tend to classify this as a First World problem
Without a doubt!
John 32i
Active member
I have bought a couple of watches here www.watchfinder.co.uk you don't have to spend silly money to get a nice watch
Last purchase a 20 year old Omega Seamaster
Last purchase a 20 year old Omega Seamaster
Obi
Active member
The most waterproof watch brand is supposed to be Rolex. Well I wore a Rolex to school and going sailing. One day the screw hand adjuster came undone and salt water got inside causing some major problems. Still being in education, it hurt my bank balance to get it sorted. Now I never wear an expensive watch whilst sailing.
P.S. The Rolex cost £69 in 1971 and recently I sold it for just over £1000 after fees at an auction.
£69 and 1971! Amazing, how wonderful to have that memory.One thing a Rolex can be relied on for, is to be worth a lot more than it was bought for.
I had the same issue on my first ever Seamaster whilst windsurfing. Despite a raised shoulder either side of the crown the crown sheared off and the watch filled with water. Omega tried to say it was my fault, but after I responded they credited the cost towards another Seamaaster. The second Seamaster failed to be accurate within a month of ownership, gaining up to an hour a day. Several other replacement Seamasters went the same way. I actually ended up checking serial numbers to make sure they were not just sending me the same watch back. Eventually I refused another and moved to Speedmaster, which I kept for less than a year because the bezel fell off.
Omega prices have really inflated when compared to some other brands that were priced similarly to Omega 10+ years ago, Tag, Longines et al, Omega really hiked prices at unreasonable rates again and again. Probably chasing the gap between them and Rolex, something they seem to like to keep at a certain % of Rolex equivalents. That said Rolex hikes their prices frequently and severely too. So Omega I guess are just following suit.
FWIW, I would advice an old Tudor Sub if you really want to wear it all the time and not worry.
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PCUK
Well-known member
However my experience over 35 years with one Omega is the complete opposite!
PCUK
Well-known member
Well Fred, when you decide on your watch don't get a Rolex as they are the choice of tarts and taxi drivers.
Obi
Active member
In the 90's I was led to believe it was "builders and criminals" ;-)Well Fred, when you decide on your watch don't get a Rolex as they are the choice of tarts and taxi drivers.
It does seem I was suprisingly and continually unlucky with Omega.
fredrussell
Well-known member
Understood. If I do buy a nice watch, it will be a Speedmaster Professional, I just think it’s a very attractive watch, without being ‘blingy’ at all.
billyfish
Active member
What's a watch for ? Havn't had one for 60 years , never been late for anything .