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What do you want one of those for???

In Response To: Explorer2 or Schumacher Speedmaster Chrono? ()

: what to do! will the speedmaster last a life time : like a rolex will? hmmm...does anyone have any
: scientific documentation to support omega's
: supposedly "rolex caliber" movements/ overall
: make?

You are comparing two very different watches. What do you want a new watch for? Do you really need the 24-Hour hand? Do you really need a Chronograph? Do you really need the Triple Date? Regardless of the make I would think it would be beneficial to know what the next watch you purchase needs to have in order for you to "pull the trigger". At this point you are comparing to very different watches in terms of features. It's like comparing a Mustang to an Explorer. Two very different products.

As for your query about "scientific documentation" about Omega's quality... I am not aware of any, nor am I aware of any "scientific documentation" about Rolex's purported quality aside from Walt Odets article on TZ a while back. You probably won't like that article...

I can only speak of personal experience about the one Omega that I have owned for a _long_ time. I purchased an Omega Speedmaster Mark II from a pawn shop on State Street in Chicago during the Christmas season of 1983 for $115. I bought it as my "High-Risk Environment" watch which I wore as a work watch for the better part of 14+ years. During that time, aside from replacement bracelets the watch cost me exactly $5 to maintain. It kept great, near perfect, time and just ran and ran good. Last fall I had it serviced at a cost of $150. Despite the fact that it was continuing to run great I felt that it was long past time to have it serviced. The watchmaker stated that the c.861 movement (same as used in the moonwatch) was in great shape and a cleaning and lube was all that was necessary.

So I guess the question boils down to... Would an Rolex have performed as well? Maybe, maybe not. As I don't have any personal experience with Rolexes I really can't say. I know what the Omega has going through, and it has come through like a champ. It is possible maybe even probable that a Rolex could perform as well, I doubt even a new Rolex could have performed any better than my Pawn-Shop orphan Speedmaster has.

Seriously, if you are set on getting an Explorer and Walt Odets article doesn't bother you, then go for it. The sad thing is that unless you get both you never really know if you would have been happier with the other one.

-- Chuck