zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

My first expensive Swiss mechanical watch only lasted for around 6 months. It fell from my hand on an asphalt road (the strap came loose) while riding a bicycle at 20 kph. The watch received some big scratches and the setting button at 8:00 o'clock was completely bent. I was so devastated that I didn't even bother checking its accuracy anymore.
I had my second expensive Swiss watch (Omega Seamaster AT) only for a couple of weeks and it slipped from my hand from approx. 60 centimeters onto my bathrom sink while I was trying pick it up. Fortunately, nothing happened to it.
I honestly can't believe that even a quartz watch would survive an impact of 5000 g's under real-life conditions. It depends on too many other factors, such as angle. Such parameters under labratory conditions sound great but I doubt that they are realistc.

Common man

: No, the actual peak shock of impact is far
: greater than just the accelleration of
: gravity. It has a lot to do with the exact
: angle of impact and the shock dissipation of
: the surface the impact is against.

: Besides, OMEGA mechanical watches are ***NOT***
: shock resistant to 5000g! That rating is
: only for the analog QUARTZ models. The
: mechanicals ones are less shock
: resistant--though OMEGA does not quote an
: actual rating on them, only that they comply
: with the ISO and other international
: standards for mechanical wristwatch shock
: resistance.

: A one-meter fall to a wood floor is usually not
: a problem for a good mechanical watch. But a
: one-meter fall to a concrete or tile floor
: can exceed the shock resistance.