zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: Dear omega friends,

: I am the owner of a SMP 300 auto for 3,5 years.
: The watch still runs good. My AD told me that
: there is no need to open the watch aslong it
: runs properly, and that the waterresistance
: is guaranteed (btw the shop is closing the
: doors in a few months..)
: Any advice? I´m not a diver, more the
: desk-master kind of guy (swimming, shower,
: wash my bike and car...)

: Thanks!

: Ralph

I agree (as usual) with Steve. If you wear your watch while swimming and showering, you should have it pressure tested for water resistance every year. This can be done by a local watchmaker if he has the equipment, or Omega can do it for you. It's always better to err on the side of caution than risk hundreds of dollars on water damage. I also agree 100% that it is a bad idea to shower with a watch on. Not only can the extreme changes in temperature be a problem, but the soap can attack the seals resulting in premature loss of water tightness.

This topic has come up countless times on all three of the Omega forums I participate in, and the consensus is always that wearing a watch in the shower is a BAD IDEA.

As far as basic servicing, Omega has their general guidelines of every 4-5 years for a mechnical, non-co-axial watch like your SMP. However, my 3 years and 8 months old Bond SMP is running better than ever (at last check it gained 5 seconds in 49 days!!!). So, if it continues to keep great time, I will be hesitant to send it in for servicing simply because it has hit the 5 year mark. The first sign a watch needs servicing is usually poor timekeeping, so I think if you keep an eye on this you'll know when your watch is truly in need of a routine servicing.

-John