zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: Hi all,

: Had a great time perusing this forum!

: I am now - finally - breaking away from my
: trusty, incredibly accurate and reliable $30
: Timex and looking at a steel blue face AT,
: either 2503.80.00 or 2517.80.00. Love the
: look (if not the arrow on the minute hand)

Very nice wathces those ATs

: So many questions: - I am in the Northern CA
: Bay Area (SF/SJ) and would like to know a
: reliable AD with decent prices that won't
: rip me off. When I see that Bailey, Banks,
: and Biddle is one AD I cringe and think -
: $$$$.

: - What is a reasonable price for the quartz and
: chronometer standard size? Is the internet
: at all an option, or are the serial #s
: history?

You should be able to negotiate over the phone 25% Discount without much effort. The BB&B over here offered me a discount without asking. Ill email you a few dealers that I have experience with that will discount

: - Still struggling over quartz vs. chronometer.
: Did all the reading here and not afraid to
: spend the extra cash. But, I do like
: accuracy and reliability, and not crazy
: about having regular, expensive service.
: Conversely, I like the automatic feature and
: not have to replace a battery. I assume the
: battery needs to be replaced by an AD and
: will be $$$. The co-axial technology sounds
: great, but I'm not totally hung up on it. Is
: the look, weight, feel, quality from the
: outside any different between the two? Any
: help?

Well, thats more of a personal choice, but two schools of thought. If you follow the recommended maintenance intervals, about 5 years or so, they will likely cost you about the same overall. But with quartz, you should never experience service related issues, such as poor timekeeping, or other related mechanical breakdowns, so the likliehood is that a $20 batter every couple of years will be your after sale cost. With the auto, you might can get 10 years between service, but not likely. Believe me, 5 battery changes will not cost near what a full service will. Secondly, most people consider an automatic to be something special, a little mechanical marvel on your wrist. Myself included. Auto's have soul, quartz watches have a battery

: - Are there two or three sizes? I read about
: two, but see "chronometer",
: "mid size chronometer", and
: "big size chronometer". I guess I
: would have to try on each to see which fits
: better?

I believe there are three sizes, a 36mm, 39mm and 42mm

: - I am confused about the water resistance.
: It's supposed to go down to 150m, yet I hear
: not to wear it in the shower regularly or
: get it wet if you don't have to. What is the
: deal?

You will have a $2000 watch, why would you risk damage to the seals, etc by showering with it. It should stay out of the shower. The watch should be fine, but there are heat tolerances to factor in as well as water resistance, also, the crown may be a little undone which may allow moisture in. Not worth it, IMO

: Before looking at Omega, I was actually
: considering a Seiko kinetic perpetual. It's
: a quartz, but automatic in that the motion
: charges the capacitor. It has a huge reserve
: (4 years) because it can actually stop the
: hands to save power, and will reset the
: hands when you shake it. And, the calendar
: is perpetual. Very slick. Wish Omega had
: that technology...an automatic quartz. But,
: you can't deny the style and reputation of
: Omega.

Yeah, that kinetic quartz is slick, but that is just not Omega's target audience.

: Thanks to the great people here to help me
: finalize my decision...looking forward to my
: first real watch...

Good luck with your purchase

: Frank