zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: This debate, which tends to pop-up every other
: week on this forum, is easily dealt with.

Believe me, it will keep coming up in this and other forums quite often. For whatever reason, people have different preferences and tastes and tend to argue in favor of what they like or think is "better".

: If you want superior accuracy, superior
: robustness (5000G's remember), simplicity
: and convenience, then buy the quartz
: version.
: There is no need to constantly adjust the time
: to an accurate source and this will save the
: screw down crown from becoming worn from
: constant adjustment and readjustment.

These are FACTS. Very difficult to counter or disregard them.

: As for the myth that an auto can be as accurate
: if you get to know your watch and place it
: in several different positions depending on
: whether you want it to lose/gain time -
: forget that carry on. Thats a manufactured
: accuracy - no good if you never take your
: watch off.

Although position does influence accuracy, the argument that a mechanical can be compensated in this way, seems more a rationalization than a practical solution. I have been wearing a Rolex Datejust everyday for 10 years, RARELY taking it of and it consistently gains 2 seconds a day. After a recent overhaul, it still runs exactly 1 minute fast every month no matter what.

: If you marvel at the wonders of intricate
: machines, are mesmerised by a sweep second
: hand and want a precisely engineered
: movement (mass produced) which has been
: tweaked by Omega, then buy the auto. People
: who like fiddling with things and watching
: grass grow will marvel that a piece of
: technology based on the 1600's can be so
: accurate (-6/+3 per day) and will spend
: hours watching the second hand tick (some
: may even stay up late to catch the rapid
: date spin over rapidly).

All the efforts invested in advancing those wonderfully intricate mechanical movements had a purpose (to be more accurate, robust etc). Quartz has clearly taken over that turf.

Note: Probably a tipo, but it should be +6/-4

: Just remember, both versions require regular
: servicing (battery replacement for the
: quartz). In fact Omega reccommend having the
: water resistency checked before the
: "bathing season" which implies at
: least annually. So don't buy into the con
: that an auto will require less servicing.
: And if anything goes wrong it won't matter
: what you've got. The watch is a luxury item.
: Anything major outside the warranty period
: and it's bound to be costly to fix.

A ten year lithium battery would in part take care of this issue. The watch would still have to be tested for water resistency, but would not have to be opened every 3 years or so.

Omega's quartz watches are definitely good for their price range. I enjoy owning two of them, a SMP Bond and a Constellation Perpetual Calendar.

Four things would make them even better:

For the SMP, further improving the accuracy of the quartz movement would be a major plus. A temperature compensated movement would be great. (A watch can never be too accurate). According to Omega, the SMP caliber 1538 runs +/- 5 secs a month, and certainly enough, mine runs +4 every 30 days. Not too impressive considering that a cheaper 12 year old Tissot ETA caliber 955.112 runs at +2 secs a month and sometimes even better (and it is a very basic movement, has no temperature compensation, major adjustments or finishing).

For all of their watches, using better quality steel is a necessity. The SMP has a beautiful bracelet, but it scratches too easily.

For certain models, don't change the look continually. Learn from the competition. Stick to a succesfull style and make it a classic.

: And last, the quartz was the first to be seen
: worn by P.Brosnon in Goldeneye making it the
: true Bond watch.

Totally irrelevant to horology, but great for advertising purposes.

In the end, you have to read, reason and experiment with different watches before jumping into anecdotal conclusions. Sometimes, thing are not better, just different. Buy whatever you prefer and makes you happy, and above all, enjoy it. Very few things are as intimate as a watch, YOUR watch.