Omega Water Resistance..

[Tools]

We occasionally get questions about "How deep can I go with my Omega ?"

This helpful chart is from the Omega Site..

Omega Water Resistance.jpg

[Numismatist]

Any thoughts on submersing it in salt water? Does the sand/salt scratch or dull the crystal? I'm always afraid to take it in the ocean.

[Robb]

Great chart Larry!!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Any thoughts on submersing it in salt water? Does the sand/salt scratch or dull the crystal? I'm always afraid to take it in the ocean.

I've never been in the ocean with a hesalite crystal Omega, but I've done plenty of snorkeling and beach worshiping with a Seamaster and Sapphire crystal.

I've never seen any ill affects, however, I do rinse off with fresh water after the days activities.

[Lubrifar]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing!

[gasguy98]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Any thoughts on submersing it in salt water? Does the sand/salt scratch or dull the crystal? I'm always afraid to take it in the ocean.

The Seamaster line was engineered and built as a Professional Diving watch. It is more at home on an underwater welders wrist at 500 feet than in a jewelry store showroom.

Actually, the saltwater will help remore debris from the steel. Just rinse it with fresh water afterword.

[DanP]

Originally Posted by gasguy98

The Seamaster line was engineered and built as a Professional Diving watch. It is more at home on an underwater welders wrist at 500 feet than in a jewelry store showroom.

Actually, the saltwater will help remore debris from the steel. Just rinse it with fresh water afterword.

Cool that makes sense

[58driver]

Thankf for the info!!

[pablo7]

Great chart...

[Perdu]

One correction to Omega's chart. The GMT is waterproof to 300 meters but has no helium valve.

[icnbne]

regardless of what they say, I wouldnt go in the shower or for a swim with a watch with 30 or 50m resistance..
btw, does Omega have a model with greater than 1000m water resistance?

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by children

regardless of what they say, I wouldnt go in the shower or for a swim with a watch with 30 or 50m resistance..
btw, does Omega have a model with greater than 1000m water resistance?

It does now with the new Ploprof. Though it is one hell of an ugly brute, it's got a nice heritage, and was relaunched at Basel this year. Not sure whether it's on a limited run or not, but expect to see it in ADs soon.

[Flaxmoore]

Originally Posted by children

regardless of what they say, I wouldnt go in the shower or for a swim with a watch with 30 or 50m resistance..
btw, does Omega have a model with greater than 1000m water resistance?

I sure would. I had a beater Timex when I worked as summer camp staff, rated to 50m, and I didn't take that thing off for a month straight. It can handle the water just fine. Chlorine, lake, shower, didn't matter. The only reason I retired it was that the case started to rust thanks to my acid sweat.

[strapboy]

Hi, i'm newbie here, and decide to buy a diving watch later.
is it really ok for a 30mm to 100mm watch submerged in water? And curious that why they also marked it 30m, but seems not really afford 30m water resistance.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by strapboy

Hi, i'm newbie here, and decide to buy a diving watch later.
is it really ok for a 30mm to 100mm watch submerged in water? And curious that why they also marked it 30m, but seems not really afford 30m water resistance.

I definitely would not sweat it. However, just to be safe, I would not go swimming with a 30M rated watch. The 100M should be fine. Showers, doing the dishes, etc. should be fine for both watches.

[JJ Irani]

Great info and chart, Larry, but I have a very straight-forward, simple question....

Are ROLEX the only ones who are allowed to use the term Waterproof as opposed to all the rest who never use that term, but instead say Water-resistant only?

Thanks - JJ

[Tools]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Great info and chart, Larry, but I have a very straight-forward, simple question....

Are ROLEX the only ones who are allowed to use the term Waterproof as opposed to all the rest who never use that term, but instead say Water-resistant only?

Thanks - JJ

Good question..

There is a standard that covers what can or cannot be called a waterproof vs water resistant watch..

Standard ISO 2281:1990 ... I'm not going to get into it, except to say that they have determined how you can mark or market certain water-resistant attributes of a watch..and specifies language......Here it is here if anybody is interested:

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue...?csnumber=7100

Diver watches are not covered by this... they are considered differently as they are waterproof and must meet certain stiffer testing standards... ISO 6425:1996

[JJ Irani]

Thanks, Larry!!

[vjb.knife]

Originally Posted by gasguy98

The Seamaster line was engineered and built as a Professional Diving watch. It is more at home on an underwater welders wrist at 500 feet than in a jewelry store showroom.

Actually, the saltwater will help remore debris from the steel. Just rinse it with fresh water afterword.

Actually this is not quite true, especially the underwater welding part. This is one underwater activity that would quite possibly ruin most watches regardless of type or brand. I would not suggest it.

[rmcarlton]

Thanks for the info!

[jacquescr]

I bought a Speedmaster a couple of days ago. I bought the special edition for the 40 years of Apollo 11. I always wear diving watches, Submariner or Seamaster, and I never take them off my wrist. So I asked at the store, given that the Speedmaster is only 50m water resistant, if I can take showers with it and go swimming. They said that it is better not, that it is not designed for that. I can but I have to take the watch for an exam every year if I did.
Has anybody wears or has worn the Speedmaster in the shower/sea?

[RW16610]

Ah so yes, annual pressure testing is all they were suggesting there as with any watch. Have herd that people did it but for me i'm really paranoied... I would not feel so great going swimming with that watch because of the fact it has no screw down crown and the pusher buttons (if they get pressed in or under water....). It can be done but if I had both watches would always pick one with a screw down crown and the works just for that added protection etc. Some call it over engineering but I feel it is all done for a reason.

[Rikki]

I went diving with a guy who had a 50 meter Casio we were at around 80' and it blew watch was new he got a new one but never took it diving again. I use a Citizen Hyper Aqua land love the watch. I got my first one 24 years ago and have never done anything to it but wear it, it was a digianalog. My new one is all digital. I use it as a back up to my Suunto Dive computer. Rik the watchmaker

[RW16610]

That is very interesting, Rik. I find (well from what is seen on TV and stuff like that) a lot of people who dive do not seem to wear more expensive watches doing it. To each their own though, guess for those who chose not to I could not blame them incase something happens and the higher repair costs etc.

[Gerardus]

Cool info, thanxs

[groovejosh]

Thanks

[audifred]

Originally Posted by Perdu

One correction to Omega's chart. The GMT is waterproof to 300 meters but has no helium valve.

Perdu, the current model GMT appears to have a Helium Escape Valve according to the following link.

http://www.omega.ch/index.php?id=288...000&no_cache=1

[Pastor in the house]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Great info and chart, Larry, but I have a very straight-forward, simple question....

Are ROLEX the only ones who are allowed to use the term Waterproof as opposed to all the rest who never use that term, but instead say Water-resistant only?

Thanks - JJ

I don't even think Rolex uses that terminology any more...I think it is more for legal reasons than anything else.

[dwr]

Hi, I am a newbe, I received an Omega seamaster deville on the late 60's. I don't think it is water resistant. Why do they call it "seamaster"?

[wyattearp]

So according to the Omega website, the Speedmaster Reduced is resistant to 100m(despite not having a screw down crown or case back)?