Omega Seamaster Quartz - 17 years on still ticking. Review on Omega Watches

I own and wear an Omega Seamaster Professional 200 watch (midsize stainless steel quartz - case diameter of 36mm, thickness of 10.5mm) since 1992. This is the watch you will find me wearing 99 percent of my watch-wearing-time, which is, whenever I am not at home. I do have like a Cartier Tank, an Omega DeVille, a LaSalle and a couple of more.

The build quality of the Seamaster screams out 'rock-solid' or 'indestructible'. The design and styling, copied by many to say the least, is something that never seems to go out of date. After 17-odd years of everyday use, four or five battery changes and one trip to the factory for a full service, I can justified the higher cost of investment. I paid an equivalent of around Rs. 23,000 in those days. When you throw in some courteous attention given by Omega and its agents in helping you maintain the watch in good working order, the value-quotient begins to look even better.

Writing a review on the Omega Seamaster can be summed up in a few words: well built, keeps perfect time, year after year, and your grandson will inherit it one day, that's it. However, I thought relating a more meaningful story may be nicer. So, here's my Seamaster story:

- Why the Seamaster?

For a few years prior to this purchase, I was into some water related outdoor hobbies (fishing, sailing, snorkeling, some white-water rafting and a bit of scuba diving too) and I needed a no-nonsense water-proof watch. Secondly, three out of the four instructors at PADI (scuba-diving-school) wore Seamasters and swore by it. That was it; I just had to have one. It cost me a bit lesser than the Cartier Tank but a lot more than the ultra-slim (3mm) Omega DeVille I was wearing then. Discount offers on high-end watches or bargaining tactics were something unheard of with watch boutiques in the UAE. Duty free shopping, say, in Zurich or Amsterdam airport, it would have been 15% to 20% lower.

- Where?

I bought this watch in 1992 from the Omega distributor in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I wished it was just a case of walking into a showroom, picking one up and paying for it, but then, it was not to be so. Of the two or three models of Seamasters available then, none of them fitted me comfortably. They were all too bulky and heavy for my skinny wrist (14cms dia). I even tried on a blue 'ladies' version of the Seamaster where the narrower width of the bracelet distinctly screamed "what's-with-you-man?” No dice.

I was on the verge of giving up and walking out of the shop when a gentleman who was seated in a glass paneled room at the rear end of the showroom (who, I reckon, was watching me all the time) came up to me, introduced himself as the owner of the shop (one of the 'sons' in Khoury & Sons) and asked me if he can be of some help. I related the skinny-wrist vs. bulky-watch dilemma. He invited me into his office and offered me the latest Omega catalogue to browse and hot cup of red 'suleimanni' tea. He went on to explain that Omega had recently introduced a new mid-size gent's Seamaster and that may suit me. However, that particular model was not in stock.

While I was sipping 'suleimanni' and sifting through Omega photos, he went on to make a few phone calls, enquiring with Omega outlets in other parts of the UAE to see if anyone had a midsize Seamaster. No luck. Eventually, he agreed to get me one directly from Omega in Switzerland, if I could wait for, say, two to three weeks. Again, this guy seemed to be good at reading minds. "No problem", he said, "I will order one anyway and if you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. Just leave your phone number with me." I did not make a down payment. Three weeks later I was heading out to sea with a mid-size Omega Seamaster Professional 200 on my wrist - black dial, black bezel, stainless steel case/bracelet. In terms of customer service, if this is not a good start, then what is?

- How good?

This watch has gone through anything you can possibly think of, from 10 meters underwater in the sea (190 meters still to go!) to bucket full of petrol (while cleaning an outboard motor parts), from freezing Alps/Rocky Mountains to stifling Indian/UAE summers. It is always on my wrist when I step out of the house. Sweat and shock inducing games like tennis, golf, sailing, cycling, camping, etc., etc., does no harm to this watch. Once in a while, just a quick wash under tap water with a toothbrush followed by a wipe-dry with a soft cloth and it's looking new and ready to do what it does best - tell time with accuracy. With a battery change every once in two to three years, it has always kept time perfectly (a couple of seconds this way or that for every calendar year).

The clarity of the luminous dial is something I like very much, it tells the time from as far as ten feet, day or night. The locking twin folding clasp of the bracelet has an additional function. Releasing the smaller clasp allows for an increase of 2 to 3 cm to the overall size of the bracelet which allows you to wear the watch over wet suits (if your are into water sports). One more comforting thought that many will appreciate, this bracelet does not tug or pull at the wrist hairs.

- Anything negative?

After 17 years, if I have to nitpick, these are the things: (a) Over the years, the luminous coating on the hands and hour markings were beginning to look, well, a bit faded. (b) One of the retaining pin that holds the links together on the bracelet pops out a millimeter or so occasionally - no big deal, I just push it back with the thumb. (c) Once in ten to twelve years the seals located on the back and the locking crown needs to be replaced, that is if the watch has to go underwater every so often (mine was changed after 15 years). (d) A titanium version would have been nice, 30% lighter on the wrist. (e) Somewhat pricey.