On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:51:34 +1000, Don McKenzie wrote:

geoff wrote:

Have you thought of maybe changing the battery ?

geoff

My Omega costs $35 a battery change.
They give you a 2 year warranty, and they always run out in 26 months.

Have seriously though of getting a $19.95 throw away watch, and flogging
my engraved gold retirement Omega.

I have an Omega *real* analog auto-wind (no battery) from the early sixties
that still runs like a swiss clock (cough!). It has a "one-piece-case" i.e. no
rear access - probably part of the 100m immersion rating. It needs a special
tool which apparently flexes the glass/perspec/acrylic front to remove it.

Recently had it serviced to assure ongoing watertightness, new stem seals etc
and the front polished to remove scratches. Probably good for another forty
years - will certainly outlast me.

Also use as my daily drive a Casio which runs about five years between battery
replacements (has barometric altimeter etc). But the replacement cost of
necessity includes seals and pressure testing, so it runs about $40 a time.