Thread: Bit of a mystery?

I learnt a while back, probably more than 18years ago, that the only watch that could deal with my abuse was a brand that had a model starting with 'G'.

With that I have only ever had two of them. The first one lasted 9 or so years before this particular brands service centre said they couldn't revive it any more and it was due a replacement.

That particular watch saw a bunch of defence training and exercises, being driven over by a couple of 110's, repeatedly knocked and smashed in tight spaces working as a mechanic and of course the shock when using hammers and power tools etc.

It had 3 batteries and a replacement band. Almost all the work was carried out by a factory service centre, where it had to be sent to and it only gave up after a battery was hastely fitted at one of those shopping centre repair stalls. I was hoping sending it away would get it going again.

Watch number two was pretty much just as indestructible. It had a battery change and pressure test at the 3 year mark and worked a treat for another three.

Again hastely and forgetting a previous experience I had a shopping centre mob fit its second battery. Two or so weeks later the screen became dim and the buttons wouldn't operate when pressed. I get back to the watch mob and it the same, test good and the watch must be knackered.

Get back to Adelaide and send it away to see what the go is and it comes back fine with only the battery needing replacement.

The band is very near gone again and I was informed there are no bands available, so I might have to look at getting a third one in the future..

+1 for that brand. As above, 1st one copped a flogging in the military lasted about 10 year and 3 batteries I think. 2nd one is now about 10 years old has a solar cell around the dial and I have never put a battery in it. Replaced the band and it just keeps going.

The mystery doesn't have anything at all to do with the brand of watch.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by 350RRC

The mystery doesn't have anything at all to do with the brand of watch.

cheers, DL

Yeah I gathered as much. I guess I was hoping to point out that when I had paid good money for a factory service centre to replace battery/repair they were fine, but ol mate $15 battery replacement always had an issue.

At no time did this guy put a good (known to me) battery in either of the watches that had stopped while I watched. He was just telling me they were good going by the tester and neither watch ran.

All three are running fine as of today with new batteries put in by moi. Been putting batteries in watches since the 80's.

DL

how the hell do you guys get watches to last that long.

except for dive computer style watches that only come out of the bag for the trip I have NEVER managed to get a watch to outlast its battery....

It sounds as though you should give up the damp life on a rolling wave & become a 'Watch Battery Changing Technician'. You have obviously had a good, dare I say, "Grounding," & you must have a degree by now.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

how the hell do you guys get watches to last that long.

except for dive computer style watches that only come out of the bag for the trip I have NEVER managed to get a watch to outlast its battery....

Spending a fair bit more on the watch than a battery replacement helps.

After the glass got smashed on the two (non rooted) ones I did actively search for the leather bands that my grandfather used to use with the moulded cover that went over the watch itself. The cover had a press stud so you just pulled a tang to look at the face and then pushed it back down.

Couldn't find them anywhere. They were tan in colour.

He was a diesel engineer, fitter and turner, farmer etc and it worked well for him.

Now I think of it, i reckon Jack Absalom used to use them too.

DL