Omega Seamaster Pro Chronograph (2225.80)
Gen is water resistant to 300 Meter or 1000ft
Watch Provided by Timesshop
Gen Box provided by dream-watch @ watchnet
I really wanted the "Bond" version initially but the inaccuracies of that model were too much for me to bear. Although I did find out Ofrei has Gen parts available to fix many of the issues, you can even buy a complete gen case if you are of a mind to do so (Price just shy of $700 USD). Thanks to R2D4, I had the catalogs the whole time and never noticed!
The Chrono really grew on me fast however, so it was with excitement that I pulled the trigger on this one. I will later upgrade it with gen parts, a gen dial, gen hands, and may be do the whole case. Rep chronos are usually harder to seal up to any great depth, but as it turns out, this rep case may be able to do service at the same depth the gen does...read on!
This is the first time I pushed my tester to 20 ATM, its max. It wasnt without trepidation either...I have been watching video all day of the nuclear reactor in Japan going up and I envisioned quite intensely the pressure chamber going up in a mushroom shaped cloud as I pumped furiously away. Yes I have done my math, and it should handle many times that amount of pressure, but the math is based from sources on the internet...well you get the picture. If you do hear an earth shattering kaboom in the future (think Marvin the Martian) I have likely launched myself into orbit and succeeded in obtaining my very first (and last) Darwin award.
I lubed the gaskets with silicone grease all but the pushers. They are really tightly installed, and I didnt want to mar the case improvising so I decided to test it as is. If it failed I could simply get a tool and remove them. Well boys and girls, ladies and germs...
with nothing more than grease and reassembly...
it tested to... wait for it!
20 ATM!!!
Yep, thats right...20 ATM, 200 Meters, or 660 ft! God I was so pleased I almost orgasmed...can I say that here? Oh well, apologies if I crossed a line but dang I was a happy camper! This is a rep chrono, virtually out of the box. I tested the case empty and let it sit for an our before depressurising the chamber and removing it. Result: dry as a bone. AWESOME.
Who says a Bergeon chamber can't go to 20?
No wet stuff inside, so far so good!
After an hour, still nice and dry on the inside.
Ok, so here is what I did...first remove the case back, then the magnetic shield and expose the movement. Release and remove the stem and crown by depressing button 1. Then remove the two screws (2) and the movement is ready to leave the case.
I started with the helium valve...Use a screw driver and turn the screw counter clockwise. If you unscrew the valve cap first you will have to hold it with your fingers while backing out the stem. Next unscrew the valve cap.
Remove the cap and stem. You can see the empty tube from the inside.
There is a small o-ring inside the tube. Come at it from the outside and give it some grease. (I use and artist brush but watch for stray bristles as some brushes can shed).
Next there is a small gasket inside the valve cap, grease it. (Helium valve cap and stem pictured).
Reassemble Stephanie, reassemble! Place the cap on the outside and screw it down. Hold it firmly and place the stem back in from the inside of the case, and screw it down clockwise until tight. Now for the crown tube. The crown tube has no gaskets but it does have threads on the inside of the tube.
There are two o-rings stacked in the crown. Lube these.
I deally you would want to remove the pushers and lube them too, but since it tested ok I will leave it be for now. When I get a tool, I will remove the pushers and add that info in.
The last thing to grease is the case back gasket. You can grease the grove, insert the gasket, then grease to top of the gasket or if you have a flat silicone container, pop the gasket into it and close the lid and it will grease both sides at once. Either way make sure you grease the whole gasket, not just the surface.
This crystal was fully pressed when I checked it while the movement was out. It is a good idea to press the crystal to be sure it is seated before testing, if you have a press. It wouldnt be the first rep that came with crystal that was not pressed in properly.
I tested the case empty to depth first, to see if it leaks under pressure. If you are testing it with a standard 3 ATM tester you can re-insert the movement, then the crown stem (it helps to depress the stem release button while inserting the stem) and tighten the case back. Then test in the usual manner. If you dont have a tester then I recommend you take it to a local watch smith and have it tested. But if you are going to get the watch wet at the very least grease the gaskets as an added measure of safety.
After I was done putting it back together I retested with the movement installed just to make sure I didnt have any leaks from a pinched gasket or debris.
All Done!
Lume is so so, and the wrong color. I will probably mix up a batch and address this sometime soon.
The watch and box both arrived today! Great timing.
Thanks for looking!
:watching:
Gen is water resistant to 300 Meter or 1000ft
Watch Provided by Timesshop
Gen Box provided by dream-watch @ watchnet
I really wanted the "Bond" version initially but the inaccuracies of that model were too much for me to bear. Although I did find out Ofrei has Gen parts available to fix many of the issues, you can even buy a complete gen case if you are of a mind to do so (Price just shy of $700 USD). Thanks to R2D4, I had the catalogs the whole time and never noticed!
The Chrono really grew on me fast however, so it was with excitement that I pulled the trigger on this one. I will later upgrade it with gen parts, a gen dial, gen hands, and may be do the whole case. Rep chronos are usually harder to seal up to any great depth, but as it turns out, this rep case may be able to do service at the same depth the gen does...read on!
This is the first time I pushed my tester to 20 ATM, its max. It wasnt without trepidation either...I have been watching video all day of the nuclear reactor in Japan going up and I envisioned quite intensely the pressure chamber going up in a mushroom shaped cloud as I pumped furiously away. Yes I have done my math, and it should handle many times that amount of pressure, but the math is based from sources on the internet...well you get the picture. If you do hear an earth shattering kaboom in the future (think Marvin the Martian) I have likely launched myself into orbit and succeeded in obtaining my very first (and last) Darwin award.
I lubed the gaskets with silicone grease all but the pushers. They are really tightly installed, and I didnt want to mar the case improvising so I decided to test it as is. If it failed I could simply get a tool and remove them. Well boys and girls, ladies and germs...
with nothing more than grease and reassembly...
it tested to... wait for it!
20 ATM!!!
Yep, thats right...20 ATM, 200 Meters, or 660 ft! God I was so pleased I almost orgasmed...can I say that here? Oh well, apologies if I crossed a line but dang I was a happy camper! This is a rep chrono, virtually out of the box. I tested the case empty and let it sit for an our before depressurising the chamber and removing it. Result: dry as a bone. AWESOME.
Who says a Bergeon chamber can't go to 20?
No wet stuff inside, so far so good!
After an hour, still nice and dry on the inside.
Ok, so here is what I did...first remove the case back, then the magnetic shield and expose the movement. Release and remove the stem and crown by depressing button 1. Then remove the two screws (2) and the movement is ready to leave the case.
I started with the helium valve...Use a screw driver and turn the screw counter clockwise. If you unscrew the valve cap first you will have to hold it with your fingers while backing out the stem. Next unscrew the valve cap.
Remove the cap and stem. You can see the empty tube from the inside.
There is a small o-ring inside the tube. Come at it from the outside and give it some grease. (I use and artist brush but watch for stray bristles as some brushes can shed).
Next there is a small gasket inside the valve cap, grease it. (Helium valve cap and stem pictured).
Reassemble Stephanie, reassemble! Place the cap on the outside and screw it down. Hold it firmly and place the stem back in from the inside of the case, and screw it down clockwise until tight. Now for the crown tube. The crown tube has no gaskets but it does have threads on the inside of the tube.
There are two o-rings stacked in the crown. Lube these.
I deally you would want to remove the pushers and lube them too, but since it tested ok I will leave it be for now. When I get a tool, I will remove the pushers and add that info in.
The last thing to grease is the case back gasket. You can grease the grove, insert the gasket, then grease to top of the gasket or if you have a flat silicone container, pop the gasket into it and close the lid and it will grease both sides at once. Either way make sure you grease the whole gasket, not just the surface.
This crystal was fully pressed when I checked it while the movement was out. It is a good idea to press the crystal to be sure it is seated before testing, if you have a press. It wouldnt be the first rep that came with crystal that was not pressed in properly.
I tested the case empty to depth first, to see if it leaks under pressure. If you are testing it with a standard 3 ATM tester you can re-insert the movement, then the crown stem (it helps to depress the stem release button while inserting the stem) and tighten the case back. Then test in the usual manner. If you dont have a tester then I recommend you take it to a local watch smith and have it tested. But if you are going to get the watch wet at the very least grease the gaskets as an added measure of safety.
After I was done putting it back together I retested with the movement installed just to make sure I didnt have any leaks from a pinched gasket or debris.
All Done!
Lume is so so, and the wrong color. I will probably mix up a batch and address this sometime soon.
The watch and box both arrived today! Great timing.
Thanks for looking!
:watching:
