VSF Omega Aqua Terra with clone 8500A Impressions

[DarkOmega]

My first rep is a VSF Omega Aqua Terra with clone 8500A movement. I've talked about it other places a little bit, but wanted to give it some wrist time to see how I truly feel.

It went off for a service pretty much immediately after I received it and got the spa treatment and pressure testing. The serviceman I sent this off to is reputable around here, so I'm confident that the watch is in its best possible condition. The movement amplitude is a little below 300 on a timegrapher, which concerned me. But after wearing the watch for about a month straight, I don't really think that low amplitude affects much.

The one area I know it is difficient is the power reserve. This thing wants to be my daily. The power reserve *maybe* lasts 24hrs. I usually wear my watch during the week and less on the weekends, so on Saturday or Sunday it will stop if I don't put it on for a few hours. This has led to me wearing it around the house just to make sure it doesn't stop. The handful of times it has stopped, it's simply required a manual winding and a miniscule bump. I'm just worried it'll stop and never start again.

So yeah, I'm overall very pleased with this and have started looking into my next rep. I'm thinking a Clean Daytona would make a nice addition to the collection. Thanks for reading!

 

[mclarendude]

Amplitude below 300 is not bad at all, anything above 250 or 275 is great for a rep clone. Hell, VR3135's run at 250 and below. Gen Seiko's run in the lower 250's too. Amplitude is not always an indication of a good thing. You can even find online what range of amplitude each movement has.

If it was serviced by someone reputable here, you should not be scared that it'll stop and never start. That's the point of proactively servicing it. I would be worried if you didn't service it. Servicing cuts the chances of it crapping out by more than half. Specially if the servicer did a good and through job.

Power reserve is tricky, because the movement does not charge as much as people think. It takes an ETA 2824/2836 about one full rotor rotation for it to wind one click of tension.

I bought one my closest friends an EWF OP 36 and she was annoyed that the PR was low. But, when I asked her about her wearing habits, the watch just didn't get that much movement as she has a desk job. I recommended a winder and the problem was solved. So, I would ask you to think about your daily habits, are you an active person daily? Or are you more sedentary? If the latter, then you need to wind it or get a winder.

The 8500 also has two barrels to ensure it gets great PR, I've had about 10 of these 8500 powered watches and have never had an issue with PR. If you have a sedentary wearing habit, I'm certain it is running on one barrel.

Re: Clean Daytona, you cannot go wrong there. The 4130 movement clone is a marvel.

 

[DarkOmega]

This was serviced by Strodda. I initially didn't mention him by name since he's no longer on the trusted list and has a reputation for being difficult to get ahold of. Since this hobby has a lot to do with patience, I had no problem being patient for the service.

Thanks for the clarification on the amplitude. Since this is my first, I was going off the full amplitude and I can't remember where I read that being over 300 is the best. So I was crossing my fingers and hoping I got one of the best on offer. Amplitude was 286 after service, so from what you've said this is an exemplary specimen.

I also have a desk job, but it does require me to go walk in a 100,000sqft warehouse. It's not completely sedentary, but point taken on the winder. I'll look into options since it's probably on one barrel, like you mentioned. Thanks!

Re: Clean Daytona, you cannot go wrong there. The 4130 movement clone is a marvel.

This is what I keep reading in every corner of this hobby and I'm itching to pull the trigger on one to get it on my wrist.

 

[mclarendude]

286 is an awesome amplitude number. As the oil continues to settle, it will probably improve.

Another misconception, at least to me, is that watches can get fully wound after just winding it a few times and a day's wear. It is more of one winding it completely or almost completely and then the auto module keeping it topped off.

The difference is with Seiko most Seiko's don't have manual winding. Seiko's magic lever auto winding makes it different since it will capture any type of wind no matter how miniscule the movement is in either direction, which is why Cartier and TAG Heuer are now using it.

Do not worry about it!

 

[alvesaw]

I was told to wound the watch daily when I woke up every morning. This is misleading?

 

[mclarendude]

I was told to wound the watch daily when I woke up every morning. This is misleading?

Not necessarily. If you have an active lifestyle, then no.

 

[alvesaw]

Not necessarily. If you have an active lifestyle, then no.

Sorry man, what do you mean by an active lifestyle? I mostly work from home but wear my watch the whole day. I just remove it before I shower and sleep. What do you reckon? lol

 

[mclarendude]

I bought one my closest friends an EWF OP 36 and she was annoyed that the PR was low. But, when I asked her about her wearing habits, the watch just didn't get that much movement as she has a desk job. I recommended a winder and the problem was solved. So, I would ask you to think about your daily habits, are you an active person daily? Or are you more sedentary? If the latter, then you need to wind it or get a winder.

^^^^

Sorry man, what do you mean by an active lifestyle? I mostly work from home but wear my watch the whole day. I just remove it before I shower and sleep. What do you reckon? lol

See what I quoted above. You can wear the watch all day, but if you do not cause enough movement, the rotor won't oscillate to wind the mainspring.

 

[alvesaw]

^^^^


See what I quoted above. You can wear the watch all day, but if you do not cause enough movement, the rotor won't oscillate to wind the mainspring.

Thanks mate. You nailed it. I see I need to go outside more often. Cheers

 

[didjital7]

I have a vsf aqua terra and love it. My only complaint was that the bracelet edges were very sharp. I softened them with a Bergeon buff stick and it is now a beautiful thing.

Bergeon 2290 3-Part Polishing and Buffing Stick

Buff to polish stick has 3 different abrasives to buff bracelets and watch cases. Start with the black end, them polish with the white end and finish with the grey side.

www.esslinger.com