Have some watch questions as a first time purchaser.

Thinking of buying the Omega AquaTerra, and was wondering if it can handle ocean diving to 40m and white water kayaking. Also if you have feelings on this watch please let me know.

Also thinking of getting the Sinn U1 and am curious if its hard to service watches from Sinn if you live in the U.S. and I am curious if it was accurate within +/- 8seconds a day.

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Water resistance is somewhat of a topic where everyone has different thoughts but an almost 4x margin of safety sounds fine to me! Killer watch. I have a Tudor BB41 which is the same style of watch and would have definitely considered the Aqua Terra if my budget was twice what it was

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I would imagine the Sinn should be easy to have serviced, because it uses a Sellita SW 200-1 movement. Most reputable watch makers should be able to service that. 
 

The AquaTerra has 150M water resistance. So it should handle the depth. But the question is will it get banged up and scratched kayaking and diving. For those activities I’d go with the Sinn. 

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The specs on the Omega suggest that yes you can take it in the water with confidence.  The modern standard for diving is 200m and this watch clearly isn't marketed for diving but it could at least go in the water.  

That being said, I personally would not do such things with this particular Omega.  You are better off getting a Seiko or Citizen 200m diver spec for any kind of serious water sports.

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On the AT, yes you should be fine water resistance wise.  As a recreational open water diver myself, you might consider the following.

  1. The butterfly clasp will not do well in a scuba suit of any sort given poor micro adjusts.  Consider buying on rubber or being prepared to buy aftermarket straps.
  2.  The lume is okay for diving.  I think you'd be fine at 40m in good conditions but may want something better if you night or evening dive.
  3.  Remember you're going to be lugging around tanks, struggling into BCDs, and drop weights.  Its going to get scratched and scuffed.  That may be okay with you but do be aware.

The U1 is a far more purpose built diver and likely to survive even a white water rafting trip.  If you buy the U1, consider it on the tegimented scratch resistant steel.

The U1 will be a substantially larger watch across all dimensions however.

Both are great, just depends on what you're looking for and what you're looking to use it for.

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ThisIsKyle

Water resistance is somewhat of a topic where everyone has different thoughts but an almost 4x margin of safety sounds fine to me! Killer watch. I have a Tudor BB41 which is the same style of watch and would have definitely considered the Aqua Terra if my budget was twice what it was

Yeah I think the watch is fantastic looking, online at least, can't wait to have it and have everyone in my life question whey I would ever waste so much money on a watch.

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Edge168n

On the AT, yes you should be fine water resistance wise.  As a recreational open water diver myself, you might consider the following.

  1. The butterfly clasp will not do well in a scuba suit of any sort given poor micro adjusts.  Consider buying on rubber or being prepared to buy aftermarket straps.
  2.  The lume is okay for diving.  I think you'd be fine at 40m in good conditions but may want something better if you night or evening dive.
  3.  Remember you're going to be lugging around tanks, struggling into BCDs, and drop weights.  Its going to get scratched and scuffed.  That may be okay with you but do be aware.

The U1 is a far more purpose built diver and likely to survive even a white water rafting trip.  If you buy the U1, consider it on the tegimented scratch resistant steel.

The U1 will be a substantially larger watch across all dimensions however.

Both are great, just depends on what you're looking for and what you're looking to use it for.

Do you take your watches diving? If yes, how often do you get the seals checked on them? I've seen it recommended to get it checked once a year which just seems insane to me. I only get my dive computer checked every 2.

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Speedy77

I would imagine the Sinn should be easy to have serviced, because it uses a Sellita SW 200-1 movement. Most reputable watch makers should be able to service that. 
 

The AquaTerra has 150M water resistance. So it should handle the depth. But the question is will it get banged up and scratched kayaking and diving. For those activities I’d go with the Sinn. 

How accurate should I expect these movements to be? 

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BobWatch

Yeah I think the watch is fantastic looking, online at least, can't wait to have it and have everyone in my life question whey I would ever waste so much money on a watch.

 Get your speech ready ;)

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BobWatch

Do you take your watches diving? If yes, how often do you get the seals checked on them? I've seen it recommended to get it checked once a year which just seems insane to me. I only get my dive computer checked every 2.

I don't.  I tend to carry a cheap spare dive computer instead.

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Edge168n

On the AT, yes you should be fine water resistance wise.  As a recreational open water diver myself, you might consider the following.

  1. The butterfly clasp will not do well in a scuba suit of any sort given poor micro adjusts.  Consider buying on rubber or being prepared to buy aftermarket straps.
  2.  The lume is okay for diving.  I think you'd be fine at 40m in good conditions but may want something better if you night or evening dive.
  3.  Remember you're going to be lugging around tanks, struggling into BCDs, and drop weights.  Its going to get scratched and scuffed.  That may be okay with you but do be aware.

The U1 is a far more purpose built diver and likely to survive even a white water rafting trip.  If you buy the U1, consider it on the tegimented scratch resistant steel.

The U1 will be a substantially larger watch across all dimensions however.

Both are great, just depends on what you're looking for and what you're looking to use it for.

Maybe consider the U50, it’s smaller than the U1. 

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If you buy expensive swiss watches then buy a G-shock too for under $200.00 to beat up. Scratch a $2000.00 watch for want of a $200.00 watch. Casio diver under $100.00 maybe.

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The Aqua Terra is more than capable @SurferJohn is right. You are best suited for water sports in a Seiko, Citizen or G Shock & save that beautiful Omega for daily wear

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BobWatch

How accurate should I expect these movements to be? 

I have an Oris Big Crown Pointer Date that has a Sellita SW-200. I don't own a timegrapher, but my watch keeps pretty good time. Almost chronometer spec. I'd guess I'm averaging -4 to +6 seconds per day.

I also have an Omega Aqua Terra and that thing is amazing. I often go a month without winding it and when I check it, i'm +35-40 seconds, which means it's running about +1-2 seconds per day.

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Some Sinn watches need to go back to Germany for service, not because of the movement but because of the the technology they use to achieve the specs.

The AT is beautiful. But it might be a big cost to jump right into that one as the first? 

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The AT is a great choice for a daily wear, but agree it will get banged up in serious water sports. Your choice there. The crystal would be fine, but you should get it with  the very comfortable Omega rubber strap. My AT runs consistently at -2 seconds/day, so good accuracy. 

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BobWatch

How accurate should I expect these movements to be? 

Looks like there are 4 grades to the movements. 

Image

I would image the Sinn would be of the standard grade. 

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Does the U1 have the weird gas (Argon?) in the case; that might make servicing a pain.  I think RGM does them in the US.

I'd wear the heck out of the AT, probably on a nato, though.

WW seems like it would be uncomfortable to have a watch on at all, though.  I'm not much good, but I can imagine smashing my wrist against the boat every time I set up for an on-side roll.

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Speedy77

Looks like there are 4 grades to the movements. 

Image

I would image the Sinn would be of the standard grade. 

There is the Chinese grade because ETA outsources some of the movement manufacturing if not most of it. 

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ds760476

Does the U1 have the weird gas (Argon?) in the case; that might make servicing a pain.  I think RGM does them in the US.

I'd wear the heck out of the AT, probably on a nato, though.

WW seems like it would be uncomfortable to have a watch on at all, though.  I'm not much good, but I can imagine smashing my wrist against the boat every time I set up for an on-side roll.

I have never actually worn a watch kayaking but its just a real pain in the ass to have to pop open the skirt every-time you need the time. 

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BobWatch

I have never actually worn a watch kayaking but its just a real pain in the ass to have to pop open the skirt every-time you need the time. 

True.  When I was working, I used to buckle a digital to my grab loop or the shoulder strap of my pfd.

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Speedy77

Looks like there are 4 grades to the movements. 

Image

I would image the Sinn would be of the standard grade. 

According to Worn and Wound, Sinn uses Top-Grade Sellita and ETA movements not chronometer grade, across all its watches.

https://wornandwound.com/review/sinn-u1-s-e-review/

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Edge168n

According to Worn and Wound, Sinn uses Top-Grade Sellita and ETA movements not chronometer grade, across all its watches.

https://wornandwound.com/review/sinn-u1-s-e-review/

Thanks for the link!