Suunto Ambit - change from Silver to Black possible ?

[menos]

I just found one (!) in stock, after looking for several days, to get it shipped just before a trip.

Of course, only Silver was available

Can the silver parts be changed to black - is there any info regarding this?

[ejunge]

Unfortunately, no. At least, not without dissassembly of the watch and shipping the parts off to someone to powder coat them, which would completely void your warranty.

[or_watching]

I like the style of the silver buttons, but prefer the all black look.

Maybe Suunto can do like some European car makers do, and invite us for a factory visit to see our custom order come off the line. Pre-loaded with sightseeing waypoints. Coffee shops too, assuming the espresso maker isn't built in yet. Then trek around Europe for month with our snazzy new gizmo.

As soon as I win the Lotto, count me in.

[PaulR7]

I just found one (!) in stock, after looking for several days, to get it shipped just before a trip.

Of course, only Silver was available

Can the silver parts be changed to black - is there any info regarding this?

In stock (UK) Suunto Ambit GPS + Heart Rate Monitor - RUNNING FORM
Don't know if they ship internationally though

[PaulR7]

In stock (UK) Suunto Ambit GPS + Heart Rate Monitor - RUNNING FORM
Don't know if they ship internationally though

My mistake, sorry, not in stock anymore

[menos]

Unfortunately, no. At least, not without dissassembly of the watch and shipping the parts off to someone to powder coat them, which would completely void your warranty.

Thanks for the info.
I would suppose, the silver parts of the watch face are exchangeable, as it looks.

I have no experience with the company prior to a Suunto Quest, I currently use as a training monitor.

Is Suunto responsive in regards of repairs/ exchange of parts, when it comes to these watches, or are the regarded as "throwaway" one use items in this price range?

Btw, interesting bit about place of manufacturing: I see all over the web, that the watch is proudly stated as "Made in Finland".
My package comes shipped tax-free, as I bought internationally, with certificate of origin for customs purpose, stated with all items as "Origin in China (PRC)" - as expected, I have to say.
It really is the only thing, making sense, to produce this watch in China at that price point, other then the retailer stating country of origin wrongly for easing import of my package to Shanghai, that is.

I am looking forward, to use the watch, I am tired of fumbling with several separate devices, monitoring training and keeping track of where I went during runs.
The iPhone really is a very bad solution as a GPS tracking device, when wanting the complete data in RubiTrack after running.

[PaulR7]

Menos

Ive been using Suunto for years, their Service Dept is second to none, any faults / repairs, you raise a service request & DHL come to pick it up from you & ship back to Suunto at no cost to yourself. If its under warranty, its repaired or replaced FOC, out of warranty, they provide you with a quote to fix. Turnaround is normally within 7 working days. (I had a faulty Ambit, sent to Suunto on Friday, replaced & returned to me in UK by Wednesday morning)

As far as Im aware, the top end watches (Ambit, Elementum etc) are designed & manufactured in Finland. The Quest, M series etc are designed in Finland, but manufactured in China.

[menos]

Menos

Ive been using Suunto for years, their Service Dept is second to none, any faults / repairs, you raise a service request & DHL come to pick it up from you & ship back to Suunto at no cost to yourself. If its under warranty, its repaired or replaced FOC, out of warranty, they provide you with a quote to fix. Turnaround is normally within 7 working days. (I had a faulty Ambit, sent to Suunto on Friday, replaced & returned to me in UK by Wednesday morning)

As far as Im aware, the top end watches (Ambit, Elementum etc) are designed & manufactured in Finland. The Quest, M series etc are designed in Finland, but manufactured in China.

Paul, thanks a lot!
This is good information!
I already contacted Suunto by telephone Today, regarding a few feature requests for their movecounts.com offering (in specifics calendar synchronization for training plans).
I also asked for interchangeability of parts of the Ambit watch.

Basically the watch is so new now, that such requests are new to service personnel.
I will inquire with Suunto service, once the package arrived and I still feel like wanting to change the watch face after some usage.
The straps are definitely interchangeable, but that is another concern.

The suggested procedure, to inquire for a silver - black watch face change is, to ask for a paid repair, involving the exchange of a spare part (the watch face bezel including the crystal.
I suppose, this unit will be sooner or later available in Suunto's chain of logistics as a spare part for potential repairs due to rough handling of users, who actually use this watch in the wild, making it available as well for us desk users, who sweat color combinations and aesthetics

I would not bother, to have the silver buttons exchanged, as I suppose, this involves further assembly of the watch + i quite like the more grippy design of the silver buttons.

[ejunge]

Again... as for changing out the watch face. I am pretty sure that it isn't going to happen. Suunto historically has never done business like that. They keep very strict quality control and selling off parts would just ... well they haven't ever really done that- at least not in the 13 years that I have been wearing Suunto Watches.

As for visiting the factory- well if you are interested, then they find you, not the other way around. We have had one member visit the factory, the thread is posted here:

I've been invited to a Suunto factory tour >>>

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f233/pr...t=#post3115343

[or_watching]

Ah, so the precedent has been set. Just not for the likes of me I think.

Cool story.

Rethinking my idea, maybe it should more like Willly Wonka and the golden ticket. Just one, placed in a lucky Ambit box.