Ocean1 Just Arrived - Fixing Case Back, Comparison With Spork - Photo Essay (56k NO!!)

[keto9]

OK so I promised when my O1 landed, I would check in and inform on how sharp the case back etching edges are. They are as sharp as a razor, and just resting the unsized watch on my wrist and moving it around with no pressure I could feel it grabbing and trying to scrape or slice me. So, here's how I dealt with it.....

Figured I'd open up the bracelet, seeing as I would be removing links. So I got out my tools, and for cleaning up the sharp back edges, I'm going to use some jewellers rouge and a microfibre cloth.


I have not dealt with screwed links before, what a total pleasure compared to pins and collars!


It helps if the surface of the brick of rouge is roughed up so the cloth will catch it. Rouge generally comes in 3 colours, with red being the finest. Rub some rouge into the cloth.


Here's the case back before I started.


I didn't apply a lot of pressure, and I always moved in a circular direction. You can tell I'm picking up a bit of metal by the discolouration on the cloth. I spent less than 10 minutes working on it.


I can't see a difference, other than I might have left a touch of rouge in some of the grooves. I certainly didn't spoil the 'grain' of the factory finishing, and I did indeed take off at least the very highest spots of the sharpest edges. Probably could get the same result by wearing it for a week but didn't want to shave or irritate my wrist as has been posted elsewhere here.


So, for essentially 0 cost of materials, I dealt with the problem. Do I wish it didn't need to be done, of course, but it's really not that big a deal. I absolutely love how the case back looks, and I did nothing to marr or spoil it.

[keto9]

And, onto the watch itself. My first impression is very favourable. It feels very solid, looks good, fits perfectly. I received a Spork a week ago, I know they are not the same watch but I am going to compare and contrast a few features.

The second hand has less discernable jump than the Spork. I like hearing the Steinhart tick tick tick tick tick as I hold it to my ear, the Spork is silent.

The bracelet is heavier and sturdier than I'd hoped. The micro-adjustment end of the clasp doesn't quite sit flush with the bracelet though, possibly because the clasp is radiussed for a bigger wrist than my 6.75" - I took out 4 links to size it. I can force up the link underneath the clasp to be essentially flush, but it won't stay there. The bracelet looks great and is comfortable, but is a little noisier than the Spork's. I would have preferred a pushbutton type deployant, as the Spork has, over the somewhat-hard-to-open clasp of the Steinhart. It may wear in over time, not sure, but is very stiff to open.

The bezel turn is more crisp and solid on the Steinhart. The Spork's is a little looser to turn, and the clicks are a touch on the mushy side.

I won't go into aesthetics, again recognizing that they are 2 different watches.

Here are some pics. I'm not a great photog, but hope to capture some images of angles maybe not seen before around here.







A couple of direct comparison shots with the Spork.



I was too eager to get out my mini-tripod, so fuzzy-cam is what you get! About a minute each under a flashlight.

[Tony A.H]

all Good.
i'm surprised you managed to do it with the Rouge.!! maybe the FiberCloth and the Extra Rubbing helped a little too.
cause Rouge is not very Abrasive Material but rather meant for High Shine.!! (i use it at Work Specifically if i needed to Accomplish a High luster Look.

good job. enjoy it.

[Finnanhaddie]

Looks good. Enjoy wearing it.
Cheers,
S.

[keto9]

Tony, you are probably right. It just seemed like adding something to the cloth, but with red rouge's minimal abrasive qualities, would expedite the process without 'hogging out' more material than desired.

For any Canadians who might be interested in the cost side of things, here's how it broke down for me, in $CDN. Euro 320, paid by PayPal through a credit card, shows up as $398.16. At the door, Fedex wanted $13.29 duty, $13.95 GST, and a $10.00 fee, for a total of $37.74 and making my total investment, no, make that price, to be $435.90. That Fedex cost is very reasonable, I had a new Seiko at half the price arrive via UPS last month, and they took $55.xx, the pirates.

[Cdn328is]

Excellent review! Mine should ship out tomorrow! Where would I be able to buy rouge?

[keto9]

Excellent review! Mine should ship out tomorrow! Where would I be able to buy rouge?

Do you have Princess Auto chain out east (assuming)? That brick you see there cost me about $4 a couple of years ago, and they carry lots of it at my local location. I would guess that even the big hardware chains might have, Home Depot and the like.

[Shel]

keto
First, congrats on your new watch! It really is beautiful...

2nd, thanks for the indepth report. I understand that you had all of the materials on hand, and were able to fix the problem, but frankly, I don't have brick of rouge, red, or any other color, on hand, nor would I have honestly even known what a brick of rouge was up until five minutes ago (a "brick" had an entirely different meaning to me, back when I was in college).

I gather it isn't a deal breaker, the razor sharp edges on the caseback, and the watch IS stunning. Pretty sure I'll be picking one up soon.

Thanks! Great report and review!

[johnchoe]

I wonder if using Cape Cod polishing cloth would give the same effect?

[a pine tree]

I wonder if using Cape Cod polishing cloth would give the same effect?

I bet it would, and then you could have a nice polished caseback