Planet Ocean Casino Royale - Rubber Strap cracking (yet again)

[kayin]

Hi,
amongst my collection of Omegas I have a 2006 Planet Ocean - Casino Royale, I like the watch but have a recurring problem....the rubber strap.

Presently, the watch is on its third rubber strap and taking it off today noticed that just like its predecessor. the strap is beginning to crack and split in several places. I do not wear the watch everyday and always wash it and clean after swimming. I am somewhat bemused given that the straps retail at £230 and the AD's attitude is simply buy another strap !

Has anyone else had a similar experience (all my other watches are on steel bracelets).

Is it worth contacting Omega directly and seeing if they will offer some sort of compensation on what will be the fourth strap in 6 years ?

[A.I.]

........absolutely 100%.

I would be surprised if you don't get the result you deserve.


BTGOF?

[tctan]

the strap is not made for swimming. it's a rubber strap with some cardboard-like material in the middle. i know it doesn't make sense but these watches are only somewhat tool watches.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by tctan

the strap is not made for swimming. it's a rubber strap with some cardboard-like material in the middle....

Really, seriously, cardboard

[Highland Ranger]

Might have something to do with skin Ph too. I gave up on anything not metal years ago.

[Passionata]

Is it full rubber or just rubber covered textile ,if so i m not really surprised using an omega flat rubber ,that one is perfect


Best
George

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Dweller of the Sea]

There are no warrenty on straps, if you read in the red "book" that comes with the box.
A strap usually last 1-1½ years, but it depends on many thing. Skin acid, lotion, sun, saltwater etc, have a bad effect on a strap.

I don´t think Omega will do anything, as your straps has lasted over a year (4 straps in 6 years)
You should buy the steel bracelet instead, it will be cheaper in the long run.

[Survivor]

Its rubber.......it cracks!!!!! Sounds like you got something weird going on with your skin as well......secreting something that is affecting the strap.

Buy a steel or mesh bracelet and problem is solved!!!!!

[poppydog]

I'm assuming you're referring to the strap that has stitching along the edges, which if so, seems odd that it's on a Casino Royale PO which I thought were sold with the solid rubber strap. I have an XL PO on the solid rubber, also from 2006 and have worn it for diving / swimming / spearfishing in salt water and in all temperatures and apart from one of the keeper tabs splitting, it's fine.

[swiss ghost]

strap with stitching will crack and get destroyed. the solid thick OTHER rubber strap will last you a watch lifetime

[Mystro]

This strap does NOT have cardboard in the middle. Its 100% rubber diving strap. Mine is 3 years old and still looks new. I do wash it off often with dish soap. I think your body chemistry has a lot to do with strap life span.

[kayin]

Originally Posted by swiss ghost

strap with stitching will crack and get destroyed. the solid thick OTHER rubber strap will last you a watch lifetime

I have the THICK solid rubber strap not the one with the stitching.

To the best of my knowledge do not suffer from any kind of skin condition and in point of fact had a medical only last week.

This is one of four omegas that I own so it is not worn every day but is the one that probably gets the most wrist time.

Appreciative of the advice to buy a steel bracelet but all of my other watches are on bracelets and the two things I like about this watch are its XL dimensions and the strap.

Going to contact Omega on Tuesday (Public Holiday in UK on Monday) and see what they say (fingers crossed)

[crew]

Originally Posted by kayin

I have the THICK solid rubber strap not the one with the stitching.

To the best of my knowledge do not suffer from any kind of skin condition and in point of fact had a medical only last week.

This is one of four omegas that I own so it is not worn every day but is the one that probably gets the most wrist time.

Appreciative of the advice to buy a steel bracelet but all of my other watches are on bracelets and the two things I like about this watch are its XL dimensions and the strap.

Going to contact Omega on Tuesday (Public Holiday in UK on Monday) and see what they say (fingers crossed)

Good plan. Four straps in six years deserves their consideration.
I agree with you that switching to a steel bracelet isn't the preferred solution.
I love wearing a rubber strap for some activities, such as a day at the beach. It's also a nice change from the steel bracelets I wear every day.
I'd be very interested in hearing what happens.

[Highland Ranger]

Originally Posted by kayin

I have the THICK solid rubber strap not the one with the stitching.

To the best of my knowledge do not suffer from any kind of skin condition and in point of fact had a medical only last week.

This is one of four omegas that I own so it is not worn every day but is the one that probably gets the most wrist time.

Appreciative of the advice to buy a steel bracelet but all of my other watches are on bracelets and the two things I like about this watch are its XL dimensions and the strap.

Going to contact Omega on Tuesday (Public Holiday in UK on Monday) and see what they say (fingers crossed)

Not a skin condition, people have different skin Ph, different skin types. I have tarnished thru silver rope chain . . . anything not stainless just doesn't seem to hold up. Leather, croc, nothing lasts more than a year for me.

Now this is going back to when I was a young man so maybe things have changed but the point is it may be your chemistry combined with whatever that particular elastomer is . . . . . I agree with the above poster though - I'd call them and see what they can do.

[kayin]

Originally Posted by Highland Ranger

Not a skin condition, people have different skin Ph, different skin types. I have tarnished thru silver rope chain . . . anything not stainless just doesn't seem to hold up. Leather, croc, nothing lasts more than a year for me.

Now this is going back to when I was a young man so maybe things have changed but the point is it may be your chemistry combined with whatever that particular elastomer is . . . . . I agree with the above poster though - I'd call them and see what they can do.

Need to make it clear this is in a part of the strap that has no contact with my skin another part of the strap lies underneath it and that has not suffered in any shape or form - I am beginning to suspect it is bad design. I have uploaded some photos in the hope of making this clear





UPDATE:

Telephoned Omega UK this morning and have been asked to email their support team details and history of the problem and they will consider and get back to me.

Will keep people posted.

[Passionata]

just a remark, did a strap contacted wit any unusal material ,condition,light or heat exposure?no clue about your profession therofore i ask.

[Demosc430]

That's a horrible design

[kayin]

Originally Posted by Passionata

just a remark, did a strap contacted wit any unusal material ,condition,light or heat exposure?no clue about your profession therofore i ask.

Not my knowledge and this is the third strap to deteriorate in this way. I do not wear the watch every day and it is always cleaned after swimming

[Highland Ranger]

Almost looks like a pull failure - like the bracelet was stretched beyond its limit. Weird.

[poppydog]

I can see, now, why you're concerned. That's really odd, as I have the same strap bought with the watch new in 2006 and it's been worn loads and I've dived with it in very cold lakes and tropical seas. It's basically been everywhere and done everything I have.

[xjeeunitx]

Maybe the strao is fugazi.... i know there are shitload of fakes that are selling al over theinternet.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Wow, I never imagined that they used a cardboard filler ! Jeeeeeez.

[kayin]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

Maybe the strao is fugazi.... i know there are shitload of fakes that are selling al over theinternet.

All of the replacement straps to date have been supplied via the AD from whom I bought the watch originally so would be amazed if it were not genuine. In addition it has the correct inscription and part number stamped upon it.

[kayin]

Originally Posted by poppydog

I can see, now, why you're concerned. That's really odd, as I have the same strap bought with the watch new in 2006 and it's been worn loads and I've dived with it in very cold lakes and tropical seas. It's basically been everywhere and done everything I have.

Exactly, if this comes off in a lake swim or the like then good chance it will be gone forever

[kayin]

Originally Posted by Highland Ranger

Almost looks like a pull failure - like the bracelet was stretched beyond its limit. Weird.

Wrist in not huge there are 5 spare slots on strap from the point tang is inserted in strap, so not as though hookes law comes into play :-)

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by kayin

Hi,
amongst my collection of Omegas I have a 2006 Planet Ocean - Casino Royale, I like the watch but have a recurring problem....the rubber strap.

Presently, the watch is on its third rubber strap and taking it off today noticed that just like its predecessor. the strap is beginning to crack and split in several places. I do not wear the watch everyday and always wash it and clean after swimming. I am somewhat bemused given that the straps retail at £230 and the AD's attitude is simply buy another strap !

Has anyone else had a similar experience (all my other watches are on steel bracelets).
rine
Is it worth contacting Omega directly and seeing if they will offer some sort of compensation on what will be the fourth strap in 6 years ?

Is it being exposed to chlorine?

[spencerline]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

Is it being exposed to chlorine?

I have a dw 9700 Casio solar powered watch with a rubber strap and for the last year or so it is immersed in Chlorine 5 days a week and then goes into a sauna and then a Turkish bath and it looks like new still. The PO strap will probably cost more than my Casio watch so it ought to be able to take a little chlorine.

[kayin]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

Is it being exposed to chlorine?

I do swim in it at a swimming pool but it get washed off there and then use my mild shower gel to clean it ,which is then rinsed off , it is then dried and then when I get in car use pure baby wipes to wipe it off yet again and then dry that off with paper tissue.

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by kayin

I do swim in it at a swimming pool but it get washed off there and then use my mild shower gel to clean it ,which is then rinsed off , it is then dried and then when I get in car use pure baby wipes to wipe it off yet again and then dry that off with paper tissue.

I can't help you figure out the trouble, but I would like to add that we used to line large (40-50') acid tanks with rubber to hold sulphuric or hydrochloric. I'd be amazed if weak chlorine pool water could do any damage, at all. The acid tanks were filled with about 15% acid and kept full year round for years.

[Highland Ranger]

Not all "rubber" is the same. There are hundreds of different elastomers with names like nitrile, epdm, butyl, viton, kalrez etc. They each have different mechanical properties and chemical resistance.

They even fail differentially, swell or crack or disintegrate.

As such things go, your wrist isn't a particularly hostile environment - I'd think something innocous like neoprene would do the job.