For some time now one of the watches i've had an urge for is the Omega X33, any thoughts on the model would be appreciated and would you go for a gen1 or gen2 and why ?
Thanks
For some time now one of the watches i've had an urge for is the Omega X33, any thoughts on the model would be appreciated and would you go for a gen1 or gen2 and why ?
Thanks
I had gen1... Looked and felt like cheap G Shock.
Module is stupid. Breitling Aerospace works better with 1 crown/pusher than Omega with 4 pushers and crown.
Not worth the money imho.
I like the titanium; light weight and silver/grey finish. I prefer the round LCD panel to square-panel inserts of most (all?) other Ana-digi watches. The controls are a bit confusing, when it comes to (say) changing timezones, but that's what the manual is for.
Given the crown is push/pull, the Gen.2 crown makes more sense than the Gen.1 to me, so I would always go Gen.2 given the chance.
Not a dress watch, very much a tool watch. Sadly the price has nearly doubled since I got mine. so it is hard to justify getting one now as a beater, but it is my go-to watch at the weekends or on holiday.
Alarm volume is great, but who needs it in the world of smartphones?
-- Tim
I will disagree with all of the above.
The easiest to use and most legible ana-digital around. Four pusher usage is significantly simpler and more efficient than the Aerospace's one-crown-does-all feature, which sounds elegant on paper but is downright frustrating in actual use.
Minimalist moody looks and lightweight, easy to keep wearing it and risk not wearing any of your others. It's basically a seamaster in titanium, with pushers; it's the pushers that seemingly change the profile so drastically.
If you want a shinier alternative, look at the Breitling B1.
Great watch. Only flaw is lack of water resistance.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
The Aerospace is far superior in all ways especially looks.
Originally Posted by walkerwek1958
Because.
If it’s not a problem for you, fine.
But frankly it’s a strange question, and I almost stopped my reply after the first word.
I like mine a lot but lack of water resistance means I have to consider program of the day before deciding to wear it. Not a problem I have with my other go to watches.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I have a Gen3 so can't suggest which of 1 or 2 to go for. I love it as what is essentially my tool watch. I wear it every night (lume stays bright through to morning without having to use the backlight), time my coffee in the morning with it, use it as my holiday watch, set different alarms with it, set my vintage watches to it, barely notice it's there it's so light and enjoy it as a really functional (space) watch. And it looks miles better than the Breitbling.
"A man of little significance"
Isn’t it okay for swimming? Surely suitable for most people day-to-day.
Not wishing to open this particular can of worms again, but pretty sure Ralphy posted a while back that he's dived with his.
Not wishing to open this particular can of worms again, but pretty sure Ralphy posted a while back that he's dived with his.
To the OP: I'm on my second Gen2 and I much prefer it to the shiny bezel of the Gen1. The Gen2's are more sought after for not a lot more money, but also harder to find.
I didn’t know this. The extra bit with holes (that acts as amplifier for the alarm) scared me, and Brendan unfortunately doesn’t do this model so I didn’t get it tested.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
They're two completely different styles in my opinion. Both nice. I have both. I find the X-33 more usable; the Aerospace fits with a suit and tie better.
+1, I owned an X33 and much preferred the Aerospace.
no Aerospace has been standard issue at NASA though and it is a... Breitling
Why?
Takes about ten minutes to change the battery.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Yep and about £2
*Cough* make that £22 if you lose a single titanium grubscrew whilst changing it ;-)
-- Tim
True but quite frankly at the retail prices of these watches they should be Solar.
Should not be difficult by Swatch Group/Omega to upgrade these to support solar charging. Changing batteries every 2 years is so 1975…
X33 with 100m WR would be lovely.
Does anyone have the ''Solar Impulse''?
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
I've owned a Gen 1 X33, and Aerospace rep minutes and a B1. Sum up:
X-33
- genuinely unique design, looks like nothing else
- loads of features, most of which I didn't use
- Ti means very light for its size. Didn't quite work for me (I've concluded Ti is not my thing)
- second hand hits the markers all the way round
- love the backlight
- Love the space connection- the box is made from the same material as EVA spacesuits
- VERY loud alarms
Aerospace
- mine was Ti, and too small and light
- single pusher is neat but fiddly. I wear on my right wrist, and I had to take it off to use some features
- alarm not so loud
- typical 90s Breilting design with the overriders (which I happen to really like)
B1
- big chunk of a watch
- easy to use the functions
- the caseback is a thing of beauty
- the geared action of the bezel is a an engineering marvel- I never got tired of playing with it
- dial colour options are a bonus (the blue is really nice; mine was grey)
I did like them all. If I had another, I'd probably go for the X-33 gen 1 with a gen 2 crown and movement.
I prefer it to the standard Skywalker.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Me too
I also prefer its splash of colour to the Skywalker
Last edited by John Wall; 29th April 2022 at 08:00.
If the X-33 had decent WR, I would still own one.
I have the Skywalker but given a choice would pick Solar Impulse
I bought a Gen.1, liked it so much that I bought a Gen.2, liked that so much that I bought a Gen.3 Skywalker and then a Solar Impulse.
I suppose I’m a bit biased but I absolutely love everything about them and the little differences between them.
Either the Gen.2 or Gen.3 Skywalker would be the place to start, depending on the features you want and size that you are comfortable with.
Bracelets are hard to come by so bear that in mind when purchasing.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Ive had my gen 1 X-33 for a week and I think it's fabulous! It has a gen 2 crown, which I prefer, but I do think this is my favourite iteration. If you fancy one, you can't go wrong. I'm beginning to think, this could be my only watch, so my others are in danger ;) so conform able to wear, easy to set (after a couple of tries), light, and real wrist presence, lume that lasts the night. The circular LCD display really sets it apart in my view.
Wanted one for ages. Got one. Was so much meh.
I think the issue for me at the end Of the day is that it is basically an expensive g shock.
Other opinions are available
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Just sold my gen2 and sad to see it go, l now have a 1 in 1 out . Had the gen 1 too , not much in them , gen 1 bit bling and normal crown,gen 2 crown and Matt bezel .Both are great watches and I shall try the gen3 sometime
Gen2 is I think a classic tool watch. There is a reason they are / wee so actively used up in the Space Station - fit for purpose. You know you don’t need to pull the crown to set the features? They all are activated by pushing the crown IN for a couple seconds. They are designed for use wearing gloves you know!
The Gen3 I have and nearly bought a Gen2 again. The Gen3 is different again - with almost an impossible array of features. Very logical when you get used to them.
What sets it apart from any other watch is the exeptionally loud alarm - designed to be heard above the noise of a cockpit or other engine noises. Casio’s are pathetically quiet and useless comparatively.
The latest Gen3 (and Gen2) can take the vibration of lift off and G forces dealt out in space flight so should be good for us earthlings. Sure the water resistance label says 30m - aparenty due to the echo chamber rather than the watch case itself - others can attest they swim, sauna, usual water activities and one version was for th America’s Cup sailing team. Just saying.
Take this from a biased appraiser. I love ‘em
Martyn.
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 9th November 2018 at 08:20.
I also had a Gen 3 which i bought for £2500 ish and found my G Shock or Pro Trek would do the same job plus be more accurate for less than £500 so it was an easy decision to sell mine.
I would classify myself as primarily a vintage enthusiast but my X33 is definitely a watch I would struggle to do without. Having had mobile phone alarms fail me in the past (blue screen of death and accelerated overnight battery exhaustion, for example) the alarm is the killer function. It’s basically my travel watch which means that it gets worn quite a lot. I wouldn’t take it near water but that rule generally applies to me as well.
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
Incidentally, there is an in house Omega cheaper alternative to the X33, the SM120m multifunction. Many of the things that annoy about the X33 also apply here but it does have the virtue of being available for about a third of the price. Uses the very similar 1665 movement and is an excellent travel watch. I don't particlularly miss my X33 but use this a lot.
https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-o...ction-25218100
Last edited by Padders; 9th November 2018 at 11:01.
As a matter of interest, how loud is the alarm?
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
Nowhere near as loud as the X-33 but is enough to wake you or alert you as long as you aren't at a thrash metal gig. At 38mm it is rather more subtle too. I found the X-33 to be rather clunky on the wrist.
Last edited by Padders; 9th November 2018 at 12:52.
The mix of analogue and digital in the x-33 is OK.
But it's so much better executed in the z-33.
I love my z-33. It's a bit 1969, 1975 and 2525.
https://www.omegawatches.com/watches...r-z-33/product
Bloody hell, I just bought a Junghans Max Bill. It looks great but turns out there’s no alarm. How am I going to wake up on time when I’m on holiday? FFS
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Maybe NASA and ESA forgot to specify the WR rating.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
TBH I wouldn't take an X-33 on a beach holiday at all as there are space watches better suited for that, like a G-Shock. But it is the grab-and-go for a great many trips away.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
If looking at comparisons the Breitling B-1 and successors is the closest to the X-33. Here is something I prepared earlier (2006)
http://designmjc.com/forweb/B-1_X-33_compare_low.pdf
Martyn.
Really good comparison but I just never consider the Breitlings something about them that just doesn't do it for me :(
Brightlings are only for a) airline pilots or b) people that want to be airline pilots.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
International bright young lings
Loved my Series 3, but I sold it to Foxy100 when I got my Aerospace Evo.
Last edited by andy tims; 16th November 2018 at 14:37.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Thanks, ser 3 is the one I like but I think I prefer the hands of the first two models.
Just noticed they're all set for the same alarm time, must make quite a din with 3 going off at once 🙃 !
wakes the entire block
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
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