New Suunto Watch to be released - Elementum

[ILDiver]

I should do a short video showing what the watch displays. It shows time and date of the dive, press the crown and then you see the duration and max depth of the dive.

Battery access... The site and book say to take it to a watch repair (Suunto watch dealer) store. It has 4 torx head screws on the back. The steel cover has an o-ring under it. I have not opened mine, just from some papers I got with the watch. I assume for warranty and potential flooding they want you to take it in. But a person could DIY I'm sure.

 

[CobraSub]

Hi ILDiver,

Thank you for your review!

You are lucky to get to keep this beauty. I bet this watch will be priced at least around the price of D6/D9, if not higher. Reason being is that it has a sapphire crystal, which is the most expensive synthetic glass, is virtually scratch proof and commonly found on higher-end watched, like the Rolex. Watches with sapphire crystal usually don't go for a lot under $1000.

Anyway, my question to you is this: When you say 14 dives, do you mean 14 drops? In other words, if I am spearfishing for 3 hours and drop about 20+ times, will the Elementum only record the last 14 drops?

Please let me know.

Thanks,
Claudio

 

[nostres]

I got the watch from Chris to try it and I am all over it, it's really really nice. Not only it looks beautiful, it feels fancy too - solid and heavy. I would seriously have this one over Rolex.

Things I like the most:
- simplicity and easy access, only two buttons but it's clever, big button also has scroll
- water temperature readout - also easy, both F/Celcius
- dive time in seconds - perfect for freediving

Things I am surprised with:

- NO stopwatch, yes weird but I could live without it, after all I only need it for static. My buddy can use any stopwatch for this purpose, doesn't even have to be waterproof...

You are right above about saphire crystal, it belongs in fancy watches and this one is.
Actually Chris just told me it's gonna be around $1000 watch.
He's very lucky to have it, there was THREE Elementum watches (one Aqua) in the world sent by Suunto in this promo deal.
My bottom line is - if You like nice things and have money, get Yourself Suunto Aqua.

 

[ILDiver]

Yes CobraSub, if you make 20 drops it keeps the info from the last 14. The dive counter keeps going. So if you're on dive 16, the first dive you can review is dive 3.

I'm hoping Nostres can give more detailed review when he does some diving with it while freediving.

 

[nostres]

I'm hoping Nostres can give more detailed review when he does some diving with it while freediving.

Yes he will because he will be in the ocean next week, eeeehah!

I need to say about backlight - very bright. Probabbly will drain batterry fast because there's some serious light output, way brighter than my ex SCUBA Uwatec comp. I will take it for a night dive next week and report back but it looks like it'll do fine in the darkest enviroment

 

[CobraSub]

Hey Chris, thanks for the answer.

Nostres, I look forward to your impressions of the watch while freediving.

Looks like the finishing on your watch is black PVD coating over steel, which has been a trendy finish on higher end watch brands like Panerai. Depending on the hardness of this finish it may of may not scratch easily while spearfishing. ILDiver, please keep us posted on your impressions about the black finishing of the watch and whether it scratches easily or not.

Damn, why did I have to come across this watch online? Now I have to have it.

Many thanks!
Claudio

 

[nostres]

Claudio,

You don't go off roading in Ferrari. Same here, I think You'd ruin this watch rather quick while spearfishing. Having said that however, I am going spearfishing tomorrow but I have to take it just for the test purposes You know:blackeye

The PV whatever coating You mentioned, I don't think that's the case here. More like black paint over stainless steel, anyway, unlike the saphire crystal it scratch quit easily, just from everyday wearing, not diving (sorry Chris)

 

[trux]

This store already shows Elementum with prices: Limbiati - vendita orologi e cardiofrequenzimetri catalogo prezzi collezioni SUUNTO - ELEMENTUM

554€ to 662€ for the Elementum Aqua. Not as bad as I expected.

 

[Claudio]

Ha... yes Notres, do tell us how the "testing" goes

The Aqua is nice looking and higher end... but still a Suunto digital watch. I would have no problems putting the it through the rigors. After all, its sapphire crystal is virtually scratch-proof and it's max depth rating is twice that of the D4 (200 meters vs. 100 meters), which for most of us only means the watch is sturdier than the D4.

As to the PVD coating... yes it is basically a fancier, vapor-applied, chemically-whatever, paint job.

Trux, thanks for the link. That's the first more concrete pricing info for the Suunto Elementum line, I have seen on the Web.

The only faults I see so far on the Aqua is the 1-year battery life (rather low to me). And the fact that it only records 14 descends. Seems Suunto could have done a little better here.

Regards,
Claudio

 

[Claudio]

Hi folks,

I just came across this. A new review, together with additional pics of the steel model from different angles can be found at: Suunto Elementum Aqua Diver Watch Review | aBlogtoRead.com

Regards,
Claudio

 

[ILDiver]

Nostres wore this watch to 135 ft a few weeks ago. There is a pic of the display with the numbers, maybe he has it and can post it here.

 

[nostres]

So my watch died suddenly. One evening I pressed the "LIGHT" button, light came on but at the same time all digits disappeared and light stayed ON until battery run out. There was no way to turn it off, button felt like something went bad mechanically.

But let me tell You guys about Suunto's customer service...

First I took it to my local high end watch store where they changed batteries for me before. They told me it can be fixed but it will be very expensive and they recommend Suunto's warranty repair via "Repair Services" @ suunto.com

Aqua comes with 2 years warranty, my watch is from May 2009 so about 5 months after warranty. I decided to send it to Suunto and pay for repair/new battery since I like the watch.

Process is simple and looks like this:
- fill out info on website, serial number, describe problem etc.
- print few forms and shipping labels
- take them to Fedex, pack with Your watch with lots of bubble wrap and send it (free) to Suunto's headquarters in Utah.

Few days later I receive email with shipping number, my watch is fixed and on the way with fresh battery. $0 to pay.

Few days later I open the box, my watch is shiny like new, it was cleaned and polished, battery was changed and everything works including light.
How's that for five star service?! Thank You SUUNTO!