Suunto Observer SR Wrist Top Computer Watch with Altimeter Barometer and Compass Black
Suunto - Observer Black - Altimeter: Altitude, vertical speed, logbook function with quick-access button, memory capacity 99 logs, history memory, alti/baro lock, temperature compensation - Barometer: Sea level pressure, absolute pressure, weather trend indicator, temperature, automatic 4-day barometric memory, alti/baro lock - Compass: Bearing, cardinal bearing, bearing tracking, North-South arrow, declination setting - Chronograph: Calendar, 3 alarms, dual time, stopwatch with 99 split/lap times - Ion Plated Stainless Steel Casings - Rubber Strap - Water resistant to 100 m (330 ft) Packaging:
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Good Product
I was impressed with the display. It is very easy to read in all light conditions.
4 Stars Great Watch
This is a great watch, especially for small to medium build guys. It’s a good size watch but it’s not nearly the dinner plate replacement that some of it’s ABC brethren are.
2 Stars Nice case, inacceptable band
I’ve used this watch for 4 years now and I like the case very much. But the band, either Titanium or SS ( practically the same ) is definitely unacceptable. I’ve changed it 3 times and lost a watch to it.
Other annoyances :
+ Watch is not full SS or Titanium.
+ Alarm is inaudible
2 Stars Band is not Ti
Caveat emptor. The band is mostly resin with some Ti shards. Alarm is inaudible. Otherwise a good timepiece.
2 Stars Great Watch, Terrible Strap
To summarize, this is a great watch, saddled with a bad and expensive strap design.
As a watch, the design is quite good - it is sturdy and very feature rich. There are a few minor shortcomings, however.
- The user interface is poorly designed. Some of the features will be completely inaccessible to you unless you have a photographic memory or have the manual in your hands.
- The thermometer is on your wrist. This makes it an inaccurate reference for determining the existing ambient temperature, or your body temperature. To get an accurate reading of the ambient temperature, it’s best to remove the watch, and let it sit for a while.
- A lack of a count-down timer. (However, there is an alarm)
- Very quiet alarm, inaudible in louder settings.
The truly disappointing component of this watch is the bad strap design.
- It costs $120 to replace (1/3rd the price of the whole watch!) After scouring the Internet and Ebay, I was completely unable to a significantly better price on the strap.
- It is an integrated strap, so it can only be replaced Suunto Observer strap, not a generic watch strap.
- The watch bracelet is not a full metal bracelet - it is only a rubber strap with metal inserts for looks only. I personally don’t mind this, but some people dislike it.
- The only way to size the bracelet to your wrist is to cut it with a pair of scissors! If you make a mistake cutting your strap, it will cost you $120. This also means that you cannot loan the watch to anyone who does not have the exact same wrist size as you. I have never seen this kind of design before in another watch.
- The rubber/elastomer part of the bracelet is a particularly cheap material. The forums are full of complaints of strap failure. Depending on your wear level, the strap will fail after a few years. Suunto refuses to sell the elastomer part of the bracelet separately, even if you speak to customer service. Instead, they will insist you need to purchase a new strap kit for $120. This is ridiculous for a part that costs pennies to manufacture.
Realize that you will be paying $120 every few years for as long as you wear this watch.