The other big problem I had is that you cant "hack" it to another timepiece. When you reset the seconds, it will tick from 00 to 01 seconds almost immediately, as the reset only zeroes the "whole" seconds, and not partial seconds.

My $14.95 Coleman watch from Target functions as you would expect - when you reset to the top of the minute it is REALLY the top of the minute and 01 seconds comes exactly 1 second later.

For someone who needs a precision timepiece, I think it crazy that a $500 watch has such a basic design flaw.

Ill probably return it, Im quite disappointed.

Glenn

That being said, I really cant fault anything here apart from the instruction manual - which really does a poor job at making a complex timepiece easier to understand.

I was a bit intimidated by everything this watch can do, but thank heavens after my initial shock at how GOOD it looks, I got down to studying the manual -- and if you ever hope to get ANY practical use out of this device, you are going to HAVE to read it, maybe several times, in order to fully appreciate what it CAN do. Is it absolutely perfect in every way? Nope -- but can you find me a product that IS for the same amount of money that also looks this good? Hardly. The closest would probably be the Triple Sensor Casio Pathfinder -- which DOES come with one really nifty ability that Suunto has yet to incorporate into their wristop computers: solar power. Casio watches are also much cheaper, but if you are going for good quality PLUS good looks, you will do no better than Suuntos Observer. This watch is simply beautiful.

Taking a look at what it can do, it has a Barometer (which also gives you the current temperature -- but keep in mind for best reading, you need to take it off your wrist for about 15 minutes first), an altimeter which under proper circumstances is quite accurate. For those who say it doesnt work at all, keep in mind that it takes readings using the barometric pressure, and if you at first do not calibrate it, you simply will not get a correct reading. Also, keep in mind that as the air pressure can sometimes vary depending upon where you are and the weather conditions you are experiencing, the altimeter CAN vary -- even if you arent moving at all. This isnt a defect with the watch, if you need to blame someone, have a chat with Mother Nature, because Suunto has no influence in that department. It also has the cool feature of incorporating a digtal compass, which works (when again properly calibrated) from virtually any position on the globe. This feature alone makes the buy worth it.

There have been a few reviewers who are displeased with the Observers ability to generate an alarm that you can actually HEAR -- and this is one area which Suunto can really improve upon. It is so quiet to be almost non-existent under even fairly quiet conditions. It sounded to me a little like a Palm Pilot alarm going off underneath a pillow -- that was located in a room down the hall. YES, it IS a joke -- but I have other watches that can fill the alarm void, so I only considered this a MINOR problem. If you are interested in purchasing this particular Suunto model and you absolutely NEED a loud alarm, you might be better served with the Casio Pathfinder -- but if you are more concerned with the other incredible feats of electronic gadgetry that the Observer can do, this is DEFINITELY the model for you.

One other tiny note, the extra $$ for the Titanium model just isnt worth it. Because the wrist band is only PARTIALLY metal mixed with elastomer, the weight difference between the Titanium and the Steel version was almost non-existent. The Steel version is virtually identical and (I personally think) looks better than just the elastomer band -- but I realize this is a personal preference, so make sure you are able to compare the models side-by-side before making that purchase -- also keep in mind the elastomer version will be really snug for some guys who have rather large wrists.

All in all, the Observer really IS a stunning piece of electronic hardware that rivals many watches worn by James Bond. Now if only Suunto could fit a tiny laser inside the NEXT version theyd really have a best-seller...

I was a bit intimidated by everything this watch can do, but thank heavens after my initial shock at how GOOD it looks, I got down to studying the manual -- and if you ever hope to get ANY practical use out of this device, you are going to HAVE to read it, maybe several times, in order to fully appreciate what it CAN do. Is it absolutely perfect in every way? Nope -- but can you find me a product that IS for the same amount of money that also looks this good? Hardly. The closest would probably be the Triple Sensor Casio Pathfinder -- which DOES come with one really nifty ability that Suunto has yet to incorporate into their wristop computers: solar power. Casio watches are also much cheaper, but if you are going for good quality PLUS good looks, you will do no better than Suuntos Observer. This watch is simply beautiful.

Taking a look at what it can do, it has a Barometer (which also gives you the current temperature -- but keep in mind for best reading, you need to take it off your wrist for about 15 minutes first), an altimeter which under proper circumstances is quite accurate. For those who say it doesnt work at all, keep in mind that it takes readings using the barometric pressure, and if you at first do not calibrate it, you simply will not get a correct reading. Also, keep in mind that as the air pressure can sometimes vary depending upon where you are and the weather conditions you are experiencing, the altimeter CAN vary -- even if you arent moving at all. This isnt a defect with the watch, if you need to blame someone, have a chat with Mother Nature, because Suunto has no influence in that department. It also has the cool feature of incorporating a digtal compass, which works (when again properly calibrated) from virtually any position on the globe. This feature alone makes the buy worth it.

There have been a few reviewers who are displeased with the Observers ability to generate an alarm that you can actually HEAR -- and this is one area which Suunto can really improve upon. It is so quiet to be almost non-existent under even fairly quiet conditions. It sounded to me a little like a Palm Pilot alarm going off underneath a pillow -- that was located in a room down the hall. YES, it IS a joke -- but I have other watches that can fill the alarm void, so I only considered this a MINOR problem. If you are interested in purchasing this particular Suunto model and you absolutely NEED a loud alarm, you might be better served with the Casio Pathfinder -- but if you are more concerned with the other incredible feats of electronic gadgetry that the Observer can do, this is DEFINITELY the model for you.

One other tiny note, the extra $$ for the Titanium model just isnt worth it. Because the wrist band is only PARTIALLY metal mixed with elastomer, the weight difference between the Titanium and the Steel version was almost non-existent. The Steel version is virtually identical and (I personally think) looks better than just the elastomer band -- but I realize this is a personal preference, so make sure you are able to compare the models side-by-side before making that purchase -- also keep in mind the elastomer version will be really snug for some guys who have rather large wrists.

All in all, the Observer really IS a stunning piece of electronic hardware that rivals many watches worn by James Bond. Now if only Suunto could fit a tiny laser inside the NEXT version theyd really have a best-seller...

I wanted a turnkey watch, not something I needed to fiddle with every time I used it. Also, the clasp comes loose often, and if you need to get anything repaired, buy ticket to Finland...

I wanted a turnkey watch, not something I needed to fiddle with every time I used it. Also, the clasp comes loose often, and if you need to get anything repaired, buy ticket to Finland...

#1 - the alarm is useless! the volume is so low, you will have no hope of ever hearing it if you are asleep or there is any background noise. Too bad there are so many complicated features and options on this watch, and the only truly useful one they (Messed)!

#2 - no, the altimeter doesnt work. What is the point on spending (Money) on an altimeter that may or may not be correct depending on the temperature? I have been at sea level, when the watch is showing +300 feet - even after re-calibration that same hour, the values are way off. For this price, I can buy a GPS that will give me the real altitude.

From the reviews, it appears that many users are confused by the clasp, claiming it doesnt allow enough clearance to get the watch on and off. This confused me also, and Suunto should come out with a new edition of the instruction manual that makes it clearer that the band has two clasps and when both of them are open, there is plenty of clearance getting the watch on and off.

Dont believe any reviewer that says the altimeter in this watch isnt accurate. If it isnt accurate, return it, because it means the watch is defective. A working Observer will be as accurate as the most expensive Thommen precision analog altimeter. I know, because Ive owned the same, reliable Thommen (showing 20-foot intervals) for 29 years and have A-Bd the Observer with my Thommen on several hikes and have obtained as similar results as can be expected, given the intrinsic nature of altimeters based on the measurement of air pressure.

Although the manual can be criticized for its organization and sketchy documentation of its sometimes bewildering variety of features, it does give a fairly clear explanation of why altimeters in general can be as much as several hundred feet off over an elevation gain of several thousand feet, in spite of the fact that the sea level barometric pressure remains constant. Section 3.6 of the manual explains the effect of air temperature on altitude measurement. As the temperature rises, the air gets lighter, i.e. the barometric pressure falls. This is an intrinsic problem associated with any altimeter that works off of barometric pressure, including the world-renowned Thommen altimeters. Thus every altimeter must be calibrated to a set of certain "standard" temperatures. As long as the outside temperature tracks this standard and the sea level barometric pressure doesnt change, the altimeter will give an accurate reading. But the reading could be hundreds of feet off after a long hike in extreme temperatures.

The Observer instruction manual presents a table defining Suuntos standard. You can use this table to calculate the actual altitude, given the starting altitude, starting temperature, temperature at the destination, and the watchs altimeter reading. At first I found the calculation hard to understand, and Suuntos table presents lower and lower resolution as you increase in altitude, ostensibly (but not really) making the table less and less useful as the altitude increases. Eventually however, I "cracked the code" and wrote a program for the PC that calculates the correct offsets and even creates tables for all the variables. If interested, contact me via email for a free copy of the program.

Here are some examples. If you climb in temperatures that are much hotter than the temperature compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the readings from the watch will be several hundred feet lower than your actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 90 degrees F. and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature is still 90 degrees, your actual altitude will be 4,329 feet. On the other hand, if you climb in temperatures that are much colder than the temperature compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the readings from the watch will be several hundred feet higher than your actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 0 degrees F. and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature is still 0 degrees, your actual altitude will only be 3,685 feet. Finally, if you climb in temperatures close to the compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the watch display will be very close to the actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 58 degrees F and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature has fallen to 45 degrees, your actual altitude will be 3,998 feet. The reading is very close to the actual altitude because the temperatures at the start and end of the climb are very close to the built-in standard, which you can check out by looking at the table in sec. 3.6. (By the way, the manual has a math error in the example it gives for "Imperial" measurements. The difference between 47.3 degrees F and 36.3 degrees F is 11 degrees, not 9 as stated in the manual. Thus the actual altitude should be 9,724 feet, not 9,740 as stated in the manual.)

From the reviews, it appears that many users are confused by the clasp, claiming it doesnt allow enough clearance to get the watch on and off. This confused me also, and Suunto should come out with a new edition of the instruction manual that makes it clearer that the band has two clasps and when both of them are open, there is plenty of clearance getting the watch on and off.

Dont believe any reviewer that says the altimeter in this watch isnt accurate. If it isnt accurate, return it, because it means the watch is defective. A working Observer will be as accurate as the most expensive Thommen precision analog altimeter. I know, because Ive owned the same, reliable Thommen (showing 20-foot intervals) for 29 years and have A-Bd the Observer with my Thommen on several hikes and have obtained as similar results as can be expected, given the intrinsic nature of altimeters based on the measurement of air pressure.

Although the manual can be criticized for its organization and sketchy documentation of its sometimes bewildering variety of features, it does give a fairly clear explanation of why altimeters in general can be as much as several hundred feet off over an elevation gain of several thousand feet, in spite of the fact that the sea level barometric pressure remains constant. Section 3.6 of the manual explains the effect of air temperature on altitude measurement. As the temperature rises, the air gets lighter, i.e. the barometric pressure falls. This is an intrinsic problem associated with any altimeter that works off of barometric pressure, including the world-renowned Thommen altimeters. Thus every altimeter must be calibrated to a set of certain "standard" temperatures. As long as the outside temperature tracks this standard and the sea level barometric pressure doesnt change, the altimeter will give an accurate reading. But the reading could be hundreds of feet off after a long hike in extreme temperatures.

The Observer instruction manual presents a table defining Suuntos standard. You can use this table to calculate the actual altitude, given the starting altitude, starting temperature, temperature at the destination, and the watchs altimeter reading. At first I found the calculation hard to understand, and Suuntos table presents lower and lower resolution as you increase in altitude, ostensibly (but not really) making the table less and less useful as the altitude increases. Eventually however, I "cracked the code" and wrote a program for the PC that calculates the correct offsets and even creates tables for all the variables. If interested, contact me via email for a free copy of the program.

Here are some examples. If you climb in temperatures that are much hotter than the temperature compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the readings from the watch will be several hundred feet lower than your actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 90 degrees F. and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature is still 90 degrees, your actual altitude will be 4,329 feet. On the other hand, if you climb in temperatures that are much colder than the temperature compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the readings from the watch will be several hundred feet higher than your actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 0 degrees F. and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature is still 0 degrees, your actual altitude will only be 3,685 feet. Finally, if you climb in temperatures close to the compensation standard built into the Observer, you will find that the watch display will be very close to the actual altitude. For example, if the starting elevation is 100 feet and the starting temperature is 58 degrees F and you climb until the Observer altitude reading is 4,000 feet and the temperature has fallen to 45 degrees, your actual altitude will be 3,998 feet. The reading is very close to the actual altitude because the temperatures at the start and end of the climb are very close to the built-in standard, which you can check out by looking at the table in sec. 3.6. (By the way, the manual has a math error in the example it gives for "Imperial" measurements. The difference between 47.3 degrees F and 36.3 degrees F is 11 degrees, not 9 as stated in the manual. Thus the actual altitude should be 9,724 feet, not 9,740 as stated in the manual.)

The Casio barometer/altimeter watch is a better value than the Sunnto although it is nowhere near as elegant as the Observer. And a regular ol G-Shock will trounce the Observer when it comes to durability and battery life.

On the plus side, this watch includes just about every kind of data you need to be a cyborg and in a cool packaging. Its smaller than a typical Suunto watch which is just nice for everyday use. Previous Suunto watches are just too big.

However, the functions can be confusing. Manual is not that helpful either. Just have to get used to the functions. Theres so many functions in there it takes time to tweak and learn to use them. For example, I have my altitude on the default setting, and on the street of Shanghai (which is not to far from the sea) it shows that Im 120m below sea level. Im sure its wrong but Im still trying to figure what made it think that Shanghai is the lowest city on earth.

I would still recommend the Observer though, but if youre in the wild, dont bet your life on it. Works well in the city though, makes an excellent conversation item....

This was a major bummer Christmas Day!

We returned the watch and that was the end of it...

Awesome.
Perfect balance of form & function. Possible to wear out when being a gentleman, or out when being a hooligan. Great for ease of use and smaller than previous designs Suunto.

Go on treat yourself, Titanium beats anything on the market. Great fun in lifts too with the altimeter!