Citizen Aqualand Duplex Battery?

My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 - 90
quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.

Any recommendations?

Keith L

[mailto:keithl@ukrecscuba.org.uk]

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 15:06:13 +0000, Keith Lawrence wrote:

> My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 - 90
> quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.

I can't help, but have you ever sent your watch back to Citizen for a
service. My Eco Drive, solar powered, supposed to last for ever watch has
packed in after 4 years (the warranty is for 3) and I'm debating whether
it's worth sending it back.

Jason

--
http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Aussie diving reports including
the wrecks of the SS Yongala, Lady Bowen and the HMAS Swan

"Jason" <jason.usenet.nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
newsan.2004.01.10.15.36.34.518035@ntlworld.com.. .
> On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 15:06:13 +0000, Keith Lawrence wrote:
>
> > My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 -
90
> > quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.
>
> I can't help, but have you ever sent your watch back to Citizen for a
> service. My Eco Drive, solar powered, supposed to last for ever watch has
> packed in after 4 years (the warranty is for 3) and I'm debating whether
> it's worth sending it back.
>
> Jason
>
> --
> http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Aussie diving reports including
> the wrecks of the SS Yongala, Lady Bowen and the HMAS Swan
>

When I sent my Aqualand Duplex away for work it came back like new, it had
been converted from feet to metres, had new glass, new strap, new battery
and full service with a warranty, cost £85 through H Samuels on the high
street but done by Citizen. It did however take nearly two weeks but I did
not think it too dear.
As for the Eco Drive I have one of these too which I use every day and for
free diving whilst on holidays. This is three years old and has never been
touched but if you read page 57 of the instruction book for model B740 it
states the watch should be ideally serviced every year or at least every two
to ensure its continued waterproofness. I will be running mine until it
stops and then maybe send it away for a free quote from citizen.
As can be seen I think Citizen dive watches are very good and reliable,
maybe they are not the cheapest but you make your own mind up as normal.

Richard

"Jason" <jason.usenet.nospam@ntlworld.com> wrote ...

> > My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing
> > (50 - 90 quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.

> I can't help, but have you ever sent your watch back to Citizen for a
> service. My Eco Drive, solar powered, supposed to last for ever watch has
> packed in after 4 years (the warranty is for 3) and I'm debating whether
> it's worth sending it back.

Bang goes the idea of an Eco Drive then

It did go back to Citizen in 2000, that cost me £35 quid. Citizen now only
work on a "we'll quote you" basis and refuse to give prices up front, I've
sent mine away for a quote and I'll let you know. If it needs a new battery
every two or three years at well over 50 quid a throw then it's just not
worth it IMHO. Bloody good watch, but they are taking the p*ss with service
costs.

Keith L

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 17:12:44 +0000, Richard Camm wrote:

> As for the Eco Drive I have one of these too which I use every day and for
> free diving whilst on holidays. This is three years old and has never been
> touched but if you read page 57 of the instruction book for model B740 it
> states the watch should be ideally serviced every year or at least every two
> to ensure its continued waterproofness. I will be running mine until it

Well it hasn't leaked. I think the problem is that the rechargeable
battery has packed in. For a while, it used to stop when I took it off. I
assumed it was because the drop in temperature reduced the voltage.

I was also less than impressed that the strap fell to bits in about 5
places after 13 months. I think its warranty was 12 months.

Jason

--
See http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports
to Aruba, Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico

"Keith Lawrence" <false@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:400014e5$0$52882$5a6aecb4@news.aaisp.net.uk.. .
> My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 - 90
> quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.
>
> Any recommendations?
>
> Keith L

That price should include cleaning, new seals and testing for waterproofing.
On that basis £50 doesn't seem too bad, but £90 is rather expensive.
Personally, I would go for the cheapest available watch from the likes of
Argos and throw it away when the battery runs down, but then I never could
understand why anyone would pay thousands of pounds for a Rolex.

Cliff.

Keith Lawrence wrote:
> My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 - 90
> quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.

Yes. Throw it away, and get a cheap watch like the Casio Illuminator.
Mine's coming up to 8 years old and has had 1 replacement battery
that I changed myself at a cost of about a quid. Works in the pool
and also on holiday to tell you when lunch is. If you need to know
depth/divetime/temp etc, buy an Uwatec depth timer with the money
you've saved.

- Keith

Keith Lawrence <false@nospam.com> wrote:

> My diving watch needs a new battery, the prices I've been hearing (50 - 90
> quid from Citizen!) are bloody silly.
>
> Any recommendations?
>
> Keith L
>
> [mailto:keithl@ukrecscuba.org.uk]

The return to Citizen will include a pressure test and 6 month no-leak
guarentee.

If you don't think either is needed then you can get is done for much
less, but of course it may leak or be inacurate as far as depth is
concerned and will not have the 'O' ring replaced.

I had my Hyper Aqualand done last year after about 5 years, and would do
so again.

FWIW If you are here in Japan it is quite a bit cheeper.
--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me