ok…so this friend of mine’s got an omega speedmaster that comes with a manual that states that it can withstand a force of upto 3500g ( for the uninitiated, g is for gravitational force ). now that to me is a lot of force. but what i can’t get quite clear is how much force is it really…and why would a watch ever be subject to such extreme force ? i kept telling mine friend that i would love to take a hammer and jump on his watch while banging it with a hammer and then road-rolling it with a, well, road-roller. could someone put 3500g in perspective and tell me what it is equal to in terms of hammer, stamp, crush, bang etc…thanks 
The 3500 g’s is a transitory “shock” rating and as such is only for a very brief (almost instantaneous) period of time (ie the watch being dropped and hitting the floor from a height). The Omega mavens at the http://www.timezone.com message board. You can ask in both the general and Omega sections) can give you additional info.
FWIW, the Omega stem-wound Speedmaster is the official watch of NASA. Although astronauts may wear any watch they choose, I believe the Omega is the only one authorized for EVA.
The Speedmaster is the next or second watch on my list of watches to get. 