Omega

The tale of two Bullheads - New and Old

Team,

Here is my side-by-side examination of two Bullheads:

The Old

In 1969 Omega released a weird chronograph, very well along the ones that we call "funky".

It was called "Seamaster Driver" (Reference 146.011) and I call it "weird" because of the asymmetrical case with the main crown and chronograph pushers on top of it.

The basic concept, I presume, was to allow a quick time read when speed driving along the curves of the road,

On the base of the case, there is another crown that rotates the internal bezel.

Since the "Seamaster Driver", that is normally called "Bullhead", was not a huge success, few were made and this made it a very rare (and expensive vintage) today.

The movement of the Bullhead is the Omega (Lemania based) manual wind 930. The 930 is a variation of the classic 861 with the addition of the date at 3.

The dial is colorful, with a 30 minutes chronograph sub dial and a running seconds sub dial located at 6.

The New

In 2013 Omega released a re edition of the "Seamaster Driver", modernized in all senses.

With a full name of " Seamaster Bullhead Co-Axial Chronograph", is more bulky than the old one, with changes not only on the case size but also on the chronograph pushers (now rectangular) and with bigger and more compatible (to the size) crowns.

Three versions were released (white dial, black dial and silver), with different straps.

Following the Omega definitive trend, the new Bullhead is much better finished and is equipped with a Co-Axial movement, column wheel based, the 3113.

Recently Omega released another version, playing homage to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The feeling

Looking only on pictures, any of the Bullhead versions looks awkward and when I saw the new one only in pictures, my reaction was "NO WAY".

I had tried the old version on my wrist, but since it was only during a quick photo session, I had no wearing experience with the "rusty" one.

Strapping it on the wrist, everything changes and it dresses very comfortable and ... I was hooked by the mesmerizing dial of the black version.

The pictures

I was lucky that a dear friend, that owns the only vintage Bullhead that I know, shared his one for an entire week and I could do this photo comparison.

Side-by-side, we can notice the case size differences. The new is bigger and more "macho":

On my wrist, wonderful feeling of the old:

And the new one, bigger but maintaining the great feeling:

The case back of the new. Forgive me but I forgot to take a similar picture of the old.

The pushers and the crown of the new:

Same, of the old. Seems to me that the crown and pushers are Omega "vanilla".

Finally, the last color picture of my new. Love the looks and the feeling. Keeper for sure.

B&W pictures of each:

The New:

And the Old:

Conclusion

The big question is related to my preferences: New or old?

If possible and I know that is very hard to get the Old, I would take one of each.

The old has the vintage feeling and the new the boldness and Omega legendary accuracy of the XXI century.

Thanks for seeing.

Cheers,

Nilo