Omega

just recently I became more aware of Omega watches and am very happy with a moon phase Speedy and a vintage Seamaster Deville.

For the summer vacation I was loking for a "tougher" Omega and felt very attracted by the SMP ref. 2254.50.00 which is no longer manufactured.

With some effort I managed to get a new one last month and had some trouble with my new purchase as my wife said the bracelet would look "old-fashioned", I would not be that old yet to wear it!

This is the way the watch originally looked:

 

Not really geriatric in my opinion, I think it looks sporty, but if the wife says....

So, I went and got an original leather strap with an original deployment buckle (don´t ask for the price...)

This made the watch look like this:

 

Looks a bit more classic, but still very sporty, the black leather combining nicely with the black dial and bezel.

 

But as I initially wanted the watch to be fit for heat, summer exercise and sweating I also ordered a NATO strap for almost nothing, which gave the watch this look:

 

 

 

I like it best that way, it also feels very comfortable on the wrist and if it´s worn out - no problem at all, as you don´t pay the extreme sums like you have to for the OEM strap.

I feel it is also an indicator for the versatility of this Omega that it can be worn with very different straps, thereby exposing different characters - that´s what I really like about this watch! Instead of taking several watches, just take one and a couple of straps.

Best regards,

anaesdoc

P.S. Sorry for the redundance of the pics - somehow the photo uploader was upset

much nicer than the blue dialled 'Bond' model. a good heavy duty watch which i think competes with many other brands in a higher price point.

the movement might be ETA 2892 derived, but it works and keeps good time which is the important bit. i'll be interested to see if they bother with this model with an 8500 movement inside. probably not as they have the Planet Ocean and AT so it doesnt really need another diver in its range. they've been making it for over 15 years now so its probably lived its life. i think i'm right in saying that it first came out in 1992/93. i had a 1992 Seamaster 200m chronometer which i think was one of the last ones made and i think from memory my smp300 was from 93, but i could be wrong. things get blurred in my muzzy brain

i'm very surprised that you took the bracelet off as it looks good on any wrist of any age for any occasion. i must say the Nato looks good as well. i'm looking for the best strap to put on my newest vintage sm300 and a Nato might be the answer. i'm not overly fond of the feel of them, but i have some lying around so can try one out.

enjoy wearing it and dont be afraid to get it dinged and scratched.

best

Graham

... is not to be underestimated - in my case that of my wife.
Whenever I get a new watch I try to reach something like a consent from her with this purchase, as it would be not much fun wearing this watch.
So my wife telling me she does not like the look of the metal bracelet (btw, my first bracelet so far), was a serious issue. That´s why I changed the strap. But, as I said, to me the NATO strap really looks georgeous. Of course you cannot argue about taste matters, can you?
I also think there´s an ETA 2892 movement as a base ebauche, how much it has been refined I cannot tell, as there is not see-through bottom and I don´t want to open the back myself. But it seems to keep good time, loosing about 1-2 secs/day.

Thanks for your encouragement to really "use" the watch as I tend to be a bit fuzzy with my (new) timepieces !

Best regards,

anaesdoc

Which is the blue wavy dial with silver bezel/engraved numbers/markings, and when I needed to they sold quite fast.  You can still find them around, some ADs still have a few and if you shake a few 'gray' clouds...(or check some of the 'net bb's).  Love the screw-down crown and He valve, and like butter to set and wind.  The bezel rotation is okay, but who uses that anyway?

Love the ETA 2892A2/1120, can be adjusted to +1 to +3 seconds/day, where I like the setting.  Just wish they'd update the design a bit (get rid of the waves), throw a 2500C or 8500 co-axial in it and voila!  Anyway, all of this gave way to the Bond style, ok but the skeleton hands...ugh.

Next: SMAT with the 8500!  Enjoy!  Omega ROCKS!!    =:^D

Hi chaser 579,

thanks for sharing your experience.

I´d also like this watch with an Omega in-house movement, but like you the actual Seamaster Bond watch with its "open" minute and hour hands was a real setback for me. On the other hand I really like the wave pattern on the dial: it is a visual reminder of the watch´s name: Sea-master!.

Regards,

anaesdoc

Anaesdoc,

You nailed it with the nato band. It looks really cool!

Congrats on your most recent acquisition and may you enjoy lots of great days with it!

Alex

Obviously we share the same exquisite taste in watch matters , LOL!

Best regards,

anaesdoc

No message body

anaesdoc

I think Omega offers great value across many of their lines.  The Seamaster has always been a favorite of mine.

I like the watch on its bracelet best, but agree that all the strap options are delightful!

Enjoy your new watch!

Cheers,
Daos

... you just walk by, see it and pick it up  !

In this case I first checked the second hand forums, finding that there were not many of these watches available (seems that everybody was happy with their watch) and then I tried to find a new one lying unobserved in some AD´s drawer.

After having sent some 40 to 50 mails to various dealers within Germany, one of them replied, he would still have it - and  I picked it up .

I agree with you - I also like the bracelet -, but the NATO strap is gorgeous as well.

I´m very happy my taste is like that, because otherwise either my wife or myself would be somehow disappointed!

Have a good weekend, Daos,

anaesdoc

P.S. Again I had to retype half the mail because pressing one key deleted half the message - grrrrh. I must be a bit goofy or my laptop is too sensitive !

This message has been edited by anaesdoc on 2009-08-15 01:38:49

In fact, to me, this is the best combo for this modern SM.

It adds to its Toolwatch " personnality ".

Thanks for sharing these pics, and sepcially the last one!

Best,

Nicolas

As you can see on the last photo, the garden candle is still well-filled, as there were only very few occasions this year to enjoy ourselves sitting on the terrace at nighttime.

Sometimes simple is really best (referring to the NATO strap), I agree.

Best regards,

anaesdoc

P.S. BTW, if nothing comes in between, this watch will be seeing your home country for a late summer vacation at the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux in 2 weeks time .

...than the bracelet. Good match on this style of watch.

A word of warning on your "NATO". The buckle appears to a "pin" or spring-bar style buckle attachment, instead of the correct one-piece.

This reintroduces the potential failure that the NATO/G10 is supposed to avoid - breaking one spring-bar may lose you the watch.

 

 

Hi BDLJ,

thanks for your warning - I did not think about it, but you´re right. If one spring-bar would come out, the watch would simply drop down!

Best regards,

anaesdoc

I had a strap custom  made of my Seamasters and it really gave the watches a new look !

Your custommade blue strap goes very well with the blue dial and bezel, Jeff!

Sometimes you wonder want the professional designers do, but on the other hand it´s o.k., if a watch has the potential to be worn with a large variety of straps.

Best,

anaesdoc