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Post by rw16610 on Sept 28, 2015 13:18:49 GMT -6
Being happy with a watch you currently have is the best possible situation to be in. I'll never forget the story behind the Speedmaster for you and why it means so much. Nothing will be able to top that, but a Globemaster would look pretty darn good on your wrist as well.
Like Pete, I LOVE to see so many companies embracing their history. Vintage designs set the benchmark for watches and to this day they continue to get the attention of watch lovers from all over.
I seem to like that Seamaster more on the bracelet but like you, also feel it wouldn't be the Omega watch for me personally. One thing I now know for sure is that my love for this brand never truly faded, even though I parted ways with two of the watches I've owned. If Omega keeps this up, chances are I'll end up with another one in my collection at some point in the future.
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Post by carl on Nov 21, 2015 11:25:45 GMT -6
Well, I keep looking at this LE watch. Have to admit, it is my favourite Omega at the moment. I was seriously not considering it, because I'm not really a huge James Bond fan. To be honest, I like the visual effects of the movies, but after a while I find them boring. So, I put the watch out of my mind for a while. After trying it on a few times, and studying all the details, it has really started to grow on me. I love the way the dial is done, with the large Omega emblem, and minus the "12". Love the lollipop second hand, and also the unique bezel. The original Seamaster 300 has been around for a while, and I would have had one by now, but there were a few things that put me off, the biggest complaint being the polished bracelet.
If I get the James Bond thing out of my head - and the fact that the watch is a limited edition - I am almost sold on it. I would never get a watch based mainly on being a James Bond LE, or any LE for that matter. I have to like the watch on it's own merits. In this case, I can find no fault. The fact that it has the unique dial and bezel, which sets it apart and improves it from the regular model - is enough to warrant the added price.
I found that, the past few times I looked at, and tried on the watch, I left disappointed. Finally, I realized that I was concentrating on it being a LE James Bond model and not paying enough attention to it's unique details. The sapphire caseback also does nothing for me, but that really is neither here nor there. And, I would never wear it on the NATO, as I am not really a NATO guy, and I am also not crazy about the grey and black stripes. The brushed bracelet is nice - at least nicer than the one with PCLs - although I can see myself eventually fitting a brown leather strap with deployant, as I now have with my Speedy. Given all these factors, I believe it is a watch that I will thoroughly enjoy for many years.
While I admit that the James Bond LE thing is a bonus - not to mention the extra goodies that come with it - those are not the things that really sell me on the watch.
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Post by rw16610 on Nov 21, 2015 14:21:19 GMT -6
Omega limited editions have a strange way of doing that to you. I remember seeing previous 007 Limited models and feeling similar. The Michael Schumacher Speedmaster was the exact same with me. Hated it the first few times but it sort of grew on me.
The Bond advertising campaign never really spoke to me in that way. Like you say it's neat for a while but quickly fades away for the most part.
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 4:00:49 GMT -6
Well, it seems the Spectre is completely sold out in Canada. Which is likely a good thing for me. As I don't like the watch on either the NATO or bracelet - brushed or polished - I would end up having to spend more money to get a leather strap with deployant. Which is my favourite look for the SM300. This has always been my favourite combo and the difference in price would be over $1500 to get the Spectre with this combo: There is quite simply no other watch that appeals to me as much. The thing I always liked most about this watch, is that it has no date complication. To me, that adds so much to the symmetry of the dial. And I have to say that I do prefer the look of this bezel to the one on the Sceptre. Especially with the lumed marker at 12 o'clock.
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Baco Noir
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Post by Baco Noir on Nov 22, 2015 8:52:45 GMT -6
That last photo you posted is a great look for the SM300 carl. I'm not a fan of the PCLs on this watch either.
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Post by rw16610 on Nov 22, 2015 9:49:43 GMT -6
Although I typically don't view modern watches as an "investment" in that sense I could never justify the premium under these above mentioned circumstances.
A lot of the time the only thing "Limited" about some of these would be the market of potential buyers if for some reason you wanted to part with it.
The markings on the bezel of the regular watch make a lot more sense to me for this. I like polished center links but on this particular watch? Not for me.
Things slowly seem to be working themselves out for your next purchase!
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 10:14:22 GMT -6
carl. I'm not a fan of the PCLs on this watch either. Roger, for me it's the only look. I found that even the bracelet which is all brushed didn't work on the Spectre, and I would feel the same about the regular model. And the other bonus is the great comfort of wearing the leather on that deployant. As wonderful as the new bracelets are, with the adjustable clasp as I had on the Mark II, they still can't match the comfort of the leather on deployant. I'm very glad that - for once - I didn't jump at the SM300 when it was first introduced last year. It was all to do with the bracelet that doesn't work for me on this watch. When everything else is so perfect. One thing that does work very well, though, is a mesh bracelet and that is an option that can always be fitted at a later date, and very inexpensively as well. I have always regretted selling my midsize Railmaster as well. And now it's nearly impossible to get one. Another thing that the Seamaster 300 does beautifully, is emulate the look of a vintage Railmaster. Soon as the watch came out last year, I was amazed at it's striking resemblance to that model as well: It was a big hope for me that Omega would introduce a new Railmaster, based upon the vintage. But when I see the SM300, it already accomplishes that. :: Here is a link to a For Sale posting on WUS some years ago. The chap was selling both vintage pieces, the Seamaster and the Railmaster. Except for the bezel on the Seamaster, and the size, they bear an amazing resemblance to each other: forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs-legendary-vintage-omega-railmaster-ck-2914-vintage-omega-seamaster-ck-2913-1st-g-269427.html
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 10:23:15 GMT -6
Omega limited editions have a strange way of doing that to you. I remember seeing previous 007 Limited models and feeling similar. The Michael Schumacher Speedmaster was the exact same with me. Hated it the first few times but it sort of grew on me. The Bond advertising campaign never really spoke to me in that way. Like you say it's neat for a while but quickly fades away for the most part. Since the whole James Bond thing means very little to me, the ownership of a LE would have very little meaning. And, as you can see from the pics in my previous post, the Spectre although very cleverly done, bears less resemblance to the vintage model(s), if you include the Railmaster.
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CHIP
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Post by CHIP on Nov 22, 2015 10:35:59 GMT -6
The one on strap looks the best to me.
On bracelet, I don't care for it one bit, it think omega got it all wrong here.
I'd also be interested in the blue version with the blue strap from the white dial titanium Aqua Terra GMT, I think that would be a great combo.
Too bad the AT strap is 21mm so it won't fit.
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 10:48:05 GMT -6
The one on strap looks the best to me. On bracelet, I don't care for it one bit, it think omega got it all wrong here. I'd also be interested in the blue version with the blue strap from the white dial titanium Aqua Terra GMT, I think that would be a great combo. Too bad the AT strap is 21mm so it won't fit. I agree. When the watch came out last year, it really disappointed me.
That is one option I also considered. Your idea of the blue strap is great. The blue platinum LE on the strap gave me the idea:
I think it's a great combo. Only thing for me, is that the steel model on brown leather is the closest to either the vintage Seamaster or Railmaster. I think it would be fantastic, though, to be able to afford a platinum watch!
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 11:04:52 GMT -6
This is getting to be a lot of fun. I found a pic of a 1964 Railmaster. I was intrigued by the second hand on this one, and how close it is to the new Seamaster 300:
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Post by Baco Noir on Nov 22, 2015 12:09:50 GMT -6
The vintage lume looks best on a strap. I think that's where the PCLs fall short for me. PCLs are a modern touch and seem out of place with the vintage lume look for me.
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 14:16:44 GMT -6
The vintage lume looks best on a strap. I think that's where the PCLs fall short for me. PCLs are a modern touch and seem out of place with the vintage lume look for me. Agreed. And when the strap ages, and develops a patina, it will look even better. Even though I only got a leather strap for my Speedy a few short weeks ago, it has already changed somewhat and lost some of the "newness". The great thing about the deployant, is that as the strap ages, it will look a lot better but will not be ruined by securing it with a normal clasp.
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Post by rw16610 on Nov 22, 2015 19:28:51 GMT -6
Omega has such a rich history, no wonder they're remaking a lot of those discontinued classics. The Railmaser was always a neat piece and I had no clue they were this difficult to come by now.
Although it's easy (apparently) to have a watch maker brush out those polished links I wouldn't bother with it still personally. For that particular watch I feel they certainly should be brushed like the rest of the bracelet.
Those Omega clasps are amazing. They make leather straps that much better, indeed. So much easier to take off / put on and so much more.
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Post by carl on Nov 22, 2015 20:19:35 GMT -6
Well, after more than a year-and-a-half, I did it! I went downtown to the Boutique today, to see if they have a Seamasster 300 on the leather strap. Apparently the model with the strap is delayed a bit, I imagine because they don't make that particular strap in 21mm yet, only 20mm. I decided to try the model - again - with the bracelet, and if I liked it, which I thought was doubtful, I can get the strap later. And the bracelet price is only $100 more than with the strap. They were real good about it, and said if I wanted to take the watch with the bracelet they will provide me with the deployant strap at no charge when it arrives. It turned out that I actually like the watch on the bracelet, even with the PCLs. And seeing the build quality of the bracelet IRL makes a huge difference. Although I know that as soon as the deployant strap arrives, it will immediately be replaced. Nevertheless, it gives the watch a totally different look. With the adjustable buckle it is very comfortable. Don't ask me why, after 18 months, I suddenly like the bracelet, all I know it that I am glad to have it. Although no formal announcement has been made, I am pretty sure the prices will go up here in Canada. At the moment, with the currency exchange this watch retails for about $5200USD. The MSRP in the US is $6500. I did look at, and seriously consider, the titanium model. But the fact that it has a blue dial and bezel, is just too "iffy" for me. The stainless steel model is also closest to the vintage pieces. For once, not an impulse decision for me. I have looked at vintage reissue pieces from other manufacturers, and find for my taste this is the best one. Also, most of the other manufacturers seem to add a date complication, even though the original did not have one. The Globemaster was a serious consideration as well, but blue dial is out of the question, and I am not sold on the silver dial. And it has a date complication. Still a gorgeous watch, though, but with the few issues I have with it, I know it would get flipped. More and better pics to follow, especially when I get the leather strap!!
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