Which Omega

[ChesterDogg]

For those of us who are interested in adding an Omega to their collection, is there one model more desired than the other.. Seamaster, Speedmater, Planet Ocean, etc. I thought this would be a good post for those who don't own one yet. It would be helpful if you could explain why you chose your choice.

Thanks in advance DWC.

[vbuskirk]

Although I personally chose a odd, under appreciated Speedmaster 'Date', I think the PO is a phenomenal watch. I've never owned one, so I'm only speaking from "browsing" experience. A very nice balance of classy -vs- sporty, that exudes quality. An interesting movement also.

[vbuskirk]

[BSears]

If water resistance is your thing, l honestly don't think you could do any better than the Planet Ocean. It goes with everything and fit and finish are superb. Coaxial movement, at least in my experience, has been flawless.



















And it's pretty damn versatile as well.

[matt.wu]

Here comes the cliche.... but really, it depends on what you're looking for.

If you want a chrono, obviously your options are limited, but the Speedy is a great choice. However if you need a date, automatic, sapphire, dive bezel, etc... it's not the watch for you. And you could go on and on.....

However, if you're looking for ONE Omega to be a daily wearer - and knowing your tastes from your previous watches (large dive watches) - THE watch for you is the 45.5 Omega PO. As Brad mentioned, the biggest thing is it's versatility. Because Omega, like Rolex, does such a good job of walking the fine line between sport and class with their case (and lesser so, dial) designs, it makes for a watch that can be worn in literally every situation.

Matte dial, water resistance, rotating bezel, splash of color, superior lume, brushed bracelet, and HEV all say sport watch - so it works well with a t-shirt.

Polished surfaces, lack of crown guards, chrome indices/hands, and overall case shape exude class and refinement, rendering it wearable with even a tux these days (whatever that means).

Throw in the fact that it has a date function, and killer rubber strap available, and it works okay on mesh or NATO, and you got yourself an all-in-one package that, in it's price range, I would pick as a "one watch" in a HEARTBEAT - no joke.

Omega hit a home-run with the PO aesthetic, I believe - especially at used pricing.

There are some downsides - pins in the bracelet (obscenely thin little things - doesn't inspire much long-term confidence), lack of micro-adjustments in the clasp, outer AR, greenish lume, and the 2500c movement (kind of a hodge-podge, less than ideal solution, IMO - unlike the 1120 or 8500) are all things that I don't necessarily love about the PO. It doesn't keep me from loving the watch though - like I said, in its price range, I'd pick the PO every time.

[BSears]

Matt, i think you nailed it. The one thing that still irks me about the PO is the gd clasp. I have no problem with the links and pin/collar system. But that may be because i have changed the configuration on that bracelet at least 15 times since I got it in 08. Take out the 'half' link, put in a full link. Then it starts to hang and flop around a bit too much for me, even resting down almost on my hand when my arm is down. Throw the "half" link back in and suddenly I can deal with it, until it starts to get tight. Which sucks too cuz that bracelet is sweet.

Outer AR? Never had a problem. And I've banged my PO a couple of times - door frames, door knobs, stucco walls (that left a few scratches/gouges on the bezel and insert... There was a discussion here recently about some earlier models having problems with the outer AR. yeah, it's a smudge/fingerprint magnet, but that doesn't really bother me - I dig the clarity of it at any angle.

For the money, I don't think anything else could compete, if you're sticking with Omega. I know some others (uh um, Steven) might suggest a Sinn, but that will muddy the waters here considerably (not to mention, no Sinns in the Omega forum )

[matt.wu]

The adjustment system doesn't bother me - I have the tools to make changing out links easy. It's the fact that the pins are so damn thin. The primary point of wear on a bracelet are the pins that hold the links together, and I don't want to worry about a watch falling off my wrist.

All that stretch you see in old Rolex oyster bracelets is primarily from wear to the screw-links. Some of it wears on the links, but when you're talking solid bracelet links, the pins are definitely the first thing to go.

[Pastor]

I love my PO, it gets a hard time and has had a couple of huge scrapes across the crystal with no damage to the AR. The bezel is perfect for a dive watch, easy to grip, clear/uncluttered, not to big and the face of the non chrono is very easy to read at a glance. The lume stays bright and readable for ages, certainly overnight which is more than my new sub does. When I first bought it I didn't take it off for 3 months and during that time it kept perfect time (within a second) with the atomic clock at Rugby, my sub was 15 seconds out after 3 weeks! Unless you intend to strap your watch onto the outside of a deep sea submersible instead of keeping it on your wrist I think you could put up a very strong argument that the PO is the best diving watch on the market bar non!

[Zidane]

Here comes the cliche.... but really, it depends on what you're looking for.

If you want a chrono, obviously your options are limited, but the Speedy is a great choice. However if you need a date, automatic, sapphire, dive bezel, etc... it's not the watch for you. And you could go on and on.....

However, if you're looking for ONE Omega to be a daily wearer - and knowing your tastes from your previous watches (large dive watches) - THE watch for you is the 45.5 Omega PO. As Brad mentioned, the biggest thing is it's versatility. Because Omega, like Rolex, does such a good job of walking the fine line between sport and class with their case (and lesser so, dial) designs, it makes for a watch that can be worn in literally every situation.

Matte dial, water resistance, rotating bezel, splash of color, superior lume, brushed bracelet, and HEV all say sport watch - so it works well with a t-shirt.

Polished surfaces, lack of crown guards, chrome indices/hands, and overall case shape exude class and refinement, rendering it wearable with even a tux these days (whatever that means).

Throw in the fact that it has a date function, and killer rubber strap available, and it works okay on mesh or NATO, and you got yourself an all-in-one package that, in it's price range, I would pick as a "one watch" in a HEARTBEAT - no joke.

Omega hit a home-run with the PO aesthetic, I believe - especially at used pricing.

There are some downsides - pins in the bracelet (obscenely thin little things - doesn't inspire much long-term confidence), lack of micro-adjustments in the clasp, outer AR, greenish lume, and the 2500c movement (kind of a hodge-podge, less than ideal solution, IMO - unlike the 1120 or 8500) are all things that I don't necessarily love about the PO. It doesn't keep me from loving the watch though - like I said, in its price range, I'd pick the PO every time.

You nailed it.

[BSears]

I don't want to worry about a watch falling off my wrist.

I've heard of that happening with Rolex before.




















i tease - I know that had nothing to do with screw bars or even the bracelet itself, but rather someone else placing the wrong spring bars in it. sorry to open an old wound, but I couldn't help myself.


On another note - has anybody ever had a vintage Omega fail at the link pin connection on the bracelet? You raise a curious note Matt. I couldn't imagine that ever happening but in the realm of statistical probabilities, I suppose it has or could.

[matt.wu]

I don't want to worry about a watch falling off my wrist.

I've heard of that happening with Rolex before.




















i tease - I know that had nothing to do with screw bars or even the bracelet itself, but rather someone else placing the wrong spring bars in it. sorry to open an old wound, but I couldn't help myself.


On another note - has anybody ever had a vintage Omega fail at the link pin connection on the bracelet? You raise a curious note Matt. I couldn't imagine that ever happening but in the realm of statistical probabilities, I suppose it has or could.

[jimyritz]

Hard to beat the PO as the one watch...
Dress Diver
Killer lume
excellent movement
date
can handle multiple straps

This is the 42MM...you can handle the 45....




the Speedmaster is fantastic with all its iterations.. if you had other divers...
This is the 3573.50



Killer movement..


And of course this one which gets better and better every time I put it on..




Mike

[mrsnak]

For the moderns, I enjoy all of these:

[jimyritz]

That Railmaster is a beauty....

[ChesterDogg]

Mike... The Speedmaster movement looks so sweet. Everyone has made some good points. The beauty of collecting is diversity from within. Yes, I mostly collect divers. Howwever, after doing some thinking, there is no diversity.

Do I really need a date? Not really. The Speedmaster will definitely be the choice. If I was going for another diver, it will be Planet Ocean. I am also thinking about adding a fleiger/aviator to my collection. Steven's Sinn is absloutely gorgeous, I just don't know if I will ever be able to aford one. But, this is way down the road in hopefully not too distant future.

If there are more input/advises, by all means please post. Hopefuly this will help other members who do not post, or those who are just starting out. The more information that can be added, the better.

[andrema]

If I had to choose one of my Omegas (I have SMP, PO and Speedy Moon), it would have to be the SMP.


The Speedy is more "dressy" than the other two, lacks a date and I have to be more careful of it because the hesalite. - so not really an every day wear

The PO has a saphire crystal (no issue with scratches), is thicker than the SMP, but wears smaller because of no crown guards - OK for a ever day wearer, but a stretch for "dressy occasions". IMO a casual watch.

The SMP can be easily worn in casual and "dressy" occasions, has a saphire crystal and easily fits under a cuff.


I say buy all three...trust me, you will be happy!!

[ezcheese]

Omega sucks. You should get a Seiko.

[Safetystop]

I disagree with the SMP arguement. For me, Speedmaster does the trick everytime. I would buy one all day everyday if I could. Just the classic lines, the simplicity of the dial the oh so comfy bracelet, the fact that it can be worn with jeans or a suit. Just look at it...those chrono pushers are like two pert 25 year old nipples waiting to be played with and pushed. And that crown...oh that crown. Perfect in it's function, doesn't dig into the skin...waiting, like another pert 25 year old part, to be pinched, twisted and caressed...oh wait, not too fast baby...twist it the other way to slow that seconds hand down to hack it. Perfect. And those lugs....like 5 foot tall legs wrapped in thigh high stockings. And the warmth of the crystal, the hesalite crystal...like the lucite platform heels on that stripper you just gave 40 bucks to for one song!

You want a date function? Set the chrono hand to the corresponding seconds that match the date. Simple.

Matt, the pin argument is trash and you know it...I have bracelets that are 30 years old and not a single pin has come loose or stretched. Just because Rolex has a design flaw don't carry that over to Omega...yeah Jubilee bracelets are a good idea! Nonsense! Calculate it...UTS of 316L steel is 90Ksi, shear strength is typically calculated at .6*UTS...area of pin cross section is approx .098" (completely guessed this one) :
.6*90Ksi=54000PSI
54000*.098=5301 Lbf

So you're basically saying that you're afraid that in your daily life you'll exert 5301Lbf on your bracelet and will snap it off? How tight do you have that thing? Are you using it as a carabiner?

Oh you mean it'll just work itself loose and fall out. Well, that one I can't help you with...usually that problem occurs when the dingus who re-sized it didn't install the pin properly. Do it right and it's bullet proof for it's application. Weak point my ass...the weak point is the mind of the person who dismisses it as inferior to "whatever Rolex does". Sorry your arguments fall on deaf ears here. You may have all the rubes around here confused with your oriental Wu-Fu...but not here buddy

[BSears]

Omega sucks. You should get a Seiko.

Or maybe just keep that sweet 5000T Sharky.

[R@cerx]

Dave has it nailed here. My 3570.50 gets a tremendous amount of daily wear. Be careful with hesalite? Pfft, Polywatch cures all!! As far as the bracelet pins being a problem, get a pin press and learn to install them correctly. Never an issue, unlike the tiny screws used on other bracelets (rolex) that can be stripped or lost.

Tim, if you're in a financial position to move toward an Omega, do it!!

[dukerules]

I know less about Omegas than many on here have forgotten. However I do like them and appreciate them for what the are. Love the PO, Railmaster, and the Speedmasters, especially the Pro. I think the PO is the obvious choice for an everyday piece, with its WR, date complication, and versatile looks. I also like the 45.5 option, especially as the 42 wears like a 40mm Sub/SD. However, if I were purchasing an Omega today, it would be one of these:


Some of our fellow DWC bastards got me hooked on the SM300 big time recently, and I can't seem to get it out of my head. As timeless a design as the Rolex 5513 in my book, and you can get minty fresh Watchco versions for a very reasonable price on the used market.

[el presidente]

Omega sucks. You should get a Seiko.

Shut up!! Seiko Schmeiko....He want's an Omega, the guy has class

[matt.wu]

Dave, I'm not worried about the pin shearing or falling out. I know how to install the bracelets with the pin and sleeve/collar. I'm talking about slow, daily wear and tear. That WILL eat through that tiny pin over time if not cared for properly.

Sure, take care of any watch, and it'll last forever, no matter if it's an Omega bracelet or a Rolex oyster or jubilee. But I'm talking about worst case scenario here. Who talks best case scenario when you're talking about potential points of failure? Not me.

Don't worry - I'm not bad-mouthing your precious Omegas. Did you somehow just glaze over all the positive things I mentioned about the watch? Do you not realize my whole post was about an Omega recommendation? I can talk all day about things Rolex does poorly, but we're supposed to be talking about Omega here. Touchy, touchy, my brother. Sometimes I wonder, forum-owner bestowed titles aside, who the real fanboys are...





And one more thing - if you want a date function, GET A DATE FUNCTION. If you decide not to get one, learn to remember the damn date. Using the chrono-second hand to point to the date is a silly way to tick another mark in the "pro" column for a watch and is akin to the "Hardlex is great because it's super impact resistant" argument.





Pass the Koolaid, boys. We're all in the same boat.

[Safetystop]

Dave, I'm not worried about the pin shearing or falling out. I know how to install the bracelets with the pin and sleeve/collar. I'm talking about slow, daily wear and tear. That WILL eat through that tiny pin over time if not cared for properly.

Sure, take care of any watch, and it'll last forever, no matter if it's an Omega bracelet or a Rolex oyster or jubilee. But I'm talking about worst case scenario here. Who talks best case scenario when you're talking about potential points of failure? Not me.

Don't worry - I'm not bad-mouthing your precious Omegas. Did you somehow just glaze over all the positive things I mentioned about the watch? Do you not realize my whole post was about an Omega recommendation? I can talk all day about things Rolex does poorly, but we're supposed to be talking about Omega here. Touchy, touchy, my brother. Sometimes I wonder, forum-owner bestowed titles aside, who the real fanboys are...





And one more thing - if you want a date function, GET A DATE FUNCTION. If you decide not to get one, learn to remember the damn date. Using the chrono-second hand to point to the date is a silly way to tick another mark in the "pro" column for a watch and is akin to the "Hardlex is great because it's super impact resistant" argument.





Pass the Koolaid, boys. We're all in the same boat.

Matt, Matt, Matt...come on dude...don't you recognize tongue in cheek. I guess it's hard to recognize in print.

You're right I am a fanboy...but I admit it. A sexier watch than the Speedmaster, to me, has yet to be built. But I was merely trying to point out that your "fears" of a pin and sleeve scenario is unfounded and basically untrue. Physics is not on your side on this one, sorry. I'm not talking best case scenario never was...I have no idea how some of my vintage bracelets were treated and yet, rock solid.

Let's talk worse case scenario for a bit...Rolex-fixed pin against same material. Omega-pin locked into sleeve of same material. Fixed pin does not rotate and frictional forces are applied to the same area for years and years. Under these conditions wear is accelerated due to galling and frictional forces at localized spots. Pin locked into sleeve is free to rotate thereby minimizing galling forces and thereby minimizing localized galling at specific locales. Any microscopic debris is free to be ejected from natural rotation of the link and sleeve. Now Amonton's second law seems to support your claim. However, it only applies to FRICTIONAL forces and does not deal with galling forces.

The automotive industry has known about this phenomenon for years. Ever look at why control arm bushings aren't solid (besides rattling your teeth out) and are a pin and sleeve combination? The wear aspect. By your assertions all cars should have a solid connection because it has the appearance, to you, of being more durable. When in fact the opposite is true.

It's just physics...with a little bit of knowledge you'll see the light Besides I thought the Milgauss was supposed to be an engineer's watch, seems physics should be part of that curriculum

And the date function thing..well it could be worse...I could be like Kin and not even set the date on a date function...LOL. That still bothers me. But calling that silly is just as silly as getting a watch that is immune to a flux density of a thousand gauss even though you'll never see that field in your lifetime It's even "akin to the "Hardlex is great because it's super impact resistant" argument."

And besides, I have date function watches. But the lure of the Speedy is great enough, again to me, where I can forgive no-date and wear it anyways...it's that damn sexy!

Let's get lunch...I'll derive the equations for you then

[el presidente]

Dave, I'm not worried about the pin shearing or falling out. I know how to install the bracelets with the pin and sleeve/collar. I'm talking about slow, daily wear and tear. That WILL eat through that tiny pin over time if not cared for properly.

Sure, take care of any watch, and it'll last forever, no matter if it's an Omega bracelet or a Rolex oyster or jubilee. But I'm talking about worst case scenario here. Who talks best case scenario when you're talking about potential points of failure? Not me.

Don't worry - I'm not bad-mouthing your precious Omegas. Did you somehow just glaze over all the positive things I mentioned about the watch? Do you not realize my whole post was about an Omega recommendation? I can talk all day about things Rolex does poorly, but we're supposed to be talking about Omega here. Touchy, touchy, my brother. Sometimes I wonder, forum-owner bestowed titles aside, who the real fanboys are...





And one more thing - if you want a date function, GET A DATE FUNCTION. If you decide not to get one, learn to remember the damn date. Using the chrono-second hand to point to the date is a silly way to tick another mark in the "pro" column for a watch and is akin to the "Hardlex is great because it's super impact resistant" argument.





Pass the Koolaid, boys. We're all in the same boat.

Matt, Matt, Matt...come on dude...don't you recognize tongue in cheek. I guess it's hard to recognize in print.

You're right I am a fanboy...but I admit it. A sexier watch than the Speedmaster, to me, has yet to be built. But I was merely trying to point out that your "fears" of a pin and sleeve scenario is unfounded and basically untrue. Physics is not on your side on this one, sorry. I'm not talking best case scenario never was...I have no idea how some of my vintage bracelets were treated and yet, rock solid.

Let's talk worse case scenario for a bit...Rolex-fixed pin against same material. Omega-pin locked into sleeve of same material. Fixed pin does not rotate and frictional forces are applied to the same area for years and years. Under these conditions wear is accelerated due to galling and frictional forces at localized spots. Pin locked into sleeve is free to rotate thereby minimizing galling forces and thereby minimizing localized galling at specific locales. Any microscopic debris is free to be ejected from natural rotation of the link and sleeve. Now Amonton's second law seems to support your claim. However, it only applies to FRICTIONAL forces and does not deal with galling forces.

The automotive industry has known about this phenomenon for years. Ever look at why control arm bushings aren't solid (besides rattling your teeth out) and are a pin and sleeve combination? The wear aspect. By your assertions all cars should have a solid connection because it has the appearance, to you, of being more durable. When in fact the opposite is true.

It's just physics...with a little bit of knowledge you'll see the light Besides I thought the Milgauss was supposed to be an engineer's watch, seems physics should be part of that curriculum

And the date function thing..well it could be worse...I could be like Kin and not even set the date on a date function...LOL. That still bothers me. But calling that silly is just as silly as getting a watch that is immune to a flux density of a thousand gauss even though you'll never see that field in your lifetime It's even "akin to the "Hardlex is great because it's super impact resistant" argument."

And besides, I have date function watches. But the lure of the Speedy is great enough, again to me, where I can forgive no-date and wear it anyways...it's that damn sexy!

Let's get lunch...I'll derive the equations for you then

My Hero