New Watch: Omega Speedmaster!

[olliebear]

Santa was delayed by the massive rainstorms, and I had warned him that one more crappy present and I will be BBQing some venison for Xmas dinner! So Santa-Bear got the hint and got me this.....

20 years after getting myself a stainless Rolex Sub for surviving three miserable years in the Army, I finally pulled the trigger for a new watch. I wanted something new but not too different; no bling bling flashy crap here, but a "tool watch". A tool watch is like a Rolex Sub, a purpose built watch and not a piece of jewelry disguised as a watch. Like the Subby, this has to be well made to last 20+ years, a substantial quality timepiece. LIke the Subby, this has to have "history"--a history of outstanding performance with military, adventurers, and assorted posseurs like me who want to feel military and adventurous when I am driving the mahagony desk--"chairborne" so to speak. I also did not want to duplicate my Rolex Sub in getting another diver's watch.

After perusing many watch shop, catalogs, internet, etc...I narrowed it down ot Breitling Chrono Avenger or Omega Speedmaster Day-Date. I could not find a black face'black bezel Speedmaster Day-Date to save my life. The day-dates I tried on were too small, too "busy", and not very purposeful looking.

Breitlings were nice but I've heard they are delicate and not too strong...just a review in www.reviewwatch.com showed about 40% complaints.

Then I saw the Omega Speedmaster Michael Schumacher Legend Limited Chrono....a substantial 43mm case. Rolex Sub is 40mm, and the regular Speedmaster is 39mm. Certified chronometer like the Sub. Regular Speedmasters are not "certified" chronos...

http://www.omega.ch/index.php?id=298&no_cache=1

White face, black and stainless.....the nearest watch to a Rolex Daytona I can find.

SO there it is.....Santa was late, but came through...I can put away the BBQ tools and turn off the propane fire now...Blitzen and Rudolf can live another year....

 

[alpha]

very nice watch.. i love watches. i've probably got too many.. haha.. i've got a couple seiko kinetics, and a couple citizen eco-drives..

 

[Sac State]

Santa was delayed by the massive rainstorms, and I had warned him that one more crappy present and I will be BBQing some venison for Xmas dinner! So Santa-Bear got the hint and got me this.....

20 years after getting myself a stainless Rolex Sub for surviving three miserable years in the Army, I finally pulled the trigger for a new watch. I wanted something new but not too different; no bling bling flashy crap here, but a "tool watch". A tool watch is like a Rolex Sub, a purpose built watch and not a piece of jewelry disguised as a watch. Like the Subby, this has to be well made to last 20+ years, a substantial quality timepiece. LIke the Subby, this has to have "history"--a history of outstanding performance with military, adventurers, and assorted posseurs like me who want to feel military and adventurous when I am driving the mahagony desk--"chairborne" so to speak. I also did not want to duplicate my Rolex Sub in getting another diver's watch.

After perusing many watch shop, catalogs, internet, etc...I narrowed it down ot Breitling Chrono Avenger or Omega Speedmaster Day-Date. I could not find a black face'black bezel Speedmaster Day-Date to save my life. The day-dates I tried on were too small, too "busy", and not very purposeful looking.

Breitlings were nice but I've heard they are delicate and not too strong...just a review in www.reviewwatch.com showed about 40% complaints.

Then I saw the Omega Speedmaster Michael Schumacher Legend Limited Chrono....a substantial 43mm case. Rolex Sub is 40mm, and the regular Speedmaster is 39mm. Certified chronometer like the Sub. Regular Speedmasters are not "certified" chronos...

http://www.omega.ch/index.php?id=298&no_cache=1

White face, black and stainless.....the nearest watch to a Rolex Daytona I can find.

SO there it is.....Santa was late, but came through...I can put away the BBQ tools and turn off the propane fire now...Blitzen and Rudolf can live another year....

I just picked up my Sub from the watch mechanic. Had the oil changed and a general buffing, I've had it for about 10 years now. Great and still my favorite watch.

I also have just bought a new TSAR by Marathon, Seiko Orange Monster, Seiko 300M Tuna Can and I am eyeing another tool watch know as Nauticfish.

I am obsessed with diver and military style watches. I've been spending too much $$ on watches lately.

I had a Seiko Arnold H558 which lasted through college, fraternity and every other abuse that I could dish out. Seiko's for the money are a great investment, especially their Japan-only professional divers.

I do like the Citizen EcoZilla 300M, but the strap is not interchangeable. I have NATO straps for all the watches listed above, I really like the NATO's compared to the stainless bracelet.

 

[olliebear]

Owned Seiko as well.

Had the Seiko Diver's 200m Quartz with black rubber strap through college and frat parties. Bought that in Hong Kong in 1980, but it was stolen by the movers when they came to move me for my first station in the Army. Went to do something and it as gone. Did not notice till later in the day. Freakin' scumbags. Seikos last and last. Reviewwatches have a lot of angry customers complaining about the Kinetic series. Seems the battery lose charge after 3-5 years and won't recharge....

I too love military style watches. Was checking out Chase Durer but Chase Durer does not have enough history to justify investing money in them. Their website blurb says that they are now known by everyone in the military...yeah right, go and ask just fresh recruit from West Virginia or Bonehead, Arkansas, what a Chase Durer is...

Luminox is good, but they don't really look much more than the usual black face and bezel......I love their luminous markers....my Rolex Sub's luminous dials no longer glow no matter what. The Sub went back to Hong Kong to the Rolex Factory Service for an oil change and re-calibration back in 1997. Still runs subperbly....maybe 2 minutes slow in 3 months....well within COSC standards of -4/+6 seconds per day for a certified chrono.

This salesladey in a local high end stores tried selling me Baume and Mercier....no luck. Just bling bling jewelry...then thought I could not afford it so she tried pushing this awful Bulova Accutron with large divers bezel and massively wide and bright and extremely bracelet......Gag me with a spoon! Do I look like a rapper to you, lady? I don't have diamonds set into my front teeth do I? YUK.

Rolex Subs, GMT, Presidents, Omega Speedmasters, Seamasters, Constellations are all classics. ---my Dad has a 50 year old all 18k gold Constellation that still works. That's his special occassion watch.....

It's gotta look tough, but classy. Ready to do a HALO jump, but refined enough to be in a Brooks Brothers suit.....

Name's Bond....Gold Bond. (You need to read that Subaru GOld Bonod thread--it's hilarious.)

Thai ought to be chiming in....he's a big watch fan from the old watch post.....

 

[Sac State]

Ollie, you might want to check out www.broadarrow.net

This is a site dedicated to military style watches.

Here is a pic of the TSAR. The crown and lugs on this baby are huge. The tritium vials are almost like a LED light at night, very bright. I have also heard about the seiko kinetics dying. That is why I finally purchased a Sub, the battery replacements were killing me every 2-3 years. It is not just the battery, but pressure testing, new rubber strap, etc. I spent more keeping my quartz seiko alive that what the Sub originally cost.

There is a guy on braodarrow right now asking about the Omega Speedmaster. That isn't you is it?

Here is the tuna can, IMO, it looks better with a NATO 22M strap.

I hate jewelry stores, they sell vanity. Not tools. Luminox is bright, but their watches are paper thin. I like a cinder block diver on my wrist.

 

[olliebear]

That Seiko looks good.

The TSAR is good looking. Honest no frills, and no bling. That Seiko Tuna can looks like a basic 200 diver's in a COMEX titanium diving suit! Just like old Seiko, day date, HUGE luminous markers and hands. They remind me of my guns....no frills, all business "social work" stuff.

Owned a Les Baer .45 Concept VII (Blued steel Commander) for years. But since I hardly shoot anymore I sold it to my old buddy for a song. Boy that LEs Baer was one mean ass .45. All purpose built--the equivalent of a Rolex in handguns in quality and price. Still have my Browning High Power, 9mm. Oldie but goodie--Belgium/Portugal.. all forged steel not castings. Been around forever and still the choice of professionals...

I've been on www.broadarrow.com. Based on UK. I've been searching for black rubber straps and The Strap Shop in UK has this black rubber strap in Oyster pattern-- Unfortunatley it is in the UK and a pain to get int touch to order it. Know any place hre in the US specializing in rubber straps? Black rubber strap on my stainless Rolex Sub would be killer look. No that was not me posting on broadarrow.

Some of the mid and high end black watches use PVD as their surface treatment.....(latest issue of IW Watch magazine has a nice article on black watches).....imagine a Sub or Daytona or Omega in all black--black case, black bracelet, but with just a few stainless/silver pieces like the hour markers or hands. Killer.

I know what you mean by these jewelry stores....folks don't even know their chit....especially when I ask about the movements; whether it's a Valjoux, ETA, in house, or the movement number, or whether it's certified.....or size of the strap whether it's a 20mm, 19mm, 18mm, etc......

 

[Bobby]

I've had my Omega Speedmaster Date with black face and silver bezel for a little over a year now and love it. I also have 2 Tags and the Kirium is a little more comfortable but doesn't have a timer/stopwatch which is why I got the Speedmaster. The Date isn't as busy as the Day-Date and I think it looks great. I've been very happy with it.

 

[Thai]

Yup, i am a fan of mechanical watches. However, i don't have the $$ to have a big collection...gotta save the pennies for oil changes!

Speedmaster is a great addition! That is a beautiful watch. I really like it...classic Omega styling with modern movement (perfect combo). I am not too fond of the new Omega designs...or maybe, i am just getting old....

The 3301 movement is quite good...a self-winding chronograph movement with a column-wheel mechanism. It also incorporates a free sprung-balance without index, which offers excellent regulating stability.

As you know, it's hard to find a quality Chronograph that is COSC-certified as a chronometer. I do think that the Rolex Daytona is ridiculously overpriced!

Recently, i have become interested in Blancpain...this one in particular:

Current collection: Omega Deville Co-axial and Rolex Yachtmaster.

 

[olliebear]

That's correct.

The Speedmaster Pro and Date/Dates use the older proven movements, I believe. The Speedmaster Certified Chrono Legend uses a newer 3301 movement with 55 hour reserve.

The white face is not as legible as the black face Speedy Pros. But the white face and bright stainless and matte satin finish makes it less of a macho military watch and more of a "gentlemen's" sporty watch--where instant visual clarity is less imporatant---not the watch I would use to make a night HALO jump.

I did order the Omega rubber strap that goes onto the Seamster Pro Chrono to use on my stainless Rolex Sub...that would make my Rolex the macho military style watch.

Still would love to be able to get the Sub as all black PVD case, black PVD bracelet..that would be so cool. (I am too old to use the term "sick")

 

[Thai]

Do you know about this forum:

http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=threadt&frm_id=25&start=1&rid=0#msg1684434