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2264.50 vs 2254.60, Head or Heart?

J
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So I really like the 'Peter Blake' and aim to pick up one before long. My heart leans more towards auto but my head says that the 2264 might be the wiser choice. Am I right to think this? - would welcome other's experience and views.

My research so far on these watches shows that there is not a great deal of difference in price. However for an auto, almost certainly, unless very lucky, would need to factor in a full service, regulating etc which I guess doesn't have to be done at Omega but I think I would prefer. That could easily add another £1K on top and several weeks wait. Given the age of the watch of on average around 20 years, a dealer wouldn't know necessarily what internal parts may have been replaced and if original. Doubtless an Omega service would sort that out. A quartz watch on the other hand even of that age I would expect to be running within reasonable spec, and servicing/battery change needn't necessarily be done by Omega. Auto's if carefully maintained should last for a long time. Quartz might eventually wear out sooner but replacement movements I would imagine are going to be available in some form or another for an equally long time.

Modern watches I always tend to go for an auto. However, for (neo) vintage, I do feel that quartz offers more reassurance of reliability and economy! In the end the aesthetics of design and build quality, certainly externally are barely indistinguishable. Is an unseen bog standard ETA really worth the extra hassle? Any thoughts?

Thanks

Jeremy
 
Donn Chambers
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One benefit of the quartz model is that the 1538 movement has a jumping hour hand function for quick time zone changes. I didn’t realize this until a friend of mine who has one showed me - I was demonstrating the functionality of my similar looking GMT model to him and he said, “Hey, mine does that, too!”
 
J
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
One benefit of the quartz model is that the 1538 movement has a jumping hour hand function for quick time zone changes. I didn’t realize this until a friend of mine who has one showed me - I was demonstrating the functionality of my similar looking GMT model to him and he said, “Hey, mine does that, too!”
Very good point, a useful feature, and lacking a quick set date on a quartz is not really an issue as you wouldn't have to change the date that often. Different for an auto which is another reason I am glad my 8800 AT has the quick set date and not the jump hour feature on the 8900 AT.
 
hen
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Sometimes I wish mine was a quartz, even if I bought it because I was sick of my Citizen quartz eating batteries. I think its because my watch maker isnt best around. Hei serviced it and after some months it started running fast, he regulated it and now it runs slow. 😡

But every time I look at the time I think to my self "thats a ### good looking watch". Even after all those years of ownership, I do not crave any other watch. I wear it all the time, its my one and only GADA.

Good luck with yours.
IMG_20250718_084322.webp
 
J
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hen hen
hen hen
Sometimes I wish mine was a quartz, even if I bought it because I was sick of my Citizen quartz eating batteries. I think its because my watch maker isnt best around. Hei serviced it and after some months it started running fast, he regulated it and now it runs slow. 😡

But every time I look at the time I think to my self "thats a ### good looking watch". Even after all those years of ownership, I do not crave any other watch. I wear it all the time, its my one and only GADA.

Good luck with yours.
IMG_20250718_084322.webp

Sometimes I wish mine was a quartz, even if I bought it because I was sick of my Citizen quartz eating batteries. I think its because my watch maker isnt best around. Hei serviced it and after some months it started running fast, he regulated it and now it runs slow. 😡

But every time I look at the time I think to my self "thats a ### good looking watch". Even after all those years of ownership, I do not crave any other watch. I wear it all the time, its my one and only GADA.

Good luck with yours.
IMG_20250718_084322.webp

It really is a great looking watch. Very envious 🙂
 
padders
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2254.60 would have an ivory coloured dial. Are you sure you want that?
 
hen
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Another thought, are the quartz watches even thinner than the automatics?
 
padders
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hen hen
Another thought, are the quartz watches even thinner than the automatics?
Yes. Fractionally. They have virtually flat backs instead of lightly dished.
 
hen
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padders padders
Yes. Fractionally. They have virtually flat backs instead of lightly dished.
Thats a plus, It would make them 9-10 mm thick.
 
dsio
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I actually think the quartz versions of these and the 3rd gen ceramic quartz are going to be increasingly in demand over time as there are likely never going to make another Quartz Seamaster Pro, leaving these as the last and best of the breed.
 
J
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dsio dsio
I actually think the quartz versions of these and the 3rd gen ceramic quartz are going to be increasingly in demand over time as there are likely never going to make another Quartz Seamaster Pro, leaving these as the last and best of the breed.
I think you’re right on that.
 
padders
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dsio dsio
I actually think the quartz versions of these and the 3rd gen ceramic quartz are going to be increasingly in demand over time as there are likely never going to make another Quartz Seamaster Pro, leaving these as the last and best of the breed.

Don’t forget the 2nd gen. That has a more up market applied index dial of the later models but because of the aluminium bezel is still relatively thin. I never loved the auto second gen as it got thicker for no compelling reason but the quartz makes more sense. In my experience finding a quartz 3rd gen ie SMPc is tricky. They seem to have not shifted all that many. I’d go as far as to say they are downright rare.
 
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