The Seamaster 300 GMT 50th Anniversary editions were released in 1998 as a 50th Anniversary of the Seamaster 300. After a disappointing experience with the 2535.80, I am about to purchase a 2234.50 and I wondered whether or not to hold off until next year if there might be any chance of a 75th anniversary SMP300 GMT with the 8906 movement -- somewhat in the style of the 210.30.42.20.01.001.

A while back, a really neat mock-up of a hypothetical SMP300GMT was made by Shahlusso on Insta, and I think his imagining nails it (even better if it came with the NTTD matt dial and colourway -- though I don't imagine Omega would leave out the wave dial on a 75th Anniversary model).



I have a feeling that the 8906 would stretch the thickness of the SMP300 to a 14mm range, but I still think that the result would be a more wearable piece than the current PO600 at 17mm thick and 43mm wide.

It's been a while since we saw a SMP300GMT -- do you think 2023 will see a re-issue?

 

One can never know.

Personally I'm not a fan of GMT complications on rugged dive watches. As far as multi timezone watches are concerned I think Omega has made a good start with the Aqua Terra world timer. I would welcome a smaller and thinner version of that watch.

 

I agree.

Also while I agree that the waves have been a big part of the 2018 reboot, the recent sunburst Ads show that Omega is willing to set aside even core elements of a design in order to focus the eye elsewhere. I think a GMT hand over the waves starts to look a bit busy, and I'd say the same about the bezel.

Honestly, I'd be looking at the new Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT as a pretty great base for an Omega version.



https://www.fratellowatches.com/longines-spirit-zulu-time-gmt-watch/

 

For me the bezel provides the perfect functionality for the third time zone (which I use regularly). A full-length jumping hour hand is also important. Going back to the early gmt watches, the bezels were often lumed, making the watch that much more functional — something we’re only just seeing a return to 60/70 years later.

I’ve no preference for a dive gmt either, but I do prefer the bezel to an inner chapter ring as I’m quite hard on my watches and all that crystal is just asking for drama (I also don’t like the aesthetic of pilots watches or non-bezeled watches. But I suppose that’s a very personal preference).

Imho, the 16750 was the aesthetic zenith of GMT’s (or would have been with a lumed bezel), but, having owned several, the 1575 movement is a bit too fragile and newer movements are more robust — they’re also unaffordable these days.

 

I’ve really thought hard about the new Longines. I’m really not a fan of pilot’s watch aesthetics, though, and I don’t like Arabic numerals.

I owned the BBGMT for about two weeks, but it’s all kinds of top heavy and imbalanced on my wrist; it was the most uncomfortable watch I’ve ever worn. I was wondering if the same would be true of the Longines due to the similarity in movements. The new Tudor BBPro is also 14.6mm thick and has an even narrower case, so it’s got to be similarly imbalanced.



The Longines’ bezel is a bit too thin for me too — it emphasises the pilot heritage, for sure, but it’s an aesthetic I don’t enjoy. That said, the anthracite dial and subtly gilding are nice on the green model (though the green puts me off — as does the polished ceramic). That they didn’t lume the bezel numerals was also an oversight (one not made by Bremont on their Supermarine Chrono — which is BBGMT thick, but has a Chrono function as well).



The 14.4mm mark is ok if you have a 42mm case, seeing that Omega now use in their SMP300 (and is shared by Longines) — but we know that Omega’s gmt movement is well balanced (at least in the PO600). I don’t know if Omega could slim the case down below 14mm to fit the 8906, though, I’m not sure how thick the movement is.

 

I came across a picture of the old 50th Anniversary GMT and took an instant liking to it. After a few months I found a full set from a dealer at a decent price and bought it. The bracelet is comfortable but I’m not a fan of that sliding clasp so I have it on a NATO. Currently on the Spectre but I have a black with red edged one coming soon to match the red elements on the dial. I’m going to do a bezel insert mod to update the look a bit. Hopefully I won’t mess that up!
The Planet Ocean was my alternative choice but I love the sword hands on this old Seamaster.

 

It looks well on the NATO! Congrats with your new watch!

What bezel mod are you making? I’ve seen the all black bezel (which needs flying into place), but there may be others that fit that I don’t know of — I have seen a red and black one, but I can’t find anything about it:

I’ve never liked the Bond style bracelets because they don’t taper and I think they look wrong, but they are comfortable. I am thinking of picking a 2234.50 up with the Speedy style bracelet, but I also might throw it on a NATO.

 

Congrats on a great watch! It looks good on the NATO. I do like the hidden-clasp bracelet, but I also like it on a RubberB strap.

 

The lack of taper has never bothered me but a more modern clasp with an easy extension would be nice. I have a Speedy bracelet I bought for my FOIS so in theory I could change the end links and get the latest Seamaster clasp. Worth looking into.

 

I owned the 2535.80 for a while, and I made the clasp mod to that (a new quick-adjust clasp and links). It made a big difference to the waer of the watch and I assume something similar must be available for the Speedy-style clasps.

I don't like the proportions of the Bond bracelets -- they always seem too chunky to me.

 

I never liked the bond bracelet either and put mine on a NATO. For some reason, if never occurred to me to try it on a speedy bracelet, but I like how it looks. Maybe I'll give that a go or try an uncle Seiko / forstner of some sort.

 

Please share the details on your mod, very interesting!

 

There are threads and YouTube videos about adding a modern clasp to older bracelets. I did this mod to my Speedmaster.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/speedmaster-adjustable-clasp-conversion-end-links.113636/

 

as said below, it’s actually very simple; you just need the end links and the clasp. I don’t have the numbers offhand, but there’s. Lot of info on the mod.

 

IMHO if they are gonna add a GMT functionality to the SMP it's gotta be that inner 24 hour ring like the 2535. Unless they can switch the hand stack to put the 24 hour hand over the hour hand to clear the raised hour markers its gonna be a THICK beast. An updated 2535 with inner ring GMT and a jump hour hand would be a must buy for me.

Though that longines looks HOT. I'm not a fan of that 5 star logo but I'm gonna have to check that thing out in person.

 

I'm done waiting for Omega to make a wearable GMT. I love the Planet Ocean, but it's way too thick. I have owned two over the years, and couldn't get use to the thickness (45 & 43.5).

I'm planning on going with the blue Zulu.

 

I ran into something of a brick wall trying to get the bezel off so the insert swap is on the back burner for now. Tried the homemade plastic pipe tool and the black rubber bezel removal tool. Think a watchmaker is next.

Anyway, I found a speedy bracelet and adjustable dive clasp on eBay. Ordered some links, pins and screws and did the clasp mod. Not a cheap job by any stretch but at least not too difficult. Very happy with the result and the ability to readjust as I get warm and cold is excellent.

 

Yeah, I’ve just done the clasp mod on my speedy-style bracelet. I’m happy with the result, but I needed to round-out the base edges of the clasp (the bit that goes next to the skin on the sides), as it was quite sharp and pinched when I moved my wrist. Is yours the same?

 

I am a very happy owner of Tudor BBGMT and love its bulkiness and ruggedness, so i dont mind another thick GMT watch. The above renders of a hypothetical SMP300GMT look fantastic in my view!