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Decisions decisions

McBeardy
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Whilst my little one is sleeping, other one playing, partner at work & The Man with the Golden Gun on TV, thought I’d put down my thoughts on a new watch.

Pretty much certain my next big piece will be an Omega (unless Tudor give me a bb58 monochrome).

However I’m torn between 2 (isn’t it always). The 2 being a current Speedy 3861 SS. A model I did own previously around 2yrs ago, & at that time it was a tough choice with a TH Monaco. At the time I went Speedy (pre micro adjustable clasp & couldn’t get a good fit).

Whilst I loved having a manual wind watch again, monochromatic look & a chronograph. The fit wasn’t great, and sometimes according to my GF looked too big. In the end I traded back with my AD for the TH Monaco McQueen. (Sacrilege I know) but that watch was owned for 8m odd, but even then I found myself wanting to wear my BB58 again.

The Monaco much like my old Panerai I felt, looked great on wrist, in pictures but just not great for wearing daily.

Since then prices of the Speedy have risen & I’ve always kicked myself for not keeping it longer, I also found I miss a 24hr timer on a chronograph.

So whilst I’ve been saving and looking for good deals and the right time to rebuy a Speedy. The non date Seamaster was leaked, released & also tried on.

This ticks a lot boxes, no date (a preferred dial for me). A diver (something I like wearing), the older polished/ brushing on the lyre lugs, there seems to be a subtle change in the Speedy 3861 for the 1861 (my lack of knowledge cannot describe it) but I dislike the mesh & not managed to handle it on the rubber strap, also not a fan of fully lumed bezels (a bit micro brand for me). I do like the smaller waves which disappear though.

Oddly the smaller dial (due to the larger bezel) makes the 42mm Seamaster visually look smaller. Even though I know the Speedy wears like a 40 (40mm below my preferred size) and the Speedy a better L2L (50mm my max as per my old Pam 560).

Anyways here’s some pictures to go with my thoughts/ ponders. The first 2 Speedy pics was when I owned one. The last Speedy pic was at a recent AD visit & a picture I keep coming back to. Plus the Monaco which displaced it.

Maybe I might wait to see if a smaller Seamaster announced that might go monochrome and no waves.

But the pull of the Speedy is still strong.

🤔

IMG_3636.webp IMG_3640.webp IMG_0142.webp IMG_0143.webp IMG_0853.webp IMG_5710.webp
Edited:
 
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McBeardy McBeardy
Oddly the smaller dial (due to the larger bezel) makes the 42mm Seamaster visually look smaller. Even though I know the Speedy wears like a 40 (40mm below my preferred size) and the Speedy a better L2L (50mm my max as per my old Pam 560).

This was not my experience. I owned the 42mm ceramic SMP and wore the Moonwatch for a couple of weeks (borrowed from a friend). In my opinion the 42mm SMP looks every bit of 42mm. The Speedy however looks more like 40mm. The size difference was noticeable.

I really liked how the Speedy looked on my 6.9 inch/17.5cm wrist. The 42mm SMP was too large for me and I ended up selling it on. I did not buy the Speedy because I prefer divers to chronographs for their simplicity and better water resistance. So I wear the 41mm SMP, which is smaller than the 42mm version due to its smaller diameter (by 1mm), shorter lug to lug (47mm vs. 49mm), and thickness (11.8mm vs. 13.9mm).

If I was you I would wait and see if Omega releases a smaller SMP later this year or look into buying an older 41mm version and getting it serviced by Omega and basically being returned to "like new" condition with a new bezel, hands, and crowns. Or go with the current Speedy if you like a chronograph.
 
McBeardy
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This was not my experience. I owned the 42mm ceramic SMP and wore the Moonwatch for a couple of weeks (borrowed from a friend). In my opinion the 42mm SMP looks every bit of 42mm. The Speedy however looks more like 40mm. The size difference was noticeable.

I really liked how the Speedy looked on my 6.9 inch/17.5cm wrist. The 42mm SMP was too large for me and I ended up selling it on. I did not buy the Speedy because I prefer divers to chronographs for their simplicity and better water resistance. So I wear the 41mm SMP, which is smaller than the 42mm version due to its smaller diameter (by 1mm), shorter lug to lug (47mm vs. 49mm), and thickness (11.8mm vs. 13.9mm).

If I was you I would wait and see if Omega releases a smaller SMP later this year or look into buying an older 41mm version and getting it serviced by Omega and basically being returned to "like new" condition with a new bezel, hands, and crowns. Or go with the current Speedy if you like a chronograph.

Thanks for the reply. The only older generation I liked enough to almost purchase was the 3rd gen in blue many moons ago. But the black date wheel on a blue dial ruined it as was the lack of an applied indicy at 3.

Since then I’ve gone massively off dates & especially those at 3!

The Seaweed on rubber has peaked my interest but once I tried the non date on, it was disregarded.
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ErichPryde
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502 to right 502 to right
my opinion the 42mm SMP looks every bit of 42mm

I agree. The moonwatch wears at 39-40mm. I owned one, felt it was too small, and moved it on. The modern ceramic SMP wears every millimeter of its measurement, and I'm pretty content with that.

I do slightly prefer the 41mm × 48mm measurement of the current heritage and the older 2531, but only slightly.

McBeardy McBeardy
The Seaweed on rubber has peaked my interest but once I tried the non date on, it was disregarded.

Funny- I had a similar reaction. I tried on the no date and was certain it would be my next watch. But as I gave it some time, my interest in the green kept growing. I went with it and can't imagine going with monochrome. The modern SMP line has pretty much established that playful and thoughtful colors are part of the design language.

McBeardy McBeardy
Move over monochrome, this magpie has found a new contender

IMG_1349.webp IMG_1351.webp

Looks great. Sounds like you need just a hint of color in your seamaster.
 
McBeardy
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ErichPryde ErichPryde
I agree. The moonwatch wears at 39-40mm. I owned one, felt it was too small, and moved it on. The modern ceramic SMP wears every millimeter of its measurement, and I'm pretty content with that.

I do slightly prefer the 41mm × 48mm measurement of the current heritage and the older 2531, but only slightly.



Funny- I had a similar reaction. I tried on the no date and was certain it would be my next watch. But as I gave it some time, my interest in the green kept growing. I went with it and can't imagine going with monochrome. The modern SMP line has pretty much established that playful and thoughtful colors are part of the design language.



Looks great. Sounds like you need just a hint of color in your seamaster.
Thanks definitely top of the Seamaster option for me.

The SeaWeed still draws me in, love the forest shade of green used, and matching strap. I’m just not overly keen on ceramic, nor dates, but it’s the best variation of those dislikes.

I just need to decide between the Speedy - which I never felt wore small, in fact larger than the dimensions suggest. The Seamaster felt smaller on wrist.
 
befobe
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😜The speed! You 'll thank me when you make boiling eggs
 
hen
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McBeardy McBeardy
Ha true would help in both of these situation 😂

IMG_1340.webp 77274924967__9AD393CF-2F30-4782-B4CD-EAD56848F461.fullsizerender.webp
Looks yummy! But Seamasters have second hands too. And minute hands, just saying.
 
McBeardy
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hen hen
Looks yummy! But Seamasters have second hands too. And minute hands, just saying.
Indeed & I actually find using a dive bezel quicker to view and use rather than a smaller chronograph.

But those longer cooks over an hr the chronograph wins
Edited:
 
McBeardy
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Finally got a chance to try the monochrome no date on rubber & also the white speedy on rubber (to see how the rubber on a speedy is). I must Omega make a fantastic rubber strap.

I must say I’m liking the no date on rubber a lot. It’s fits really nice & part of me does enjoy a diver.

Standard black speedy sapphire sandwich I feel would be great on the rubber. However I know no AD will have this to try.

IMG_1795.webp IMG_1796.webp IMG_1797.webp
 
salami4
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The monochrome no date fits your hand perfectly. All thanks to the rubber strap, me thinks. You should get it, NOW! 😁
 
502 to right
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McBeardy McBeardy
Indeed & I actually find using a dive bezel quicker to view and use rather than a smaller chronograph.

But those longer cooks over an hr the chronograph wins

As long as precision to the minute is not required, you can use a dive bezel to time a multi-hour cook (or a multi-hour anything). Just line up the bezel pip/triangle with the hour hand and every "5 minutes" elapsed on the bezel = 1 hour of real time. In fact, you can time beyond 12 hours--I'd say up to 24 hours--because you will know when the hour hand has passed the first 12 hour mark and you are into a second 12 hour time period.
 
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