Community Stories

Great White GMT or current white dial SMP?

Hippcamper
Posts
13
Likes
8
I got my first Omega, Peter Blake, a few weeks ago and am in love. It's slim, fits great, super legible and elegant. Now I want to add a white dial and I'm torn between the Great White GMT, 2538.20, or the current SMP, 210.32.42.20.04.001, with a white dial and strap -- more on strap later.

The only reason I'm considering the current model is that if I get a Great White in nice condition, the price is getting close to a pre-owned white SMP on a strap. I just think the Great White is much nicer looking and legible with the solid sword hands. But I don't travel that much any more and the GMT function won't be that useful, although I do have family abroad and can set the time to them.

I'm not a horologist so the movement in the current model is of no importance to me. My priority is look, fit and feel on my 7" wrist.

Great White pros and cons:
Solid case back, I can't stand display case backs, they stick to my wrist, it drives me crazy, I don't get into looking at the movement, it also adds thickness. Actually, if I was hell-bent, is there a way to put a solid case back on a modern 42mm SMP? If so, would it be slightly thinner?
I would imagine the Great White case is also lighter than the current 42mm SMP. Does anyone know how much lighter the head is? If the current is 109g the Great White is 90g?
It's more discreet.

210.32.42.20.04.001 pros and cons"
It's newer
No GMT
Chunky bracelet, I put the Forstner O on the Peter Blake and it's perfect, light, female end links, slimmer and has a stretch link. So I'd get this model with a strap and get the Forstner as well.
Less legible with skeleton hands.
Less discrete and chunkier.

Any thoughts? This is my current set up and love it.

IMG_4572.webp
 
S
Posts
75
Likes
44
The Seamaster GMT Great White is a nice enough watch but a word of caution the Cal.1128 uses a GMT module rather than an integrated GMT function like the later Cal.8605 and Cal.8906. It has a reputation for being a little fragile. A common failing is for the GMT hand to become loose and occasionally fail. Having said that many still operate up to 30 years after they were bought without a single issue so it would seem to be the luck of the draw. As for whether to get the current white and black Seamaster Diver, it is a great watch. I have the green dial version and at 42mm, with a lug to lug of 49.9mm and with a height of 13.6mm it wears very well. Almost exactly like the Cal.2500 Planet Ocean 42mm. Then again I have 18cm wrists. As for weight, the current 42mm Diver on a bracelet weighs 198gm and the Great White weighs 171gm. If you find the current Diver to be your preferred option why not look at the Tokyo Olympic 2020 Special Edtion it is blue and white and as a restricted production watch holds onto more of its value than the black and white version. If you are concerned about the size there are a couple of other white dial Seamaster Professional models from the past. There is the Vancouver Winter Olympic 2010 Limited Edition with a white dial and red bezel or the Ref. 2532.20.00 standard production white dial SMP with a steel bezel. That version is closest to the Great White in looks but neither of these is a GMT. Finally there is the Commander’s Watch, a James Bond Limited Edition based on the last of the Cal.2500 Seamaster Professional watches. It is the only Cal.2500 SMP with a ceramic bezel with a rubber inlay and Liquidmetal, the down side is it is very expensive on the second hand market and not a GMT. If you are considering the current black and white Diver the GMT function does not seem to be a prerequisite. A white dial Diver/SMP is never going to be discrete by the way. As an aside a display case back does not add to the thickness of a watch. Sapphire is more rigid than steel so there is no need for the case back to make the watch any thicker. As most modern Omega co-axial movements are about the same thickness as most other manufacturer’s movements (except for the Cal.9xxx family and some Cal.8xxx movements with complications like the Annual Calendar) the real reason for the thickness of modern Omegas is the use of domed crystals, thicker applied markers on the dials meaning the hands have to clear them and simple design choices. Buyers who are not watch nerds tend to like a larger watch so Omega designers provide them with one.
 
Hippcamper
Posts
13
Likes
8
S Spqr
The Seamaster GMT Great White is a nice enough watch but a word of caution the Cal.1128 uses a GMT module rather than an integrated GMT function like the later Cal.8605 and Cal.8906. It has a reputation for being a little fragile. A common failing is for the GMT hand to become loose and occasionally fail. Having said that many still operate up to 30 years after they were bought without a single issue so it would seem to be the luck of the draw. As for whether to get the current white and black Seamaster Diver, it is a great watch. I have the green dial version and at 42mm, with a lug to lug of 49.9mm and with a height of 13.6mm it wears very well. Almost exactly like the Cal.2500 Planet Ocean 42mm. Then again I have 18cm wrists. As for weight, the current 42mm Diver on a bracelet weighs 198gm and the Great White weighs 171gm. If you find the current Diver to be your preferred option why not look at the Tokyo Olympic 2020 Special Edtion it is blue and white and as a restricted production watch holds onto more of its value than the black and white version. If you are concerned about the size there are a couple of other white dial Seamaster Professional models from the past. There is the Vancouver Winter Olympic 2010 Limited Edition with a white dial and red bezel or the Ref. 2532.20.00 standard production white dial SMP with a steel bezel. That version is closest to the Great White in looks but neither of these is a GMT. Finally there is the Commander’s Watch, a James Bond Limited Edition based on the last of the Cal.2500 Seamaster Professional watches. It is the only Cal.2500 SMP with a ceramic bezel with a rubber inlay and Liquidmetal, the down side is it is very expensive on the second hand market and not a GMT. If you are considering the current black and white Diver the GMT function does not seem to be a prerequisite. A white dial Diver/SMP is never going to be discrete by the way. As an aside a display case back does not add to the thickness of a watch. Sapphire is more rigid than steel so there is no need for the case back to make the watch any thicker. As most modern Omega co-axial movements are about the same thickness as most other manufacturer’s movements (except for the Cal.9xxx family and some Cal.8xxx movements with complications like the Annual Calendar) the real reason for the thickness of modern Omegas is the use of domed crystals, thicker applied markers on the dials meaning the hands have to clear them and simple design choices. Buyers who are not watch nerds tend to like a larger watch so Omega designers provide them with one.
Thanks so much for the detailed response. I have a Sinn U1 and it never felt big until I started wearing the 2254. Granted I was a professional diver for four years ago I was used to big things on my wrist.

For sure the winner out of your suggestions is the 2532.20.00. I love the slim 12mm with the 41mm to match my Blake, it's the perfect size. My only issue are the skeletonized hands. In theory I could customize it to use the Blake non-skeletonized hands?
 
hen
Posts
2,420
Likes
6,791
Hippcamper Hippcamper
Thanks so much for the detailed response. I have a Sinn U1 and it never felt big until I started wearing the 2254. Granted I was a professional diver for four years ago I was used to big things on my wrist.

For sure the winner out of your suggestions is the 2532.20.00. I love the slim 12mm with the 41mm to match my Blake, it's the perfect size. My only issue are the skeletonized hands. In theory I could customize it to use the Blake non-skeletonized hands?
Change of hands:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-smp-2531-80-sword-hand-mod.26176/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/blake-sword-hands.89499/

I thought there was a tread about all the different sword hands Seamasters, but I cant find it.

And just to be a bastard; there is a white dial Globemaster too!
Bilde1.webp
 
S
Posts
75
Likes
44
hen hen
Change of hands:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-smp-2531-80-sword-hand-mod.26176/

https://omegaforums.net/threads/blake-sword-hands.89499/

I thought there was a tread about all the different sword hands Seamasters, but I cant find it.

And just to be a bastard; there is a white dial Globemaster too!
Bilde1.webp
The Globemaster dial is not white. It is silver and while it is a whitish silver in a boutique’s harsh lighting or in renders on the Omega website as soon as it is in daylight the metallic silver is revealed. I have had one for the last 7 years and while I originally thought a blue dial version was what I wanted but never bought one despite many looks at it. But as soon as I tried the silver dial on in the late summer sun at an outdoor Omega event I was sold on it. Silver is not what the OP is looking for.
 
Hippcamper
Posts
13
Likes
8
SpdMastr SpdMastr
IMO a 2254.50 and a Great White would be an ideal pairing.
I'm thinking of an Electric Blue, 2255.80 as well. It's the same size ask Blake. It could do well for dressier occasions because it fits great under a shirt sleeve. The Great White might be a bit more elegant but does the extra 2m make it just a bit too thick for a dressier watch? I don't go to many black tie events anymore and hardly ever wear a suit. Now that I'm used to my Blake's size, might the Great White feel too bulky? Then I'm also running into the question of value. If I spend a bit more I can get the current white dial SMP that's 42mm. Is there a big jump up in bulk from Great White to current SMP?
 
Hippcamper
Posts
13
Likes
8
Hippcamper Hippcamper
I'm thinking of an Electric Blue, 2255.80 as well. It's the same size ask Blake. It could do well for dressier occasions because it fits great under a shirt sleeve. The Great White might be a bit more elegant but does the extra 2m make it just a bit too thick for a dressier watch? I don't go to many black tie events anymore and hardly ever wear a suit. Now that I'm used to my Blake's size, might the Great White feel too bulky? Then I'm also running into the question of value. If I spend a bit more I can get the current white dial SMP that's 42mm. Is there a big jump up in bulk from Great White to current SMP?
-
 
Hippcamper
Posts
13
Likes
8
SpdMastr SpdMastr
IMO a 2254.50 and a Great White would be an ideal pairing.
Also the 2532.20 looks great, but it's that much older and I hate the skeleton hands. If I get it serviced and swap out the hands, and I get a decent one with good lume markers I'm up in the current SMP with a strap price range.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

shaun hk

Omega Seamaster Professional Great White GMT 2538.20

shaun hk Private Watch Sales
shaun hk
shaun hk
Posts
2
Views
4K
J

Speedy Pro white dial vs. Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified, discuss

josephvman Modern Omega Watches
MGMCCO
MGMCCO
Posts
11
Views
1K
mdgrwl

Tudor Black Bay GMT 79830RB - Pepsi - White Dial ( excellent / complete )

mdgrwl Watches For Sale
mdgrwl
mdgrwl
Posts
0
Views
746
Pilot85

2024 Tudor Black Bay GMT Opaline Full set with white tag

Pilot85 Private Watch Sales
Pilot85
Pilot85
Posts
0
Views
503
mdgrwl

Omega Seamaster 300 - Diver - White Dial - 210.32.42.20.04.001 ( new / 2024 )

mdgrwl Watches For Sale
mdgrwl
mdgrwl
Posts
4
Views
2K
mdgrwl

Omega Seamaster 300 - Diver - White Dial - 210.32.42.20.04.001 ( new / 2024 )

mdgrwl Watches For Sale
mdgrwl
mdgrwl
Posts
0
Views
549