Just seeing this in local website for USD 2,700: Omega Seamaster Chronograph Automatic Size 41 Titanium - Rose Gold Ref # 2296.80.00 Near Mint Condition Watch Only I trust the seller (already buy 2 watches before). My question, how desirable this watch in term of collectibility? Thank you.
It's a fairly recent model (under 20 years old in vintage speak) so I'm not sure about it's collectability. I know the two tone Ti / RG models aren't seen around the forums that often. I only recall one or two.
Fairly desirable among watches of that era - funny we talked about the late Chuck Maddox in another thread but I remember Bill telling me how much Chuck loved this watch - particularly liked it that you could activate the pushers underwater. IMO it has nice modern styling that has help up nicely through the years. Don't know if it will go up in value significantly but my guess it will at least hold its value given it has a definite following.
Thank's for the info. It seems Ashley also liked it awhile ago: http://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-chrono-ad-ti-tan-rau.7/#post-709 I'll contact the seller to see the watch condition in person.
The Ti Tan Rau is rather cool, its the weight of titanium but with rose gold accents really dressing it up. Its also three-tone. Ti Tan RAu means Titanium Tantalum and Rose Gold, and the bezel is tantalum.
Good thing they didn't use unobtainium like some other watch companies have been adding to their watch cases lately.
OK, I got this Seamaster TiTanRau watch. It's from 1996. It has unique appearance. I would not call it 'beauty' but rather 'strong character'. Combination of brownish matte metal color of Titanium and shiny rose gold is an acquired taste to appreciate IMO. The movement is Cal 1164 based on common Valjoux 7750 chronograph movement. All in all, it's an interesting item in my collection. The small hands orange color give a nice touch to the black wavy dial. The lume has aged with patina color. The Rose gold is applied in bezel, crown and He crown, pusher, hour&minute hands and bracelet inserts. The tantalum color is darker than the titanium and applied only in bezel and bracelet inserts (sandwiched by rose gold)
Note how brownish matte color of Titanium and Tantalum contrast with shiny Stainless Steel (even it's brushed part) The Tantalum is a little bit shinier and have some bluish accent to its grey brown metal color.
Titane Caseback...... The rose gold crown and pusher. Also note the shallower crown guard compare to the newer Seamaster pro model.
Thanks. No it's a local Jakarta guy named Ferry. He had a blog to sell pre owned watch as his part time and just this year alone he already sold ~ 400 watches with ~90% Rolexes.
See how the bezel is darker and more blue-ish than the case and bracelet? That's because the bezel is not titanium, its tantalum, that's where the third metal comes in. You can see it in the photos