I think it really just speaks to the incredible value of the new SMP, but it's making the proposition of Omega's other 'Master' series watches like the SM300 a really hard sell. A year ago, the SMPc could be understandably $2k less, because it was running on a past-gen movement, but now that it's fully up-to-date, there's remarkably little separation in the good-better-best equation now – save for the price, of course.

Been dying for a little two-tone Sedna action, but the $2k difference in both the SS and the two-tone despite a near-identical feature set makes the SM300 a pretty hard pill to swallow, even if I prefer the design. Plus, I already have an SMP...

Does the new SMP reflect a sea change trend in overall Omega pricing, or is the SMP designed to be the brand's unbeatable hook?

 

For me it's not just "prefer" the design. One is an amazing design, and the other is, well, not. The SM300 is incredible looking. I'd love to have one, and could see myself purchasing one at some point. The new SMP would have to be less than $1K for me to even think about it, and even then it would be because I knew it was a deal. The waves are the deal breaker for me. The old waves were understated, and fine. These don't just leave me cold, but actively turn me off.

 

What is the reference number for the Seamaster 300 leather strap? I know it’s 21mm but do they make something similar at 20mm that will fit a speedy?

 

Have you checked it out in person yet? The waves, even under the stark light in the OB, are far less "in your face" as they seem to be in the pictures.

re OP:

I don't think this will indicate a down trend in Omega Prices across the board. The new SMP is just very good value for the money at this point.

 

Umm to look at it another way. The price of the new 2018 SMP is circa 25% higher than the watch it has replaced. No I don’t think this marks a downward trend at all, it is yet another example of Omegas relentless march up in price. If it looks cheap next to the SM300, that is because the SM300 is vastly overpriced and routinely sells at a pretty big discount. Perhaps this isn’t the case in every market but it is here in the UK and I suspect in the US too.

That aside I do really like the update. Better still would have been a 2018 2254.50 but there you go.

 

New style



Or older style



Your money - your choice

 

The new one on bracelet has a MSRP of $4850, while the old one lists for $4400. The increase is closer to 11% ... pretty reasonable, I think.

 

Not too bad. In the UK, the old one most recently had an RRP of £2,920, but could be got with full International warranty for circa £2,400. The new one lists at £3,600 so an increase of 23% over the earlier RRP and about 50% over what they could actually be purchased for from Iconic and Chronext who routinely discount by 15-20%.

 

Wow ... much bigger increase than in the US. A lesson in comparative marketing indeed.

 

To be fair, our currency is in turmoil so perhaps the UK isn't the best market to use as an example.

 

Agree – in person, the waves reflect a much more subtle and abstract pattern that I really like. In general, seems like folks are taking the change way too seriously – just like the re-orientation of the lines on the Aqua Terra – the new dials are much nicer and a lot more minimalist than Omega's press renderings give credit for.

 

Also keep in mind that the SM300 has a liquidmetal ceramic bezel. The new 2018 SMP doesn't have liquidmetal, only ceramic. Hence the lower price.

 

The SM300 also has the twin-barreled 8400 rather than the single-barrel 8800 movement.

 

Yup. This too.

Basically the SMP is a good affordable alternative from Omega, minus the liquidmetal tech etc.... Some may even say it's entry level, but you clearly can't go wrong with it.

 

But doesn't it have some kind of new lacquer/ceramic integration in the bezel? Also, the 8400 should still maintain the same or similar power reserve as the 8800, right? The only difference between the two that I was aware of was the lack of the date (obviously) and the 'travel time' adjustable hour hand on the 8800... Is there more to it than that?

 

8800 is single barrel vs the 8400 double barrel so you get a lesser power reserve in the 8800.

 

The difference is 5 hours. I am personally not sure that justifies the extra complexity and thickness of the 8400/8500 movement over the 8800 single barrel version.

 

8800 = 55hrs power reserve
8400/8500 = 60hrs power reserve

And on the SMP it's enamel numerals that is integrated with the ceramic bezel. Liquidmetal numerals on the ceramic bezel of the SM300 is a whole different kind of process and tech which imo justifies the difference in price between the two.

 

Like there is really that much of a mfg cost between the two...

 

If I were a betting man, I'd say the cost of the Master 300 ( and its' sister, the 15000 gauss ) largely accounts for R&D in the then new movements; antimagnetic, tighter tolerances, etc...
On top of a truly swell looking watch - and my personal fave - in the 300, you're also getting a progenitor of sorts. Same could be said of the relatively expensive 15000 .
Woman and I bought these two watches on the same day a couple of years back. She the 15000, and I the Master 300. We both believe we each have the coolest Omega yet produced.