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If you had the opportunity, which would you get? Rolex Pepsi or 321 Ed White

HiBoost
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Davidt Davidt
I’m a Speedmaster fan boy but I’d choose the GMT.

Vintage Speedmasters just look infinitely better than the modern recreations Omega have attempted.
The same could be levied against the GMT but at least it’s been in continuous production with regular updates rather than wheeled out 60 years after it was discontinued to fit in with current trends.

I'm sure you are being a bit facetious here, but was the Speedy ever not in production? The Speedy evolution has been much more refined than the abrupt transition to ceramic that Rolex put the Sub and GMT through. You have to be seriously deep in WIS trivia to tell the difference between an 1861 based Speedy and the actual 321 moon watches. Anybody that can't distinguish between a modern GMT and a 60s one - from across the room - needs corrective lenses.
 
texasmade
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HiBoost HiBoost
I'm sure you are being a bit facetious here, but was the Speedy ever not in production? The Speedy evolution has been much more refined than the abrupt transition to ceramic that Rolex put the Sub and GMT through. You have to be seriously deep in WIS trivia to tell the difference between an 1861 based Speedy and the actual 321 moon watches. Anybody that can't distinguish between a modern GMT and a 60s one - from across the room - needs corrective lenses.
I think he's referring to the 1960's straight lug 321 and then the new EW321. There's a huge difference between the original EW and Speedy Pro.
 
Davidt
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texasmade texasmade
I think he's referring to the 1960's straight lug 321 and then the new EW321. There's a huge difference between the original EW and Speedy Pro.

Exactly. I just find it too contrived. Both the straight lug case and 321 movement were ‘superseded’ 60 years ago and Omega are going back not because it’s an upgrade but because the boom in vintage watches has made it fashionable/desirable.

Rolex GMTs have identity issues too, they’re hardly genuine tool watches anymore are they!?

I just think if you want a 321 straight lug Speedmaster buy the genuine article. If it was a diver I could perhaps see the appeal (Eg the Black Bay 58). A speedy? Nope.
 
HiBoost
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Yeah, I guess it's a matter of perspective. I've been an 1861 owner for 10 years. I hang out on watch forums, read watch books, subscribe to watch magazines. I can't even pay attention to what is happening in a show until I can figure out what watch the actor is wearing. Basically I'm a complete nutjob when it comes to watches. And yet, until this thread today I had no idea what was different about an Ed White Speedmaster. I went and looked and went back and forth and then re-read and then looked again and then finally said "oh, ok, yeah I see how that's different". Going forward I'll always notice the lug differences, can't unsee that, but it honestly just never jumped out at me before. So that still feels like an incremental type of thing in the overall Speedmaster evolution. Certainly the new SM300 I just bought could be faulted for "going back in time" as well, but I think it's a damn sharp watch too.

But I get where you are coming from now at least so we can move on 😀
 
Sherrill
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HiBoost HiBoost
Major Rolex fanboy here... IMO the best sport watch of all time is the 16710 Pepsi... so if you have that model with the options (you need the jubilee too to have a full set!) then I wouldn't even consider the modern Taco Bell (which is what I call the fugly maroon/purple ceramic variant).

That said, I'm not sure what the big deal is about the Ed White? Dot over 90 doesn't move my needle. 321 is neat but is it actually a better caliber than the later ones? I know I'd rather have a 3185 based Pepsi than a 1575 based one. Sometimes several decades of watchmaking tech are a good thing to have 😀 The Ed White bracelet looks nice, but more fancy than utilitarian to me. I have an 1861 hesalite and that seems to cover all the Speedy bases for me.
The dot over 90 doesn’t affect me either, but it’s not exclusive to the Ed White. It’s also on the current 3861 models. I agree on the 16710 being the best all round Rolex with all the factory interchangeable options.
 
raclaims
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I think after reading a lot of comments people really need to hold both in their hands and strap both on

I mean I was a big Rolex guy until somewhat recently and the 321 is far superior.

let’s put it this way - I have one Pepsi and several new 321s. That’s how much I like it better
 
A
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321 for me. Rolex was never a brand I was high on with the exception of a couple of models and the Pepsi was never one of them.
 
hen
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Omega always! Rolex is not for me.
 
Jockywilson1
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I understand the comparison due to price point and availability but it’s not really a fair comparison. The modern gmt should be compared to the modern speedie (3861). If Rolex re-issued a replica of the GMT from the 60s, I think opinions might be somewhat different.
 
Sherrill
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Travelller Travelller
Congrats!!! ::psy:: Excellent choice - enjoy that beauty 👍
Bracelet is really thin and comfortable! Didn’t realize how thin compared to the 57 Trilogy Seamaster bracelet.
 
SPO
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Current models purchased at retail price?
How is this even a question?
Buy the Rolex for the retail $10750...
Turn around and sell it for the current price of ~$25K...
Buy the Ed White...
And pocket the $11K...
You're welcome.
 
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