I recently purchased a 2598.80 Seamaster Professional Chronograph with the intention of swapping the silver bezel over to the standard 'bond' blue style to make it a standard 2599.80 (and also refurbishing the watch a little bit).

I'm planning to do the following with my little repair/upgrade project:

• Replace the crystal (it's scratched on the edge near 10-12)
• Have it regulated, since it's running consistently -10/day
• All new gaskets and pressure testing
• Replace springbars and all pins/bushings in removable links and clasp. Replace clasp parts as needed.

I'll be using it in the water quite a bit (in the ocean, freediving training, etc). Waterproof pushers are great.

In my opinion, the blue bezel is a huge improvement. The silver appeared to cheapen the overall look and cause it too appear clunky. It also didn't provide any contrast against the bracelet.

Here's a few pics:

 

That silver bezel accounted for more than half the scratches on that watch and couldn't really be polished out easily, the blue bezel makes it look brand new (because it is).

I love how the hands having faded to white match the white markings on the dial and give it that bi-colour monochrome look similar to the 2531.80 normal bond.

 

Nice photography there too.

 

Is it a black 2254.50 dial, or a blue one on that?

 

That's a great idea Brian. I'll post my part numbers here for anyone looking to do a 2598.80 to 2599.80 swap.

 

For the Seamaster Professional Chrono (and likely others)

• Omega Seamaster Professional Bezel 1360 OME-082SU1360 $212.00
• Omega Anti-Reflective Sapphire Crystal OME-062SA3008 $156.00

 

You know one thing I would have considered in the swap, Planet Ocean second hand with the arrowhead markers.

Did you do the swap yourself or have a watchmaker handle it?

 

Did he try a crowbar?

 

You know I still can't see the damage to the crystal in those pictures, it must be a really tiny chip missing.

 

It's more like sand paper dragged across 10-12. To be honest, it's really not a big deal. Nobody has noticed it.

 

Thanks for the TZ link Brian.

I should've said strong sand paper. It's slightly more than just roughed up. It probably could be cleaned up to 99% with a lot of determination, but I'd already ordered a new Omega crystal before receiving the watch. I'll keep the old one as a spare. She'll be all clean and new.

 

A few follow up shots all taken in bright sun. You can see the crystal damage a bit better:

 

Ah I see what you mean now, that's a pretty wide area, probably best to just replace that crystal. I've just noticed that the red 5-minute indices on the dial are also faded nicely to white. I really love how that looks on that watch

 

Yeah, I bet they'll be pure white in another 5-10 years.

 

Figured I'd add a pic of another famous Seamaster Chrono Diver owner, with the same haircut as Trev, none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin from the WWE: