*****Omega vs Seiko vs Oris*****

MG-Speedy

Hi Christopher90,
I must admit you have quite similar taste to mine, since I really like them all, an I am in my late 40s. However this does not mean you will still like them (all) when you will be in your 40s 😉.
I must say, I noticed in this years when collecting, that my taste develop in different directions, however the watch which I will buy must always be comfortable- not too heavy or of some strange shape or material, otherwise I will not wear it, so it is essential that you try them all before buying.
However since ever I loved diver‘s, since they reflect to me the biggest robustness and now and then I also like to go in water with my watches.
Now, I will allow myself to comment a bit on your selection from my point of view. I own(ed) from your selection the Seiko SLA017, the FOIS and the Moonwatch. From Seamasters I have PO (see photos bellow). I love Seikos, since they are reliable, very well done and don’t cost a fortune (this is relative term). It is true, what the guys say, most of the people, specially not from horological world, expect cheap watches. Actually I like this fact, since I can stay under the radar and still have extremely good watch for the price paid. For me Seikos are the best price/performance ratio watches. However if one wants to show off, this is not the right Brand to go. Omega is my preferred Brand with watches, hi tech, but not too bling bling like some famous competitors. And regarding the Moonwatch, I think is the most famous watch existing. And for me also the most versatile. It goes with every possible strap and with (almost) every clothes and is a whole history on your wrist. Amazing. It is light, very resistant (scratches from plexi glass easily polished away), however it is not really the watch with which I would go swimming. FOIS has sapphire glass, what takes a bit of vintage touch away and is probably not so good protected from magnetism as Moonwatch, since I quite often got it magnetized.
If I would have to select only one watch from your list, I would probably select Seamaster (and one day later a Moonwatch 😗), since it is most modern watch (co-axial calibre and silicon hairspring against magnetism are very strong arguments) in the body of vintage one. I selected PO above 300, because it has date and applied markers, which I like to have on watches. I also bought my watches at OB or AD, since I like to have some concrete contact persons in case of some problems (which I had with some other Brands).
A lot of fun with new watch, whatever will be! Mat
Here some wristshots:

C christopher90

You got all the watches I have in mind. Lol. Which watch do you wear the most nowadays? Is it the most versatile speedmaster? I like speedmaster too but the fact that I wouldn't swim with it is only the downside. Today, I tried the sla017, speedmaster and seamaster 300 again. I liked all of them. I wish i could get them all but since I only have a budget for one watch it's really hard to decide!!

C christopher90

Which one of the five watches would you guys wear at age of 40+?

Davidt

Swim pants and a suit at the same time???? Where do you work???

Longbow

@christopher90,
It is highly unlikely that you will make it to 60 with just one watch, especially if you start with any of the watches you mentioned, even more so if you look at the What are You Wearing Today thread here on OF.
<SNIP>
Well maybe you should try (everyone is going to hate me here), a Christopher Ward C65 Trident GMT. It looks like this:-

The quality is on a par with Omega (I have 7 others to compare it with), it has the best micro-adjustment clasp of any of the watches that I own or have tried and it costs a fraction of your budget. Why pay a huge premium just to keep all those useless influencer Brand Ambassadors in the lap of luxury?

I have really enjoyed all of my Omegas over the years, but after my C65 GMT arrived they were all (bar my Speedmaster) packed up and dumped in the bank. Heck I‘ve started contemplating selling the whole lot.

Open your eyes wide and try to avoid falling for the luxury marketing bullshit. Or be prepared to accept a 30% loss of value with 12 months of purchase.

Oh, and like most other posters have said, buy it because you like it, nothing more.

Good hunting!

Longbow

cgaites

While I agree with you that I would choose a MM300 (SBDX001 or SBDX017) over the SLA017, just wanted to point out that the SLA017 does have the same Cal. 8L35 as the MM. The SLA017 is the reissue of the 62MAS that is true to the original (save the movement), and it is a LE. It is the “modern reinterpretations” of the 62MAS, the SBDC051 and SBDC053, that carry the standard Cal. 6R15. They are not limited production and go for about $600-$800.

OP, I think we have similar taste. If I were you I’d go with a pre-owned Speedy Pro (or a new one from one of the trusted sellers here on OF) and then also order a new SBDC051 from Seiya or Gnomon. Both together will run you ~$4500-$5000 total. Throw an Uncle Seiko waffle strap (~$50) on the SBDC051 and you have 90% of the look of the SLA017 for 1/6th the price.