Hey folks,

So, I've been looking to get an Omega diver back into my collection. I had a 45.5mm PO that started this whole craze, but i sold it to get and try other stuff. Figured 45.5mm was too big for me anyways.

Anyways, I have some options.

1) The original Seamaster 300, 165.024

On ebay, its asking for around 6250 USD, but i suspect it to hit about 8000-9000 USD

2) Watchco Seamaster 165.024


Or
3) A planet Ocean 2500D


I'm wondering if anyone has a collection of the 2500D and a watcho/original 165.024 to compare the size? I understand its all 42mm, and about 48mm lug to lug, but wrist presence wise, are they similar?

Another major factor to my decision to choose is obviously my budget. I have given up on my 5513 dreams but to snag a 165.024 in its original condition, would be a great way to get into the whole diving era with tritium dial etc.

I reckon I can go up to 8500 USD but that's the max ceiling for me.

What do you guys think?

 

If you were comfortable with a 2500 or 3313 45.5 then I’d see no issue with either choice. If you had a 8500 or later there is no question it will look fine.

For me there is no choice the 42mm white numbered 2500 (esp the D) PO is a future classic. Nods to the original watch but still modern and no vintage lume. I love the 300mc but that PO is a great nod to the original and the later PO’s got thick and flashy.

 

Watchco, because why not? Great watch for the $.

 

With your budget you might be able to get the Planet Ocean 2500D AND the WatchCo.

The Planet Ocean have more wrist presence and I prefer mine to my WatchCo which wears more like an SMP. But when I sold my WatchCo a couple years ago, I bought it back the next week.

WatchCo is still pretty cool and looks vintage in design (although not in color) while the Planet Ocean has a little more modern elegance to it - like comparing an older Submariner 16800 to the newer SubC no date.

 

+1 on what @Foo2rama said!
The 2500 D in 42mm is a very nicely balanced watch.
If you want something a bit more special, try finding a POLMLE.
It should be within you budget.

The vintage sm300 is a great watch, but comes with all the vintage draw backs. That's fine, if you have other watches to wear when modern durability/ruggedness is needed.

I personally like the watchCo builds.
But have to disagree that they are great value for the money.
Only if you can find one for a reasonable price. I see those being traded for 4-4,5k€. That's just to much for me for a put together watch.

Here's my PO 2500 D, it's a keeper.



And take a look at the POLMLE:


(Pic curtesy of @Superdoc )

Cheers,


Max

 

Remember back when the WatchCo were only 2000€ ($3000) with both an 1171 and a shark mesh bracelet? Lol those were the days!

Last one I saw WatchCo selling was $4,999

 

I like the po2500 Alot. Even at 45.5 the size is great on me. At 42mm it would be killer.

Thanks for the suggestion but I don't think I can buy both.

The LE looks insane. Does it come up for sale often?

 

You're welcome .

The LE was somewhat hot around 2 years ago and then fallen of the radar a bit. It still commands a hefty premium over the regular 2500po's and I think it will stay that way.

They come up for sale here from time to time. I suggest you check watchrecon.com (has a great app too) for sales listings.

If you want more info and pictures of it, this here is a nice thread:

https://omegaforums.net/threads/what-about-the-limited-edition-liquidmetal-planet-ocean-today.15839/

Cheers,

Max

 

Sdre, with your budget of $8.5k US you should be able to snag a "real" SM 300. In reasonable condition. Don't worry too much about the bezel, if the inlay is intact there is a guy on this forum that can fix the lume on the indices/numbers. Nobody else has done this to my knowledge. It is not me by the way.
The bonus with a vintage 300 is that not only is a beautiful looking piece it is appreciating fast.
I have one and just love it, probably my favorite piece to wear and I have a few exotics.
Dial and hands need to be original and look good, not perfect, this you will get with a Watchco but it will always be a Watchco.
I include a pic of mine purchased one year ago in Oz $9K aud, at the time I thought it costly a year later I now think what a great investment.
This watch is understated and kool vintage, can't beat that.
Don't wear an oldie in the water, even if it has been tested there is too much to loose.
Best of luck in your hunt.

 

Thanks. I guess even with a rather good budget, I don't wanan spend all over it. I always like to see some numbers in my bank account still

(of course that's the watch/liquidity account, i have other accounts properly set up for rainy days etc

 

I have both a 42mm 2500C and a 165.024 SM300BT and they are similar in size, but the PO is much heavier!

 

These days a deent Watchco is circa £2,500 and a decent 2201.50 more like £2,250. If a Watchco was 2254 money I would understand but they are just too pricey these days. Bearing that in mind, I would go for the PO over a Watchco but the appeal of an original 165.024 is understandable. For me the choice is PO or the original SM300. I love my 2201.50, they feel really solid and well built, much more so that the 2008 Rolex Exp-II I had and wore in rotation with it last year.

 

I have recently had the opportunity to purchase a Watch co or a planet ocean 2201.50 2500D 42mm. Both watches are mint.

I chose the planet ocean over the watchco for these reasons.

The Planet Ocean was full set and included a service. Watch is mint 1 owner who never wore it. 8 years and it had its first service.

The watchco was mint 1 owner bought from tbe assembler directly. It has had no service for 13 years. No papers No records.
All info given to me was world of mouth.

The Planet Ocean is an official watch and will always be recognised as an official Omega watch.

The watcho although is made up of all official Omega parts, was assembled as a complete watch in Melbourne Australia. That watch did not leave Switzerland as a complete watch. NOS parts are official but alot of the movements were recycled from other watches.

With Omega being very protective of their products since earlier this year, there is no way I will purchase one of these watches now.

My opinion is the watchco is a fine watch, but not worth the price people are asking for them. With all the AAA quality fakes around, its another reason to stay away from them unless you can open the case and inspect the movement and other parts. At the end of the day the watch is still a Franken watch.

 

Nice write up! But while watchco made the first ones, other people have done that and watchco became a generic name for them.

 

Maybe a used 2254.50? Love mine, thinner than all these others, love the hands, the lume... it's the Omega I wear most often.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-seamaster-300-m-chronometer-22545000

You can get them around $1200 more or less. If you prefer the Bond bracelet, it's an easy switch.

Tom

 

Please tell me where .... looking now for a long time !

 

Wow, was I wrong! They were $1200ish when I got mine... I see they're up to twice that. My apologies!

Tom

 

I would get the PO 42mm as it makes more money wise. Also, I wore the hell out of one for about 8 years, great for any activity.

I like the vintage pieces too but PO would be my choice