Possible new 300m spotted on Daniel Craig

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I think enthusiasts like "us" are absolutely not representative of the mainstream omega buyer.

Yeah, this is sort of what I was getting at, though I guess I took it more from the perspective of there just aren't enough of "us" (meaning watch nerds online) to shift the needle on Omega's sales figures. If this entire forum boycotted Omega, it wouldn't even be a blip on their balance sheet. But you're absolutely right, opinions here likely differ a lot from mainstream anyway, even outside of the financial element.

I still maintain for the thickness argument specifically, that complaint is more mainstream. I see that on Reddit, I see it on Instagram, I see it on YouTube comments, that genuinely is a big one they must be aware of. But as @GrussGrott has shown, Omega don't need to address that. Their sales we know are strong and the second hand market is also relatively strong. I still think they should and may, but it's optional for them.
 
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Yeah, this is sort of what I was getting at, though I guess I took it more from the perspective of there just aren't enough of "us" (meaning watch nerds online) to shift the needle on Omega's sales figures. If this entire forum boycotted Omega, it wouldn't even be a blip on their balance sheet. But you're absolutely right, opinions here likely differ a lot from mainstream anyway, even outside of the financial element.

I still maintain for the thickness argument specifically, that complaint is more mainstream. I see that on Reddit, I see it on Instagram, I see it on YouTube comments, that genuinely is a big one they must be aware of. But as @GrussGrott has shown, Omega don't need to address that. Their sales we know are strong and the second hand market is also relatively strong. I still think they should and may, but it's optional for them.
Speaking of "sales" - in terms of primary and not secondary market sales (i.e., what Swatch Group and Omega cares most I assume), do these mean selling from Omega to retailers/ADs + boutique customers, or just to customers direct?

I ask this because I am wondering how much actual sales account for Omega selling to customers direct?
 
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I think enthusiasts like "us" are absolutely not representative of the mainstream omega buyer. I commented earlier to the effect that I rarely or never see complaints about the SMP on Reddit, but just take this as an example:



This poster shared these two watches on mesh bracelets and specified that the Speedmaster was on a komfit, and pretty much every single comment looks like this. One person said the "James Bond watch and the astronaut watch" but it was unclear as to whether or not they even understood what the history of the komfit was. 90%+ of responders in this thread LOVE the Seamaster on mesh and think the speedy should never be on mesh. I might have been the only person that responded to provide some sort of history on why this bracelet is appropriate.

Meanwhile, here on Omegaforums, the opinion is nearly photo-negative. There are a lot of people that do not like the mesh, think it is too thick, not flexible enough, doesn't fit well, isn't stylish, whatever the case or complaint may be, it is not as popular with this crowd. And komfits? I may not have to wait that long to see one appear on WRUW.
My guess it has to do with the Zeitgeist of the times. The general public is more the Insta/TicTok crowd with the attention span of a knat, where the new shiny thing wins. The same group likes the new size of the Seamaster since it's a bold statement piece polar opposite of the Apple Watch.

They are the new rebels where mechanical beats technology. As put in another thread with a Apollo computer watch, slide rule beats computer. The dive into the historical comes with time.

The Komfit bracelet on the Speedie is the perfect example. It's the function over form at a time where they needed it solution which worked. My vintage Speedie lives on it since it's comfortable, easily adjustable, and looks "right" on it.

Jacque Cousteau had huge influence on the diving world and the function of dive watches. He picked function over form as it was a tool for the job. The Ploprof is a great example. Has a cult following since it breaks all the rules but it works. Tried them on and surprisingly comfortable, but given the choice would choose the SHOM over the Ploprof since it has the feel but more suited to my wrist.
 
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Just tried this thing on in person at the new Portland Boutique. Apparently, I am one of those people that the mesh fits well, it fit perfectly without any adjustment needed to the bracelet. But honestly, once I looked at the dial I didn't give a flip what bracelet it was on.

This dial has all the personality that I would ever ask for in a modern Seamaster professional. It manages to somehow have enough subtlety to call back to not only the first Brosnan divers, but somehow reaches back further and manages to summon up the feeling of a 1960s diver. There's something about this dial and markers that manages to remind me of everything I like about the 165.024 and 5513, while... being absolutely a modern omega.

Omega absolutely nailed this.

 
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I still maintain for the thickness argument specifically, that complaint is more mainstream. I see that on Reddit, I see it on Instagram, I see it on YouTube comments, that genuinely is a big one they must be aware of. But as @GrussGrott has shown, Omega don't need to address that. Their sales we know are strong and the second hand market is also relatively strong. I still think they should and may, but it's optional for them.

You aren't wrong. I don't see thickness complaints nearly as much as I used to, and very rarely on Reddit these days, but I did see a whole bunch of thickness complaints and YouTube video comments just the other day.

Thickness complaints aren't unfounded or unreasonable, especially with some of the earlier coaxial watches. Perhaps this is a complaint seen last from Modern Omega fans, and more from people who apply what seems to be the general watch Community Rolex standards. Can't say exactly.
 
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Just tried this thing on in person at the new Portland Boutique. Apparently, I am one of those people that the mesh fits well, it fit perfectly without any adjustment needed to the bracelet. But honestly, once I looked at the dial I didn't give a flip what bracelet it was on.

This dial has all the personality that I would ever ask for in a modern Seamaster professional. It manages to somehow have enough subtlety to call back to not only the first Brosnan divers, but somehow reaches back further and manages to summon up the feeling of a 1960s diver. There's something about this dial and markers that manages to remind me of everything I like about the 165.024 and 5513, while... being absolutely a modern omega.

Omega absolutely nailed this.


Thanks for the pix and write-up. Beautiful piece for sure. It's firmly on my list but probably a while away on the aftermarket. I did think about pressing pause on the 300 Heritage for this one after the first trailers, but I absolutely love the Heritage.

Nice to see the dial spring to life even under the harsh shop lighting. It's a stunner.

Also appreciate how they've integrated the dial text with the wave pattern -- seems like the waves aren't "interrupted" as sharply as they are on some of the 2018 variants.
 
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Thanks for the pix and write-up. Beautiful piece for sure. It's firmly on my list but probably a while away on the aftermarket. I did think about pressing pause on the 300 Heritage for this one after the first trailers, but I absolutely love the Heritage.

Nice to see the dial spring to life even under the harsh shop lighting. It's a stunner.

Agreed, I like it and when I sent those pictures to my wife she said she liked it way more than she thought she would and asked me what I thought of it, and my first comment was that I would probably wait and track one down second hand here in a bit.

I love my Heritage every bit as much, probably more actually, than I did when I first purchased it. It is such an infernally comfortable and beautiful watch.

Regarding the dial (of the SMP), these pictures honestly don't do it justice. And the markers, unless it is my imagination? The markers don't appear to be true white in person, they are very slightly creamy. Maybe that was just the lighting
Edited:
 
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somehow reaches back further and manages to summon up the feeling of a 1960s diver.

Agreed, I think of it as a wistful design that skips over the bond stuff which is a good thing for me. not that I don't like Bond (was a HUGE fan of the books and OG sociopath character), and did consider the 60th, but this model is, for me, Omega's heritage retro-diver.

Plus, I LOVE that Omega is presenting it simultaneously & in opposition to the steely, industrial, future forward designed grey model.

Very reminiscent of Tudor releasing the "heritage" Black Bay in 2012, winning the GPHG's Revival prize in 2013, and then attempting to move beyond & showcase technical capabilities with the North Flag in 2015, the first Tudor with an exhibition case back for the new in-house movement.

Of course in 2021 the North Flag was killed ... hopefully Omega's industrial design doesn't suffer the same fate because that's where my taste lies, but the broad Swiss watch market has always seemed to favor by-gone romance over futuristic stuff. At least they did, maybe?!

My gut tells me Omega is using these 2 SMP releases as a market test to find where the bulk of fans lie and where the market is headed.
 
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G'c G'c
I ask this because I am wondering how much actual sales account for Omega selling to customers direct?
If by DTC we mean Omega's e-commerce site, there's super limited data ... I would guess that volume is comparatively low.

Most people seem to either want a luxury brand-oriented experience via the boutiques or are bargain hunting but do want a bit of luxury via ADs; the e-commerce site seems more for people who don't live close to an AD or OB and don't want to travel to one.

I would guess the bulk of the e-commerce site sales are, therefore, their down-market models but you never know; sometimes you get a huge bollus of sales from odd places ... e.g., new bitcoin millionaires order precious metal watches via smart phone at the bar.
 
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Local AD had one in on Wednesday when I walked past on lunch. Was in a rush & had to cut early work in the office that days thought I’ll be back in a few days. Went past Friday, caught my mate buying a Carrera in there, thought I’d ask about the Seamaster, it was sold the day before!
 
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Just tried this thing on in person at the new Portland Boutique. Apparently, I am one of those people that the mesh fits well, it fit perfectly without any adjustment needed to the bracelet. But honestly, once I looked at the dial I didn't give a flip what bracelet it was on.

This dial has all the personality that I would ever ask for in a modern Seamaster professional. It manages to somehow have enough subtlety to call back to not only the first Brosnan divers, but somehow reaches back further and manages to summon up the feeling of a 1960s diver. There's something about this dial and markers that manages to remind me of everything I like about the 165.024 and 5513, while... being absolutely a modern omega.

Omega absolutely nailed this.

I'd love this watch if it was smaller, thinner, and lost the clunky HEV. 😁 Ticks a lot of boxes. No-date is king.
 
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I'd love this watch if it was smaller, thinner, and lost the clunky HEV. 😁 Ticks a lot of boxes. No-date is king.
You know it's funny, the HEV has been something I also haven't liked, and I have felt in the past that the SMP is a bit too clunky. But this one didn't feel clunky and it didn't feel as large even, as prior (current gen) SMPs I've worn. It may be because of the smaller waves, or it may be because of the more domed crystal, I can't say... but it felt right. And when I put it on the HEV, something I've never liked previously, belonged.

I wish that I could explain this in some sort of a rational way because I very much chose to go with the Seamaster heritage over the SMP For the exact reasons you just stated.


To add: right after I looked at this and I walked over to the Ben Bridge Rolex AD and looked at a couple of current six-series. I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of the six series (11 or 12) and really like the 5513 and 14060- but being able to look at a current Rolex Sub immediately after having looked at this ND seamaster, there was something about the Rolex that just felt clunky, out of proportion, and way too shiny.

Whereas Rolex is over-selecting for shiny, sparkly traits, it's like Omega looked back for more refined and subtle looks here. Even the aluminum bezel... I love the ceramic bezel on my summer blue and it absolutely belongs there and re-inforces that liquid, wet look, but the aluminum bezel with the aluminum dial on this SMP just worked so wonderfully. It was rich and matte.

Edit: I need to stop, I am selling myself on this thing
Edited:
 
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You know it's funny, the HEV has been something I also haven't liked, and I have felt in the past that the SMP is a bit too clunky. But this one didn't feel clunky and it didn't feel as large even, as prior SMPs I've worn. It may be because of the smaller waves, or it may be because of the more domed crystal, I can't say... but it felt right. And when I put it on the HEV, something I've never liked previously, belonged.

I wish that I could explain this in some sort of a rational way because I very much chose to go with the Seamaster heritage over the SMP For the exact reasons you just stated.
My guess is it might be the aluminum bezel contrasting with the smaller wave pattern. Gives it more of subdued tool watch look and smaller size visually.

This past week was having a bracelet resized at a local jeweler. While waiting, tried on different watches and every ceramic bezel watch looked larger. The light is being picked up across the entire watch, not only on the crystal reflection.
 
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My guess is it might be the aluminum bezel contrasting with the smaller wave pattern. Gives it more of subdued tool watch look and smaller size visually.

This past week was having a bracelet resized at a local jeweler. While waiting, tried on different watches and every ceramic bezel watch looked larger. The light is being picked up across the entire watch, not only on the crystal reflection.

Could be, definitely. Maybe that's why I feel like the smaller bezel on the summer blue heritage works better than the current ceramic Rolex offerings. It's much smaller shiny Ring versus a more massive ceramic bezel like on the 6 series and the current standard SMP (which may be why I'm not a fan of the regular SMP).
 
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right after I looked at this and I walked over to the Ben Bridge Rolex AD ... I need to stop, I am selling myself on this thing
ha! well maybe an unpopular opinion but as a Gen Xer Rolex feels like a 1980s Mercedes: well built, holds value, functional, ie your dad's car. The car that goes to the golf club car vs the dance club. I always think "I mean maybe if I was 50" even though I'm older than 50 😜
 
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You know it's funny, the HEV has been something I also haven't liked, and I have felt in the past that the SMP is a bit too clunky. But this one didn't feel clunky and it didn't feel as large even, as prior (current gen) SMPs I've worn. It may be because of the smaller waves, or it may be because of the more domed crystal, I can't say... but it felt right. And when I put it on the HEV, something I've never liked previously, belonged.

I wish that I could explain this in some sort of a rational way because I very much chose to go with the Seamaster heritage over the SMP For the exact reasons you just stated.


To add: right after I looked at this and I walked over to the Ben Bridge Rolex AD and looked at a couple of current six-series. I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of the six series (11 or 12) and really like the 5513 and 14060- but being able to look at a current Rolex Sub immediately after having looked at this ND seamaster, there was something about the Rolex that just felt clunky, out of proportion, and way too shiny.

Whereas Rolex is over-selecting for shiny, sparkly traits, it's like Omega looked back for more refined and subtle looks here. Even the aluminum bezel... I love the ceramic bezel on my summer blue and it absolutely belongs there and re-inforces that liquid, wet look, but the aluminum bezel with the aluminum dial on this SMP just worked so wonderfully. It was rich and matte.

Edit: I need to stop, I am selling myself on this thing
The HEV isn't a deal breaker for me, but it's one of those niggles for sure (since active HEV's are only for looks and product differentiation). It would be nicer looking without it. I'd settle for 39mm, thinner ND SMP's though... even with extra bits hanging off.
 
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The HEV isn't a deal breaker for me, but it's one of those niggles for sure (since active HEV's are only for looks and product differentiation). It would be nicer looking without it. I'd settle for 39mm, thinner ND SMP's though... even with extra bits hanging off.

I don't even think about the HEV at all when wearing my SMP. Whether the next gen removes it or leaves it the same, it wouldn't affect my likelihood of buying one in the slightest. It is pretty pointless, but it's also just part of the heritage and a fun novelty at this point.

Is it bigger than it used to be on the old gens? I don't really see the current gen in person enough to tell but it feels a bit bigger. I'd maybe shorten it a tad, if I had to make a call on what to do with it. But I could be wrong.
 
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I'm all for aluminum and steel bezel inserts and have been over ceramic for many, many years. Matte ceramic is borderline okay. I'd be for a more cylindrically shaped and slightly shorter HEV. Small waves are cool. I think a smaller watch without a HEV is something different than a SMP. Rolex's current watches are indeed too shiny and fancy. Makes me wish I hadn't sold the Submariner I brought in 2006 and also why I will probably buy one from earlier the century than anything later.
 
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I'm all for aluminum and steel bezel inserts and have been over ceramic for many, many years. Matte ceramic is borderline okay. I'd be for a more cylindrically shaped and slightly shorter HEV. Small waves are cool. I think a smaller watch without a HEV is something different than a SMP. Rolex's current watches are indeed too shiny and fancy. Makes me wish I hadn't sold the Submariner I brought in 2006 and also why I will probably buy one from earlier the century than anything later.

Like any material, it is how it is utilized that matters. If I recall correctly from prior posts that you have made, you use your watches in situations that ceramic would probably shatter or at least crack and thus become unusable. Although my watches see very regular water exposure, like most people, they are not being used in a manner that presents the same risks your watches face.

I only care about ceramic versus aluminum in a sort of artistic way; does it work with the design, is it appropriate, does it compliment and work with the dial.

From my perspective all three materials absolutely have their uses.
 
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Like any material, it is how it is utilized that matters. If I recall correctly from prior posts that you have made, you use your watches in situations that ceramic would probably shatter or at least crack and thus become unusable. Although my watches see very regular water exposure, like most people, they are not being used in a manner that presents the same risks your watches face.

I only care about ceramic versus aluminum in a sort of artistic way; does it work with the design, is it appropriate, does it compliment and work with the dial.

From my perspective all three materials absolutely have their uses.
I agree. I like the ceramic insert on my green SMP. It looks nice and suits the watch. I don't think it makes it a fail as a "real" dive watch, but it wouldn't the first choice (or second, third . . . ) among my other watches if I were still doing that stuff semi-regularly or even simply living in the underwater habitat. Lots of very hard, unforgiving steel things down there.