Hi all, I’ve been in love with the blue seamaster 300m at first sight, one day or another I’ll get one. As 41mm may be too big to me (I’ve got a Blackbay ETA which a love, but it is big!), I’m also looking for midsize version. here is the point: Most of us seems to love « small » diameter, but the midsize Seamaster 300 seems to be less appreciated than the 41mm. is there a main reason? Is the movement from the midsize less interesting than the 41mm version? Anyone who has feedbacks about owning the midsize? maybe I’m just missing something, let share it
I think they are still stuck in the large watch trend. The Aqua Terra 38mm version shares the 8800 caliber, so we know they don't HAVE to make it so large. The only explanation is that they deliberately made it that size. Anecdotally, most new watches are 42-43mm nowadays.
Both sizes use the same movement in both Auto and Quartz. I have owned both, I much preferred the look and feel of the full size. The bezel robs a lot of dial real estate from the 36mm so you are looking at a tiny dial equivalent to that on a 30mm non diver watch. The hands look stumpy and a bit silly. The dial on the 41mm is only really equivalent to that on a non diver 35mm. Unless you have tiny wrists, like smaller than 6.5" I would strongly recommend the full size model, it is very slim and wears very well. They feel both slimmer and less angular than many other similar sized diver watches. I love a smaller vintage watch as much as the next man, but the SMP belongs in 41mm.
I don't think the current 36mm and 42mm share the same movement. The 36mm uses the caliber 2500, which is a lot less technologically interesting compared to the master chronometer 8800 in the full-size diver.
There is no current 36mm. I was referring to the 1120 and 1538 movement models, judging by his photo so was the OP.
Sorry, I meant the 36.25mm version. https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-seamaster-diver-300m-co-axial-36-25-mm-21230362001002
You are comparing completely different watches hence the different movements. The 36mm you link to is the mid size SMPc which has been around for about 7 years, has a smooth gloss dial and has the 2500 movement (a development of the 1120). The full size with the 8800 is a brand new design, larger than before at 42mm with a return to the wave dial, now in ceramic. There is no mid size in the new design.
I'm one of the few Omega fans to fall firmly into the mid-size 300m category, regardless of the movement, at least when it is available. I've had both, but for me, both as a daily wear and for snorkeling (one of my hobbies), the mid-size just suited me better. It's discreet enough for most dress occasions as well, if you're considering a single do-it-all type piece, which I find anything larger to be too ostentatious for, but I am admittedly somewhat of a 'retro' style guy and rarely buy a watch over 41-42mm, even if the aesthetics appeal to me. I briefly had a TAG that was around 44 or 46 and almost immediately sold it. Then again, I am definitely the minority opinion among most 300M wearers.
Interesting feedbacks, thanks guys. I guess the best solution should be to try them on in order to check proportion. what about people saying that old version mouvement are a better option than the coaxial one? Will an indépendant watchmaker able to service a coaxial mouvement?
I have had the same as Tony as a daily wearer for nearly 20 yrs. incredibly accurate and tough. I too am allergic to 40mm+ which I associate with the flashy Rolex crowd. Is maybe ok if you are a big person but on my small wrists more than 40mm is crazy. To me it looks better than 95% of the modern Omega line up. Less glitz and angularity. The fine detail is superb. Of course I didn’t like a recent new bracelet at £600! My bezel is scratched but jeweller said don’t change it. I think the thing is it is not really a tool watch, since having actually used it diving a bit, the skeleton hands are hard to read below 5m other than in clear sun. I read that crit on a contemporaneous review, and having dived a few places tend to agree with it. Of course when I bought, it dive computers hadn’t quite changed everything. It works well under a suit and cuff. It also is maybe a little under rated because so many bought them and the average no watcher can’t tell the difference as to whether it is quartz or auto chronometer. I still love it, but recently bought a vintage eterna and a modern de Ville, and a Raymond Weill maestro (very under rated). Maybe shows I am getting old.
Nothing wrong to me with the midsize version of the SMP. Even Prince William wears one https://omegaforums.net/threads/prince-william.107561/#post-1411264
Thing is when funds are low just before pay day Wills often idly looks at eBay and wishes mom had bought him the full size auto. When new the difference between the fs and mid was £25-50, and the auto was I think about £100 more than the quartz not today a full size auto routinely fetches double a mid quartz, more even.
Interesting- I really wanted to buy one of these a few months ago, but the consensus from local watch dealers (Watches of Switzerland, Omega Boutique, etc) was they were discontinued, with no more stock to come. Ended up buying a Speedmaster 38 instead, but would have 100% gone for this one if it had been available. The price has gone up a lot too- £2620 previously now showing as £3170!
Here in EU a quartz Midsize should be reasonably available für 1.3-1.5k€, the automatic one for around 200/300€ more. But obviously prices are also raising like the fullsize versions, at least my observation over the last couple of months.
I had the older quartz midsize, and it's a good fit for my waif-like wrists. However, as @padders mentions, although I never really thought of it until I read his/her post, the proportions may be a bit "odd". Add to that that the current fashion is larger watches, I do prefer the looks of the new Seamaster, which you can see below is large for me but not ridiculously so (like a Breitling for example).
I’m a big fan of the blue mid size SMPc... It’s a much better fit for my 6.5 inch wrists than the full size. It’s a shame Omega have stopped supporting the mid size variants but understandable from a commercial perspective. Opti
It would be great if someone has the opportunity to take 2 wrist shots, one with the midsize and another one with the full size. It would be interesting in order to compare... by the way, my wrist measure 18cm, but I guess it is also about the shape, flat or rounded etc.. (just talking about wrist uh )