Should I go for it?

Yehoshua · May 9, 2021

Hi. I have a Seamaster professional 300m 2500d for 2 years with no problems.
Someone is willing to give me pretty much close to what I paid for it.
In which case I can presently permit myself to purchase the new 8800 model. I can like it. Though aesthetically it has no advantage for me.
Just the movement. That's the possible strong point.
So my question is, is the advantage objectively there? Would you go for it? Longer service interval?

fc3861 · May 9, 2021

Greetings,

How is the accuracy on your old watch? I can see a couple of possible advantages:

1. You would be getting a new watch and resetting the clock on your next service interval.

2. The accuracy of these new movements is phenomenal in my experience.

Unless your old watch has some sentimental value, I wouldn’t think twice about upgrading.

Best regards,
Frank

Yehoshua · May 9, 2021

fc3861
Greetings,

How is the accuracy on your old watch? I can see a couple of possible advantages:

1. You would be getting a new watch and resetting the clock on your next service interval.

2. The accuracy of these new movements is phenomenal in my experience.

Unless your old watch has some sentimental value, I wouldn’t think twice about upgrading.

Best regards,
Frank

Thank you! More opinions?
I wonder it this movement will hold out significantly longer between service intervals, than the previous movement.
I set my watch monthly. It seems very very accurate. I think it loses something like a minute a month.

The Father · May 9, 2021

I don’t like the looks of it. I would sell it.

Crunchie · May 9, 2021

I think it’s purely down to if you have any sentimental attachment to your watches.

If your current watch is accurate to a minute a month, there’s no reason to think you’ll have any accuracy or reliability problems in the future.

If you want a new watch and think you’d prefer it to your old one, do the deal, but I don’t think reliability or movement type should come in to it.

hronists · May 9, 2021

Check case thickness. 8xxx series watches are thick AF.

Barqy · May 10, 2021

If it's not an aesthetic comparison/issue, and the dimensions are ok on the watch, then I'd go for the new movement all day long. Superior technology.

apsm100 · May 10, 2021

I'd upgrade just for that wave dial. 👍

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

B Barqy
If it's not an aesthetic comparison/issue, and the dimensions are ok on the watch, then I'd go for the new movement all day long. Superior technology.

I wonder how that superior technology translates into more reliable service.

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

A few months ago I asked a watchmaker at the importers here in Israel if he thinks an upgrade is a nice idea. He looked at my watch's performance and condition which is good. Contrary to the advice here, he said hold on to the watch. But that was when I was checking the possibility of a trade in. At a loss, of course.
But now I've someone who is offering me close to the price I paid two years ago, as said. Thanks for the opinions.

Blackdog · May 10, 2021

I'm in the minority here and not really enamoured of the latest 300M diver.

On top mof that I recently got a PO with the 2500D movement and I'm very impressed with the performance.

If you're not really driven by the new aesthetics of the 300M, I'd say keep the one you have. Maybe later, down the road, get something else with the 8900 movement, which I find a bit more interesting than the 8800.

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

Blackdog
I'm in the minority here and not really enamoured of the latest 300M diver.

On top mof that I recently got a PO with the 2500D movement and I'm very impressed with the performance.

If you're not really driven by the new aesthetics of the 300M, I'd say keep the one you have. Maybe later, down the road, get something else with the 8900 movement, which I find a bit more interesting than the 8800.

Like you, I do not sense an aesthetic advantage. But if the movement will serve better than the 2500 in the long term, then I would go for it. Silicon spring and whatever "improvements". That's what I'd like to know, actually: is this movement worth the upgrade? I can start over again, with out losing much money on the previous version.

Archer · May 10, 2021

Yehoshua
Like you, I do not sense an aesthetic advantage. But if the movement will serve better than the 2500 in the long term, then I would go for it. Silicon spring and whatever "improvements". That's what I'd like to know, actually: is this movement worth the upgrade? I can start over again, with out losing much money on the previous version.

Only you can decide that, but the 8800 has a few features not found on the 2500 calibers. The ceramic ball bearing is one, although some find it noisy. Of course the silicon balance spring, and all the other parts required for METAS certification can provide advantages in accuracy and resistance to magnetism.

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

Archer
Only you can decide that, but the 8800 has a few features not found on the 2500 calibers. The ceramic ball bearing is one, although some find it noisy. Of course the silicon balance spring, and all the other parts required for METAS certification can provide advantages in accuracy and resistance to magnetism.

Hope it's not heard other than when winding.
I guess long term less wear and less frequent servicing is non proven.

gbesq · May 10, 2021

I own the 2500D model (black glossy dial) and I actually prefer it to the new model. As an initial matter, the 2500D is a proven, reliable, very accurate workhorse of a movement. Yes, the new movement is better, but not so much better that I feel that I need to upgrade to the new model. In my view, you also lose a few things with the new model. It's larger and thicker and doesn't wear as well on the wrist as the 2500D version. The 2500D model also has an applied logo, hippocampus engraving on the case back and a smaller HEV, all of which the new model lacks. Further, I've never been a big fan of the wave dial. The glossy dial on the 2500D model, whether in blue or black, is very attractive. It's a “dress” diver in every sense of the word and can be worn with everything from jeans to a tuxedo. Finally, as you noted in your post, the 2500D model is holding its value very nicely whereas the new model can be had for significantly less than its retail price. For me, it's a no brainer. If you like the 2500D model, keep it.

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

gbesq
I own the 2500D model (black glossy dial) and I actually prefer it to the new model. As an initial matter, the 2500D is a proven, reliable, very accurate workhorse of a movement. Yes, the new movement is better, but not so much better that I feel that I need to upgrade to the new model. In my view, you also lose a few things with the new model. It's larger and thicker and doesn't wear as well on the wrist as the 2500D version. The 2500D model also has an applied logo, hippocampus engraving on the back and a smaller HEV, all of which the new model lacks. Finally, I've never been a big fan of the wave dial. The glossy dial on the 2500D model, whether in blue or black, is classy as hell. It's a dress diver in every sense of the word and can be worn with everything from jeans to a tuxedo. Finally, as you noted in your post, the 2500D model is holding its value very nicely whereas the new model can be had for significantly less than its asking price. For me, it's a no brainer. If you like the 2500D model, keep it.

That's comforting and helpful.

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

Archer
Only you can decide that, but the 8800 has a few features not found on the 2500 calibers. The ceramic ball bearing is one, although some find it noisy. Of course the silicon balance spring, and all the other parts required for METAS certification can provide advantages in accuracy and resistance to magnetism.

Do you think that the ball bearing significantly prevents wear on the rotor?

Archer · May 10, 2021

Yehoshua
Do you think that the ball bearing significantly prevents wear on the rotor?

Ceramic bearings do last longer than steel, all else equal.

Charlemagne1333 · May 10, 2021

A regularly serviced 2500 is no more, or no less, reliable than a regularly serviced 8800.

If it ain’t broke…

Yehoshua · May 10, 2021

Charlemagne1333
A regularly serviced 2500 is no more, or no less, reliable than a regularly serviced 8800.

If it ain’t broke…

I wonder if the service intervals are greater for the new. I think that the 2500 is 4 or 5 years and the newer calibers are 6 to 8 years. Most probably the 2500 could go just as long, I guess.

Should I go for it?

Yehoshua

fc3861

Yehoshua

The Father

Crunchie

hronists

Barqy

apsm100

Yehoshua

Yehoshua

Blackdog

Yehoshua

Archer

Yehoshua

gbesq

Yehoshua

Yehoshua

Archer

Charlemagne1333

Yehoshua

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