Summer Blue Birth Year Watch?

pault8084

Sorry no real input on which one but I love the thought of this. My son is 12 and I bought him his first watch, a Casio, for his last birthday. He is now eyeing up my collection!

marcn

My youngest is 6-yo now and he loves all of my watches with a display back, and loves my orange Nomos because it's "a halloween watch".

But the reality check is that you can't possibly predict what those kiddos are going to actually want to wear as a watch way in the future, assuming they even care the tiniest bit about these things. Both my older boys, now adults -- similarly exposed to all those "cool gears and spinny things" in their childhoods -- could not care the slightest about watches today.

So buy what you like, wear it regularly, let them hold and even wear them (car rides are good for that) and just know... watches is very likely going to be a you-thing all to yourself. 😀

T thewodg

First of all, a big thanks to this community for all the advice provided over the years!

I am now preparing to buy a birth year watch (2023) for my son. I already have a Speedy Pro (birth year watch for my daughter), and I am debating between a Seamaster Heritage Summer Blue, a SMP300 Summer Blue, and a SMP300 (Regular) Blue. I am planning on visiting a local AD this weekend (no OBs near me), but interested in your opinion, especially for those that have seen the Summer Blues in person. Are they too trendy? Will they stand the test of time? I wouldn't mind a more playful watch (compared to the Speedy Pro), but I would like it to be an everyday watch for my son eventually.

Thanks in advance!

Donn Chambers

I saw all the “Summer Blue” models in person at an AD in Berlin, and they only one that impressed me was the Planet Ocean. The mixture of the blues on that one felt organic. All the others felt forced.

but my opinion, only, of course.

I wouldn’t pay the price premium for them, but get a standard one instead.

N notchrishansen

Congrats. Color is always subjective so a neutral dial would be safest. I have a similar thing going on and am considering getting another one of the same model Moonwatch.

jb.44

The summer blue watches are all good options because they will be timeless. All they have to differentiate them is a gorgeous blue dial and bezel. That does not go out of style

marcn

My youngest is 6-yo now and he loves all of my watches with a display back, and loves my orange Nomos because it's "a halloween watch".

But the reality check is that you can't possibly predict what those kiddos are going to actually want to wear as a watch way in the future, assuming they even care the tiniest bit about these things. Both my older boys, now adults -- similarly exposed to all those "cool gears and spinny things" in their childhoods -- could not care the slightest about watches today.

So buy what you like, wear it regularly, let them hold and even wear them (car rides are good for that) and just know... watches is very likely going to be a you-thing all to yourself. 😀

ErichPryde

Go with the Summer Blue. We don't know how well these will "hold" value going forward but it is going to be a "limited" production run for the 75th anniversary, so, probably better than your average Omega, and certainly more unique.

I picked the Heritage over the SMP. Taste is subjective, but both my wife and I thought the SMP summer blue dial was too "busy." Just like the SMP, the Heritage dial is incredibly dynamic, looking silvery blue in some light and intensly deep blue in others.

Also, the current Heritage bracelet is wildly good.

that said, I think the Heritage dial is the ultimate "me" watch dial, and ymmv.

T thewodg

Exactly. Tough to decide whether to play it safe for the long term.

T thewodg

For me, having not seen them yet in person, the cons of the heritage are the lack of lyre lugs (love them on the Speedie) and the lack of a sunray finish. The cons of the 300M are the Helium escape valve and the bracelet. Yes, I know nearly all of these cons are part of the DNA of the respective watches...

Do you mind sharing where you sourced the heritage?

T thewodg

Thanks for sharing that info - maybe I'll give that OB a call today to see what they have in stock.

One quick point of clarification: when you talk about "sunflecked", you are referring to the heritage, right?

Also, did the OB give you a complimentary summer blue bracelet? I have heard that some others have received them with the summer blue watches from OBs.

ErichPryde

Yes, I did receive the summer blue Trident bracelet with this watch!

Yes, when I say sunplex I mean the heritage. It's almost like the center light blue area is set up to refract light to itself, so that in really low light it seems to grow smaller and in brighter light it seems to grow larger. So, as opposed to the light flashing around the dial effect you get with the SMP, this one is more like a star on a dimmer switch.

I was trying to catch a video of its behavior this morning but it's infernally difficult to capture with a phone camera. I did post some addl pictures on another thread, and I've got some more.