Getting ready to buy my first Omega Seamaster and was looking for a little advice and a few opinions. I have a few models that have caught my eye and was wondering what you think of them. My 2 main priorities are:

1- comfort, reasonably lightweight and not too clunky. I have only been able to try on the SMP which I do like.

2- versatility of look, from beach to work (changing bands is fine)

As I only have around $3000 usd to spend my options below also reflect that reality.

A- 2201.51.00 Planet Ocean (like the black/orange combo, wonder if thick/bulky compared to SMP?)

B- 212.30.41.20.01.002 SMP

C- 231.10.42.21.01.002 Aqua Terra (like the contrast of this or the 231.12 ...are they lighter than A or B above? Similar?)

D- 2254.50
Thoughts? Other suggestions welcome.
Thanks for helping another newbie!

 

If the look has to be judged it might help to post pictures of said watches...

 

Have you thought about the 2531.80.00?

 

The AT will be the sleekest option for the office but is sufficiently sporty for all occasions incl the beach. The PO is quite chunky, not too wieldy in that guise

 

Option D for me out of the three divers. And I 've owned all three at the same time at one stage but kept the 2254.
The AT at 42mm is to much dial.

 

2254.50, 2255.80, 2230.50, 2331.50 are all good. The sword hands SMP models are sublime. The 2201 is lovely but the PO is noticeably deeper than the 1120 movement SMP models, around 2-3mm thicker. It got worse still with the in house models. Other than the Railmaster which I liked, I always found the AT a bit meh. Not really a diver and not really a dress watch.

Be aware if thinness is a priority, the SMP has gotten steadily thicker over the years, every time it has changed it has put on a bit more girth.

 

The 2254.50 is my favorite of those listed, I had one for years, a 2008 model.

That said, I found it too sporty for a suit. Ymmv. The blue bond versions of the 300M were a little dressier and more versatile. I hated wearing a black dial watch with brown or tan belt/shoes. It was a faux pas. Clashed big time with my british tan Cole Haan shoes, really only worked with black oxfords if trying to use as a dress watch.

The blue smp splits the difference and goes with everything, inasmuch as any sport watch can.

What I usually do is wear a black deville with black suit accessories and a silver rolex DJ with tan.

Yes, I overthink this stuff.

 

Hah me too that’s why I started the thread!
It was a black dial AT with a brown strap that made me think of the versatility part, trying to find that balance but that just maybe left for the inevitable second Omega purchase.

Thanks all for your input and opinions.

 

2254.50

But how big are your wrists? You might want to consider the 2252.50, the smaller brother of the 2254.50. Or a 2504.50 AT, or the 2504.52 Railmaster (technically a Seamaster)

 

Dont go for the 2254, you will never want another watch!
No seriously, from the 4 watches that would be my choice!
Otherwise i also like the blue AquaTerra in 38,5mm (Skyfall).

 

2254.50 was my original pick, so thanks for all the reinforcement.

Wrist is around 7.5” (18cm?) I tried on the current SMP 36 midsize but liked the look of the full size 41 better. My budget-side was disappointed, I was hoping to like the midsize more.

 

Unless your wrist is tiny don’t go mid size. The issue is that the bezel robs a lot of dial real estate on the middie. I had one and never looked back when I moved up to the full size. There is nothing wrong with 36mm watches in general, I have many but the SMP design doesn’t suit that size IMO.

 

Totally agree. For example, I find the Rolex DJ 41 reminiscent of something invicta would produce. The extra wide bezel, especially the fluted one, looks garish.

Some watches need to remain 36 to look right. The DJ is one if those. The smp, however, looks wrong if not a 41mm.

(Wearing a 41mm smp as I type this)

 

I vote for the 2201.51 (but I also think you should consider the 2201.50 as the white numerals are more conservative and make the watch, in my opinion at least, more versatile). In terms of height, I don't find that the 2201.50 is all that much thicker on the wrist than the 2531.80 (which is my favorite iteration of the Seamaster Professional and therefore obviously the best ).

 

Okay, thanks for all the help and opinions.
2254.50 is a front runner for sure, but am now also looking at 2531.80 so thanks for that suggestion. Considering this one for $1700usd. Any red flags Inc price? I know, the pics are not the greatest.

 

Thats a tritium dial model (ie pre 1998) and I am fairly sure the bezel insert is aftermarket (the pip looks wrong) so that would be one to avoid IMO. Tritium is usually preferable on a vintage watch but you lose the glow of course and in any case SMPs usually have mismatched dial and hand lume on the tritium models so don't always look great.

 

Thanks for expanding on your original reply, that helped clarify a bit. So, educate me a bit more if you don’t mind. What do you see in the pip that makes you say the bezel is probably a replacement? The only difference I “think” I see between the pics I posted and the pictures above from KeithS is the length of the pips on the 5min marks, his pics look like they may stop a mm or 2 from the edge and mine may go all the way to the edge. Is that what you are seeing, or is that my imagination and you are looking at something else? Again, thanks for the fishing lessons, really appreciated.

 

This is the pip (red arrow). The one you posted looks like it protrudes a lot further than the pip on mine, which is actually recessed relative to the metal border surrounding it.

.

 

The pip is the lume dot at 12:00. Note it should be a flat disk of lume, with I think a disk of glass on top on the one you show above it is a dome presumably of solid lume. That isn't right and has either been relume or much more likely the whole insert is fake/repro. Inserts are available on Ebay for £20 but none of these are genuine as Omega do not supply a separate insert, just the full bezel.

 

Got it, thanks to you both for a good, clear explanation!
Jeez, this makes vintage pocket watches feel like a walk in the park! I can spot the issues there in the dark, these are much more prevalent and subtle. Thanks again.