I'm REALLY close to ordering one of these, I've been due a new watch for a while, looking at a few, but the vintage feel, with everyday reliability of these just keeps me coming back to them. I don't have to care about the dial, or the hands, or the bezel because none of it is original anyway, the lume is incredible, the military tool watch look is simply badass.

I still don't know whether to go date or no date, but I'm wondering what you guys think of this. Just to clarify this watch is not a homage or a replica, but rather a genuine parts built modern make, much like the Shelby GT500s super-snakes made recently and currently produced Delorean DMC-12s every part on this is new-old-stock except for the movement, which is a genuine, freshly serviced Omega vintage movement. The lume is Super-Luminova and glows brightly and the watch is waterproof to 200M

 

I was expecting you bring the wrath of god originality wise, I'm wondering are there collectors that frown on these for what they are? I mean effectively if you took a ruined SM300 and sent it to Bienne, this isn't far from what you would get back, but at the same time, I know the movement is from a shagged out Constellation or the like.

Its staggeringly impressive that Omega cares enough to keep manufacturing Super-Luminova versions of pieces this old.

 

Something else I meant to ask, the Cal 562 is the non-chronometer spec version of the Cal 561, is there any physical difference or did they simply not bother geting a COSC certificate for the 562? The movement being old, and unserviced but working in the case of the cheaper SM300s, how bad are they typically to get back into COSC spec condition? The difference between a serviced, brand new condition movement model and a non-serviced movement model seems to be about $1k, which hardly seems worth it given you can pick up Cal 562 Seamasters with bad dials for $200.

 

You know it's occurred to me that these things have a lot in common with your Speedmaster Pro, which is effectively a recently produced, wearable, reliable version of a vintage watch, although made by the mothership rather than an independent.

 

I'm looking at two sets of pricing here, one for $2,200 appears to have an unserviced, reasonable running order movement, while the $3,000 version has a fully serviced, as-new movement. I'm thinking for the price difference I'm better off with the $2,200 version and having it serviced if and when needed rather than going for the $3k version.

 

Think I'm getting closer to settling on the No-Date version, its just so much cleaner:




Here's a youtube video of the watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC-ln9j1hu8

IMO the mesh captures the vintage Omega diver look so much better than the semi-oyster bracelet, far too submariner-ish, mesh just makes me think Omega.

 

They're holding firm at $2100 AUD... will wait a bit longer in the hopes that AUD recovers a little then go for it I think, ND of course.

 

You'd better. +1 for symmetry, it's a beautiful thing.

 

Well, the SM300 is ordered, ND version on mesh:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170696018996#ht_6865wt_1065Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

Bought at @2245 USD (2395 AUD) which is... steep, but it looks like they're insisting on USD as they're probably paying for their parts in USD.

Given that it looks like the AUD is about to slide hard, was the best of a few bad options.

 

I kept on his case about the ND and clean symmetry. Ashley kept saying he needed the date

 

What are you, my shorter Canadian mother?

 

When you start with all the crazy-talk about needing the date window, yes. Yes I am.

In all seriousness, I bet that dial looks so clean in person. I think you did well buying that model.

 

Full review here: http://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-seamaster-300-review.221/ =)