- Posts
- 1,525
- Likes
- 5,486
Robert-Jan
路路#SpeedyTuesdayI'll admit it, I am your typical desk diver. Although I live very close to the (North) Sea, I don't particularly like swimming. Or diving for that matter. I do like diving watches though, mainly because of their appearance. The watch I am wearing today wouldn't be my first choice though. I bought with a different reason.
I used to have a Seamaster Pro 'Bond' 2531.80, I bought it in 2000 (still being a student). I actually had more of them later, but let's stick to this one. I even ordered the COSC certificate that belonged to the watch. A service that OMEGA had in those days (perhaps they still have it, I don't know). It was my daily beater for a couple of years and had it next to my Constellation (a graduation gift) and Speedmaster Pro caliber 321 (my first 'real' watch). Before I bought this Seamaster 2531.80, I also had a look at the chronograph version. In stainless steel. But it was too clunky (especially for that time, and also especially for my skinny wrists.. also at that time). As I learned later, the ETA/Valjoux 7750 movement wasn't my cup of tea either.
Fast forward approx 10 years. I don't own any Seamaster 300M watches anymore, still don't like the Valjoux 7750 movement and don't like titanium watches. There is almost no reason for me to own a Seamaster 300M model, with a Valjoux movement and crafted from the light-weight material called titanium.
However, during a business trip to New York City I thought I would contact Bill Sohne. You probably have heard of him. Perhaps not, in short: he is the moderator of another forum and we shared a mutual watch friend: Chuck Maddox. I'll bet you've heard of him. If not, go shame & google.
We didn't meet before and we lost contact for quite a while. But I knew he was located in or near NYC. So when I was finished doing the business I had to do in the Big Apple, I texted Bill and we met near his work and sat down in a small cafe. We talked watches and sooner than later, we ended up talking about Chuck Maddox. Although many people think - and it is definitely the case regarding Speedmasters - his holy grail was the Lemania 5100 driven Speedmaster Automatic from the 1980s, his true favorite modern watch was this Seamaster Professional Chronograph Diver (300M) in titanium. He wrote me that in an e-mail conversation we had, lengthy as always and he told Bill Sohne the same thing. According to Chuck, this watch was modern, had a solid performing movement, date feature, a chrono that could be operated under water, chronometer rating, light-weight and a diving bezel. The ultimate Chuck Maddox watch. It was in his daily rotation programme, as he wrote me.
Bill Sohne told me he got one, just because he was convinced it must be a great watch if Chuck Maddox told him so. After our meeting in NYC, I flew back home the next day and once I got there, I started looking for a reference 2298.80 Chronograph Diver as well. And I found one. In my own city and for a great price. Without papers, but with box and in good condition.
So, there I am. With a watch I would have never bought (or considered) myself. But I am happy with it. The late Chuck Maddox was right, it is a light-weight all-rounder with a solid movement. The bracelet looks a bit out dated in my opinion. The case has that 'rounded' 1990s look and feel, especially when it comes to the crown guards. It goes perfectly with the 1991 re-edition Nike Air Max 180s I bought last week. However, the watch is great. Although a similar watch is still in production, it is nowhere close to the current Seamaster Planet Ocean models with in-house developed movements and a more timeless design. On the other hand, Chuck Maddox probably would have complained about the price tag on the new Seamaster PO Chrono with caliber 9300. And that it would be too heavy and thick. I will stick to this 2298.80 for now, being the desk diver that I am. It is my tribute watch to Chuck Maddox, although we got in touch in 1999 because of our love for the Speedmaster in the first place.
I hope I didn't bore you with my rant about this Seamaster 馃榾 If you are still reading, probably not....
RJ
I used to have a Seamaster Pro 'Bond' 2531.80, I bought it in 2000 (still being a student). I actually had more of them later, but let's stick to this one. I even ordered the COSC certificate that belonged to the watch. A service that OMEGA had in those days (perhaps they still have it, I don't know). It was my daily beater for a couple of years and had it next to my Constellation (a graduation gift) and Speedmaster Pro caliber 321 (my first 'real' watch). Before I bought this Seamaster 2531.80, I also had a look at the chronograph version. In stainless steel. But it was too clunky (especially for that time, and also especially for my skinny wrists.. also at that time). As I learned later, the ETA/Valjoux 7750 movement wasn't my cup of tea either.
Fast forward approx 10 years. I don't own any Seamaster 300M watches anymore, still don't like the Valjoux 7750 movement and don't like titanium watches. There is almost no reason for me to own a Seamaster 300M model, with a Valjoux movement and crafted from the light-weight material called titanium.
However, during a business trip to New York City I thought I would contact Bill Sohne. You probably have heard of him. Perhaps not, in short: he is the moderator of another forum and we shared a mutual watch friend: Chuck Maddox. I'll bet you've heard of him. If not, go shame & google.
We didn't meet before and we lost contact for quite a while. But I knew he was located in or near NYC. So when I was finished doing the business I had to do in the Big Apple, I texted Bill and we met near his work and sat down in a small cafe. We talked watches and sooner than later, we ended up talking about Chuck Maddox. Although many people think - and it is definitely the case regarding Speedmasters - his holy grail was the Lemania 5100 driven Speedmaster Automatic from the 1980s, his true favorite modern watch was this Seamaster Professional Chronograph Diver (300M) in titanium. He wrote me that in an e-mail conversation we had, lengthy as always and he told Bill Sohne the same thing. According to Chuck, this watch was modern, had a solid performing movement, date feature, a chrono that could be operated under water, chronometer rating, light-weight and a diving bezel. The ultimate Chuck Maddox watch. It was in his daily rotation programme, as he wrote me.
Bill Sohne told me he got one, just because he was convinced it must be a great watch if Chuck Maddox told him so. After our meeting in NYC, I flew back home the next day and once I got there, I started looking for a reference 2298.80 Chronograph Diver as well. And I found one. In my own city and for a great price. Without papers, but with box and in good condition.
So, there I am. With a watch I would have never bought (or considered) myself. But I am happy with it. The late Chuck Maddox was right, it is a light-weight all-rounder with a solid movement. The bracelet looks a bit out dated in my opinion. The case has that 'rounded' 1990s look and feel, especially when it comes to the crown guards. It goes perfectly with the 1991 re-edition Nike Air Max 180s I bought last week. However, the watch is great. Although a similar watch is still in production, it is nowhere close to the current Seamaster Planet Ocean models with in-house developed movements and a more timeless design. On the other hand, Chuck Maddox probably would have complained about the price tag on the new Seamaster PO Chrono with caliber 9300. And that it would be too heavy and thick. I will stick to this 2298.80 for now, being the desk diver that I am. It is my tribute watch to Chuck Maddox, although we got in touch in 1999 because of our love for the Speedmaster in the first place.
I hope I didn't bore you with my rant about this Seamaster 馃榾 If you are still reading, probably not....
RJ
