Another "Which one to choose" thread :)

[Sky..]

I've been torn between 4 watches. Coincidentally, 2 are rolex models and 2 are omega models. :P (Rolex Sub and GMT Master) and these 2 from omega:


http://www.prestigetime.com/item.php?item_id=2272

and

http://www.prestigetime.com/item.php?item_id=818


I equally love the looks on both watches. I love the GMT function on the Seamaster, but then there's something about having a manual wind watch that interests me. Any other differences between the two that I should know about? :D

Another question is, when it comes to Omegas, is older usually better? Like what's the difference between a Seamaster/Speedy from the 70s and 80s compared to the new ones?

Thanks!

[Letsgodiving]

I'm not an expert on Omega but for me the choice would be the Speedmaster without a doubt. To me it is the iconic Omega with such a rich history and personally I love the aesthetics of the watch. I would love to have a manual wind as a second watch and you just can't go wrong with this one imo. The only negative I've heard is that the crown is relatively small and can be a little difficult to wind but that is a very small issue in my book. The Seamaster obviously has a much higher water resistance which could be a deciding factor for some and if you do a lot of traveling the GMT feature can be helpful.

I'm pretty much a 1 watch person but if I do get another it will be a clear caseback manual wind Speedy. Good luck.

[Sky..]

Oh yeah, I think I chose the wrong "version" for the links. :P But for the Speedy, I'd choose the transparent back too.

I agree, the Speedy is much more iconic in looks. But then, I really like the way the Seamaster looks. :( Tough decision here.

[Mike B]

I have owned the GMT before (except the other version, the one with the white face). I definitely prefer the Speedmaster by FAR. History for one, and dependability for another. Both watches are very dependable, however, if you don't mind a manual winder for a watch, the Speedmaster is for you ! With the NASA history, etc. I would LOVE to get my hands on one !

[ROGERB]

I own a Gmt White face Omega, but as I believe the Sub is THE iconic Rolex, The Speedmaster manual wind is the iconic Omega!!
IMHO
R

[jmsrolls]

The Speedy Pro should be in every watch collection. I've owned quite a few over the years but my grail is the 105.012 I now have:

This is the same model worn by Neil and the other moon walkers - a true moon watch.

Like the Speedy, the black GMT is a classic as well. I've owned the "Great White":

but unfortunately, the case is too thick to fit comfortably under a shirt cuff. For that reason, it has been replaced by my EXPII, another classic.

If I had to choose between the Speedy and the GMT, I would (and did) go Speedy. And I went vintage because I wanted the real thing.

Fr. John+

[kelly56]

I purchased an Omega SMP 11 years ago after considering the Speedmaster Pro and have regretted that decision. The Speedy is an awesome watch. It's the next on my list.

[Perdu]

If you want a GMT function and a manual wind, then that would be the Rolex GMT and the Speedie.

[Sky..]

I do love the "iconic" look of the Speedy, and the fact that it's a manual wind (it interests me). What about the "age" of a Speedy? Is older = better? Are there certain years that are considered better than others? Or I'm better off just getting a new one?

[Ken Cox]

I've worn a Rolex GMT Master II for 22 years and, from my experience with time zones and GMT-type watches, unless the Seamaster has a "jumping" hour hand, as does the Rolex, then the GMT aspect has little practical function when traveling.

Someone please correct me if I have this wrong, but, I think one would need to upgrade to the magnificent Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow GMT in order to enjoy the "jumping" hour hand.

http://www.prestigetime.com/item.php?item_id=5568

The watch above costs $4800 and has only a 100M depth rating; however, this depth rating will allow one to wear this watch for swimming and athletic activities with total confidence in its ability to resist damage due to moisture.

Three thousand dollars over the price of the Seamaster 300M GMT seems a lot of money for a "jumping" hour hand.

As for the appearance of the Seamaster 300M GMT, I find the dial very cluttered and unreadable.
Ironically, I find the white face version of this watch very readable, and I also prefer the aesthetics of the single-color bezel on the "Great White."
If we included the "Great White" in this comparison, I'd have to rethink this a little.

All the above said, the Speedmaster Pro has the most readable dial face of any watch I have ever seen.
The recent thread of Speedmaster Pro wrist shots reveals this watch, in my mind, as the handsomest and most "present" of all the watches on the market today.
Additionally, the Speedmaster Pro does not have the negative stigma that the Rolex often carries with it, nor the appearance (in the eyes of non-afficianados) of a Rolex wannabe.

Regarding the manual-winding and the transparent back: the absence of the rotor necessary for automatic-winding makes the inner works of the Speedmaster Pro much more visible and observable than the inner works of an automatic-winding watch with a rotor.
Because of this observability, Omega gives special attention to the finish and aesthetics of those Speedmaster Pro's which have a transparent back; and, so much so that Omega gives the observable movement a different designation than the non-observable movement (and charges $600 extra for the transparent back, better-finished movement, and sapphire crystal).

I have one manual-winding watch, and I find the morning ritual of winding it a moment of aesthetic intimacy and a daily new appreciation of this watch's beauty.
I also find this a good time to set the watch, and thus I enjoy better time-keeping with this watch than I do with my automatic-winding watch, which I allow to drift more in time accuracy before resetting it (plus four seconds per day, or two minutes a month).

Finally, NASA chose the Speedmaster Pro for a reason.

And, NASA continues to issue the Speedmaster Pro to new astronauts for a reason.

Wouldn't Rolex or one of the other prestigious watch-manufacturers love to have American astronauts wearing their watch?

And yet, American astronauts continue to wear the Speedmaster Pro.

I love my Rolex GMT Master II, but I cannot rest until I have saved up enough money for a Speedmaster Pro.

Happily, Omega asks a realistic and reasonable price for the Speedmaster Professional.

=====

Edited to add a Post Script:

I imagine myself in a room full of people wearing Rolexes, and I find it very satisfying to have (in my imagination) an Omega Speedmaster Professional with a leather or NATO band on my wrist.
It would give me even more pleasure if one of those people wearing a Rolex had a Daytona on his wrist.

Sick, eh?