PO 2500 vs PO 8500 Comparative Review

[jstroh]

Great comparison review.

I much prefer the closed font of the numbers on the 8500 and the silver-on-black date wheel. These and other changes, in fact, led me to buy the 45.5mm 8500.

[alnilam78]

...8500 is a great movement...my new Planet Ocean is fantastic!!!
...greetings from Italy!!!

[Kaprish]

Outstanding review, many thanks .... Helped me to pick up the XL 2500 after months of indecision. Got a great price for it also :). Hasn't left my hand for a week.

[glimmer]

Thanks for the excellent review!

[ncrad08]

Wow, excellent review! It makes me feel much better about getting the 8500 - I did consider the 2500 and the savings for some time but after that review I feel even stronger that I made the right choice. The first point in your review really struck me the most. That is one of the biggest improvements in my opinion.

[antoun]

Nice comparison.

[AK797]

Thanks Id only buy the 8500.

[RolexPete]

And I would only (and did) buy the 2500. Different strokes.....

[shocken2]

Originally Posted by bmendick1

Another detail that does not show through in the photo is the color of the lume on the indices during the day. The 2500 indices have a very yellow/green color to them, where the 8500 is pure white.

I can't tell a difference in the "daytime" color of the 8500 minute and hour hands. I wonder if they adjusted to make them match in the light yet still give off blue/green lume.

[Survivor]

After the review and responses, it is truly amazing how people can draw such variant and different conclusions from the same article. As far as I'm concerned, for the money, for the classic look of a diver and for the way it sits on one's wrist, the 2500 has always been the PO of choice for me. Don't get me wrong............the 8500 is stunning and a mechanical masterpiece............a watch anyone would be proud to own and wear. Nevertheless, the bulkiness, the washed out bezel and the price makes it a runner up for me when put up against the 2500.

Here's mine........

[Cuts33]

Originally Posted by shocken2

I can't tell a difference in the "daytime" color of the 8500 minute and hour hands. I wonder if they adjusted to make them match in the light yet still give off blue/green lume.

I think I understand what you are asking.

The hands and markers on the 8500 are all white. The lume as you mentioned is blue except for the bezel pip and the minute hand. I don't know if Omega uses their own lume or Superluminova.

If it is Superluminova, it would likely be a combination of BGW9 and C1.

Both paint on white but BGW9 glows blue while C1 glows green.

[RolexPete]

Originally Posted by Survivor

After the review and responses, it is truly amazing how people can draw such variant and different conclusions from the same article. As far as I'm concerned, for the money, for the classic look of a diver and for the way it sits on one's wrist, the 2500 has always been the PO of choice for me. Don't get me wrong............the 8500 is stunning and a mechanical masterpiece............a watch anyone would be proud to own and wear. Nevertheless, the bulkiness, the washed out bezel and the price makes it a runner up for me when put up against the 2500.

Here's mine........

Agreed, and here is mine on the old style mesh:

[improviz]

Originally Posted by Survivor

Here's mine........

I believe that's a stock photo taken from Omega's website, not a photo of "your" watch.

[Jase0851]

Good review, are the bracelets interchangeable ?

[prndaggerx]

Fantastic Review. For an Omega newbie, this definitely helps distinguish the two.

[Jeepman464]

I actually have the 8500 and am actively looking to trade for a 2500 due solely to the thickness issue. I guess my wrist just can't handle the big boy!

[dconner2006]

In regrads to accuracy, I have the 9300 movement and find if I put it on its side at night, its is 0 sec/day, if I out it flat it is about +5 sec/day

[Ageing Orphan]

Excellent review, well done and thanks for taking the time to write and post it. I'm still loving my xl PO 8500.

[KeepTicking]

Originally Posted by Jase0851

Good review, are the bracelets interchangeable ?

No they aren't, the end links on the 8500 are much thicker to accommodate the thicker case.

[GermanyMatt]

I tried both on and found the new PO to be too thick for my tastes. Had Omega kept the demensions the same, I would have snagged the newer model, but I prefer something that's closer in size to my Sub. At least I got a 2500D movement. Both are great choices, so you can't go wrong with either.

[double]

The one thing I don't like on the new 8500 is the hands. The 2500 hands look way better in my opinion. The 8500 hands are too fat.

[venom43]

Great review.... You have answered all my questions. Luckily I have the old 2500 which in a way looks vintage and not as thick and heavy as the new 8500. But the po lm limited edition can't be beat. It has all the new things he liked about the 8500, but a much better bezel/dial combo.

[crombie]

The one thing that does not appeal to me are the shape of the hands. Does anyone know if they are replaceable (on the 2500) with older SM Pro 300 hands?

[Tools]

Year old thread... Interesting, but not worth reviving...