A story about my first Omega, then Rolex shortly after..

[Lakris]

Hi guys! First post on TRF!

I've been fascinated with watches and mechanical ones in particular for as long as I can remember. Had a lot of joy with some entry-level Seiko's in my youth. Late last year I decided it was time to invest in a proper watch, one that would follow me through life and eventually be passed down. My father has an old DJ from the 70's which he bought abroad for $200 and he has carried it with pride ever since.

I started doing research and was quickly drawn to dive watches. Eventhough not being a diver myself, the sturdiness and technical capabilites intrigued me. You can bring a dive watch on a plane, but you can't bring a pilot's watch down to 300m.. Probably mute points, but feelings are sometimes illogical. I was also drawn towards clean looking dials. Eventhough chrono's are useful, it feels a little bit sad that the only noticable moving part of the watch (secondshand) is confined into a small dial within the dial. The clean look of dials without date complication also was alluring.

After a lot if initial research I had limited it down to the Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial and the Rolex SubC nodate 114060. Boring and obvious choises some might say, but to me - pedigree and history is important. I would like to be able to buy a Picasso-like painting by some talented street artist and cherish it as much as a Picasso, but someting about human nature does not work like that. We take comfort from a well-established reputation of excellence.

The reason I went for the Omega 300 was the following:
- Exciting technology with Co-Axial and antimagnetic and 60hr powerreserve.
- Lovely vintage feel, being a remake of the original 1957 Omega Seamaster 300

I was also a bit "afraid" of buying a Rolex and the possible reactions I might get from people around me not simirarily interested in watches. Rolex has a lot of stigma attached to its brand, and eventhough it might be childish of me to think like that, it was a thought nonetheless.. I believed the Omega might go slightly more under the "radar".

After 3 months of honeymoon bliss with my 300 I found myself still reading about the 114060 every day.. I simply could not forget about it. I talked about pedigree and history previously and I really started to appreciate how Rolex remained true to their designs and principles. One thing that bothered me a bit about Omega was all of the hit and miss watches they have put out in the last 50 years. I fully understand that some like them, but compared to Rolex it seems that Omega has bent to the will of the day-to-day market (especially during the "Quartz-crisis"), a bit to their own detriment.

I bought the 300 mostly due to the history back to the 50's, but when looking at the evolution since, well it is a bit messy.. Rolex however stood by their design and looking back, most will agree it was the right decision. I was also thinking a redesign of a classic will never be a classic in its own right. The Sub is however a classic that has evolved in small increments over time, careful to never stray too far away from its origin.

So I then made the decision to buy the 114060 before I got too attached to the Omega, and as of this moment (had the Sub for 3 weeks) I'm convinced it was the right decision for me. It is everything I want from a watch. Clean look, excellent finish, virtually bombproof, intruiging history, impressive pedigree etc.

I will now sell the Omega (don't really need two no-date divers) and the 114060 will be my daily wearer, hopefully into the sunset

Pictures of both watches:

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[kultschar]

Nice post and I agree with most of it.

I think you made the correct decision

Enjoy!!

[CaputMortuum]

Very nice! Great watches.
Maybe you could keep them both and use the Omega on that leather strap. I think it looks pretty good!

[Tokyo Time]

OP, congrats on your decision

[thefatboy]

Congrats! If you can afford it though, keep both, they'll both get wrist time, especially with the Omega on that leather strap, it looks awesome!

I'm honeymooning with my BLNR right now while my Orange Planet Ocean 8500 XL relaxes in the safe and even though I love the BLNR to bits there's always that little itch to get the PO back on.

Give it a bit of time, I'm sure you'll find room for both.

[travisb]

Nice journey to end up with the 114060.

[Lakris]

Thanks all!
The Omega is a stunning watch, especially on a Nato. Didnt quite get to terms with the bracelet though. Very comfortable and well built, the rack-and-pusher adjustment is easier than the glidelock in my opinion (but may fall apart eventually...?). However, the transition bracelet/SEL became very angular as the lugs are straight, so if you don't have a large wrist the look isn't too good. But the straight lugs look excellent with Nato! The bezel action is good on the Omega, but the Rolex action is the stuff of dreams..

I will give the Omega a grace period, but I think it has to go. The 114060 is for me personally the better package. I (currently) have no plans on becoming a collector

[dr3ws]

I suppose they can co-exist? I was in the same position last year thinking of which to get and I bought a subC ND but now I'm still thinking about getting the omega. I might be getting one this year or if a new datejust came out then it will be the datejust. The omega looks good on bracelet, nato or leather where as the sub looks best only on bracelet.

[Lakris]

I agree that the Omega might be more versatile with regards to straps/nato. One issue though is the thickness. The Seamaster is already very thick, and with two layers of Nato underneath it's quite raised from the wrist. I actually got more and more comfortable with that look, but I might have too small wrists too carry it off completely (about 6,75" i guess).
The OEM leather NATO in the top picture is my favourite, but also the thickest
In the end I started wearing the bracelet more and more. Alternative straps is fun and refreshing, but the bracelet is the bread and butter. And that brushed 904L steel is something special...

[dr3ws]

Have you seen the OEM leather strap for SM300? the non NATO one, it looks really nice in that too.

I've been thinking about getting an everest rubber for my sub but the only reason I would do that is just to keep my bracelet pristine, IMO it downgrade the look. I didn't notice the difference between 904L steel at first, one day after washing my watch and under the lights in the mall, I notice how it shines differently, I don't know how to describe it but I was just "wow"

[Racerdj]

Congratulations on your first Rolex!

[Lakris]

I am considering the Everest as well! Really enjoyed this Hirsch Rubber on the SM300:
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Ordered a variety of straps on cheapestnatos just to play a bit around with the Sub and see how things feel. But its home is on the bracelet. Scratches are unavoidable, either you are comfortable with that or you can have it fixed when serviced. Either way, the bracelet is too awesome to be sitting on a shelf..

I guess the brushed 904 gives a whiter colour than 316, it certainly appears that way to me! And the lightplay makes it seem almost liquid..

[Lakris]

Originally Posted by dr3ws

Have you seen the OEM leather strap for SM300? the non NATO one, it looks really nice in that too.

Yeah it looks great, haven't bought it though. OEM's aren't cheap! The NATO I got was included in the purchase (some wear and tear from demoing) from the AD.

Thanks for the congrats everyone!

[nick c]

Congrats

[AK797]

Congrats, I chose a Subc over an Omega and joined this forum and the rest is well see my post count and beware...

[Rebel]

Unless you are in a cash crisis. Keep both. One can be used for straps, the other for bracelet. Got that base covered without having to switch out.

Congrats.

[Lakris]

Originally Posted by AK797

Congrats, I chose a Subc over an Omega and joined this forum and the rest is well see my post count and beware...

Wow.. 6 years and 23,282 posts. That's impressive!!

Which Omega did you consider?

[southcarolina1801]

Congrats on the 114060.

As far the Omega goes, I totally get what you're saying. Having owned many Omegas, I have a love-hate relationship with them. While I love the new Seamaster 300, the only Omega I plan to own in the future is a Speedmaster Professional. As far as history and lineage is concerned, it's the only Omega that has any pedigree.

[Daytona88]

Congrats

[rmlovett1]

Great choice!

[Vinyasa]

Originally Posted by Rebel

Unless you are in a cash crisis. Keep both. One can be used for straps, the other for bracelet. Got that base covered without having to switch out.

Congrats.

x2. That's what I'm doing. I have an Omega SP and just purchased a Hirsch leather strap to replace the OEM bracelet. It will complement my SD4000 nicely.

[Porter]

Nice watches! Welcome to the forum!!

[yld2rob]

Welcome! I have a Omega SM PO I got in 1999. I love the arrow hands and matte dial and larger size. It was my first REAL watch. Even though I have 2 modern subs now, I still love and wear the PO because it is different. Keep both if you can.

[SemperFi]

I agree with those above who advised to keep the Omega if possible. It's a beautiful watch whether or not it holds to past history and tradition of the brand or model.

[Lakris]

Thank you all for the replies and the warm welcome :)

I was planning on keeping the Omega for a while (a year maybe?), if it's not rotated in at all by that time I guess I should sell as planned.. Just need to get past the Sub honeymoon-phase and look at things objectively (might take a while..)! The watch that might replace it one day might be a Speedy, for the same reasons as @southcarolina1801 mentioned above. I do love a watch with history!

[kultschar]

Stick around here much longer and you will end up with a third!! :)

[Maiden]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[sea-dweller]

Congrats!

[Daryl]

Congrats


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[GordonC]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on the Rolex Sub!

As for the Omega... Why wait, trade it now for a Speedmaster Professional! I'm agreed that it is the only Omega with real history, make sure to get the proper moon watch version.