THE BATTLE OF THE SUPER WATCHES 2!!!

WaltherManiac

Here is the second Super Watch face off: This will cover the big arguement over the Submariner from the last one.
The Omega Seamaster Professional
VS
The Rolex Submariner.

My personal opinion would be the sub. I mean, it has been in countless Bond Films, has been around for ages, and is just an all around fine work of art.
Oh well, opinions differ...

Well here is the link:
http://www.rolexreferencepage.com/smpvssub.html

Higgins

... if you are talking about a battle of Superwatches, you should choose a Superwatch and not a Seamaster Professional.

Asp9mm

Bondtoys wrote:

... if you are talking about a battle of Superwatches, you should choose a Superwatch and not a Seamaster Professional.

{[]

Higgins

don't tell Sam, Asp9mm

Clarky

I have serious reservations with the conclusions of the ease of bezel use in that article. I have both a sub and a smp. That guys has never dived with his smp. The bezel is very difficult to turn in wet conditions. It is very slick. The sub has a much higher bezel grip profile.

Higgins

yes, and the "clicks" are the result of a plastic part on the Seamaster.... and.....and...

It is really not a fair competition between equals, though the author seems to have a different opinion in his "writing-desk-battle".

Asp9mm

Clarky wrote:

I have serious reservations with the conclusions of the ease of bezel use in that article. I have both a sub and a smp. That guys has never dived with his smp. The bezel is very difficult to turn in wet conditions. It is very slick. The sub has a much higher bezel grip profile.

Yeah, the bezel is a nightmare, and very far from easy to use when wet. And the Planet Ocean isn't that much better surprisingly. It is not as slick and impossible to turn when wet, but it still is difficult to torn when wet, and needs at least a couple of goes to get the pointer on the minute hand. The other problem I had with the Seamaster bracelet was the fact that sand gets into the clasp springs, which prevents it from closing. Even worse. After I had cleaned it up and managed to close it, I couldn't open the bloody thing. For all the criticizm that the Sub bracelet gets over the SMP, I have never had this problem with my Sub or SD. I also use an Explorer 1 when I go bushcrafting and this gets muck and dirt all over it, no worries about small parts and holes getting clogged up on any Oyster bracelet {[]

Higgins

{[] exactly.
It seems to me, that most people, who praise the Omega clasp over the "simple and outdated" oyster bracelet and clasp, have never really used both watches. The Omega clasp looks nice indeed, but that's all, you can say.

Clarky

The other problem I had with the Seamaster bracelet was the fact that sand gets into the clasp springs, which prevents it from closing. Even worse. After I had cleaned it up and managed to close it, I couldn't open the bloody thing.

This is a very good point. I never really liked diving with my SMP. I didn't have that problem with mine, but I could see how it can happen. The problem I had with the clasp on mine was when I had a long sleeved wetsuit on the clasp would deploy from the pressure between my sleeve and the butt of my palm. Let me tell you when that happens in the ocean and there is 150 feet below you, it's time to wash the wet suit! I fortunately carry a spare watch on my dives. I changed up to an old Chronosport Sea Quartz. That is one of my favourites. I took my SMP to the Omega dealer and they adjusted the clasp but I still don't completely trust it.

I just bought a Planet Ocean in March. I very much like it. I haven't dived with it yet but the bezel is much better than the SMP. It seems more functional. It is easier to grip than the Sub, but not by a lot. I bought the PO with the rubber strap a la Bond. I will have to say I love the strap. It is the best rubber strap of any that I own, except for one thing. It is not long enough for wetsuit diving. I am considering writing a letter to Omega with my concerns. I doubt they will care too much, but if I were a professional diver I would choose a different watch to dive with. Even as a recreational diver I typically use a Doxa or Chronosport.

00-Agent

The choice for me was the SMP, due to the price (and I really like the blue color). I think it is hard to argue that for the money the SMP is the better value. Now if money were no object I would own both.:D I am not a diver, so like most people (I suspect) the issue of how hard the bezel is to turn when wet and sand getting into the clasp are not an issue. My watch only gets wet when I take a dip in the pool or when I am cleaning it. Practically speaking there is not enough of a difference to justify the difference in price (if you can say that when talking about spending thousands of dollars for a watch).

Deep down inside though, I still would like to get the Submariner and will probably break down and buy it eventually. There is something intangible that just makes the Submariner seem better. I sometimes wonder if I had bought the Sub instead, if I would still lust after the SMP.

Clarky

I sometimes wonder if I had bought the Sub instead, if I would still lust after the SMP.

Yes you would, I did. I had my Sub first then I bought the SMP. Then I bought a GMT, then another sub, a vintage one, then a IWC, then a Doxa, then the Planet Ocean. Once you go down the path of luxury watch buying it can be an obsession. It is the desire for perfection. If I just get this one more item my collection will be complete. I have been fortunate in my life, to be able to afford all of the accoutrements, I'm afraid if I didn't have the money I'd still buy the same stuff.

Asp9mm

Subs all the way, suplemented by a liberal sprinkling of Panarai's {[]

WaltherManiac

Here here!!!