How one Pre-Owned Watch changed the way I viewed Omega.
Posted by Oscar Galban on Feb 24th 2020
Growing up as a kid in South Florida during the late 80's early 90’s, I would say Rolex was the brand I was exposed to the most. It’s was pretty common growing up to hear “Ñooo qué clase Rolex" (Damn what a Rolex in Spanish/Cuban). Naturally I wanted a Rolex as I got older and got bit by the bug for a luxury watch, and Panerai got my attention. Wanting to be a little different and loving the overall look of a Panerai, I got a Pam392. (More about this story in the future).
Omega was to me what I thought second tier, and not at the same prestigious level as some other brands. So I kind of gave Omega the cold-shoulder, I MESSED UP! I do most of the photography at Second Time and get to handle all kinds of beautiful timepieces. Since I’m a complete novice in the watch world, I might give a little bit of a different view from let’s say, OJ Whatley or Paul Erhaurt (Paul is a big Omega fan). Both of which I consider watch aficionados in the new and pre-owned watch industry. So which watch did it for me?! I bet you're thinking...the Omega Dark Side of The Moon we had in stock a few weeks back. Nope, it was the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m 42mm in Stainless Steel. Don’t get me wrong, the Dark Side of The Moon was pretty amazing, but at the time we were extremely busy and it was gone before I knew it. I just really did not get the time to appreciate it.
A few days ago, I was photographing the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. I placed it on my wrist and something just felt "right". The way it hugged my wrist, the comfort and I kept catching myself continually glancing at it. As I try to capture what I believe are the details that make Omega so loved. The way the minute hand, hour hand and markers are beveled. At first I thought it was for aesthetics, but in reality it was for the exact season I kept glancing at it earlier.
The beveled edges capture minimal light and make the watch extremely legible from any angle (also making it a nightmare to photograph). Then I notice why the point of the seconds hand was colored. If you happen to look at the time as the seconds hand is going over a marker, you get a crystal clear reading. As the tip of the orange second hand approaches over the black dial with it's flawless textured finish, I noticed how perfect the orange contrasts on Seamaster and as well the seconds hand. The orange is bright, but not loud. Trying to capture the markers on the unidirectional bezel, I noticed the shimmer of the black ceramic bezel. When I rotated the bezel, I felt the precision of each strong click with almost zero play. This is critical to divers as it’s a fail safe, preventing the bezel from moving under water. In case there is an instrumental failure, the diver will still be able to tell the time remaining in the water with minimal calculations.
Now, onto the case. The top angles are polished and the sides are brushed. The extra touch of how the polished areas follow the curves down the lugs is perfectly executed. Being that most of what I have noticed has been aesthetically pleasing but with keeping usability in mind. I can’t help but wonder how well the brushed side will help minimize signs of scratches of everyday use. On the other side of the case, you see the helium escape valve (See dive watches 101), the case back is transparent displaying the inner movement. It has some tooling marks that almost recreate rays of sunshine in the water. As I move on to the strap, I can’t help but remember how comfortable it was on my wrist. At first glance it looks, wears and even has stitching along the edges like a leather strap but it’s rubber. The rubber I would say has a medium firmness to it, which I believe helps keep the Seamaster from shifting on my wrist while still maintaining a comfortable lose fit. The clasp has a two-button release system which to me seems very secure and I don’t see it coming undone very easily. As I turn off the light to capture the white Super luminova, I noticed that the majority of the markers glow blue in the dark, while the dot on the bezel and the minute hand glows in green. This makes it easier for the diver to process critical information under the water.
Wow, Omega has my attention now! With how they executed all the small details and usability, it’s easy to see why Omega is so loved so much. I think OJ hit the nail on the head (I may regret saying this later, lol) with “Everything is better the second time ”.
Will I end up with an Omega, only time will tell...but I'm leaning towards a "yes".
Which watch changed the way you felt about a brand?
More on Omega.
Thoughts on the Wrist: The Omega Seamaster Diver
Chronograph
Paul's thoughts on the brand new Omega Seamaster Diver Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph, with some historical context provided by his favorite personal watch.
*Disclaimer*
I am not a watch expert or claim to be. All content is reviewed by OJ Whatley and Paul Erhardt to assure no false information was given. This is an article from the perspective of "the new guy" that may see differently then someone with extensive knowledge.