- Revisited...
- Of
Seamasters, Speedmasters & uddah
t'ings...
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Originally
written by Chuck
Maddox
 ,
in September 1999,
- First TZ
Classic posting (889) 24 October 1999,
- Last
Revised: 10 October 2004, 01:25
GMT
-
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[Authors
Note: Back in September 1999 Jeff Huber
posted a thread in the Omega forum titled
“Seamaster Pro Chrono Owners, lend me
your ears!”. I had posted one of my
typical long winded replies. After briefly
losing a print out of the post I re-typed it
and posted it as my first TZ Classic. Since
then I have learned a good deal about the
nuances of posting HTML in a message on TZ
and also have acquired decent photographic
capabilities for posting pictures of my
watches. So in the spirit of revision and
improvement, I am revisiting my earlier TZ
Classic posts and refreshing them with
additional thoughts, links and scans. I hope
you enjoy this update... --
Chuck]
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- While I have only owned
my Titanium Seamaster for only about two weeks, I have
wanted one since I first saw one. My reaction when I
first saw one some years previously was the same as
when Steve McQueen and James Garner test their
prison-brew moonshine in the movie "The
Great Escape"...
"WOW!!!"
-
 -
- Reference
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Width
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Number:
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Calibre:
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Description:
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Height:
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w/Crown:
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w/o
Crown:
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Thickness:
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Weight:
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Notes:
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2298.80
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c.1154
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Pro
Chrono Ti/Ti
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49mm
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46mm
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43.7mm
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16.5mm
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142.7g
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Current
model Seamaster with Valjoux 7750 base
movement.
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I have to contrast some comments that others have made
about the Seamaster. First off, at least in the
Titanium version, the Seamaster Chrono is not
that heavy. As it tips the scales at 142.7
grams, I own several watches that are heavier,
including four Omegas:
-
- It isn't the largest
watch either... My Sinn
Space One Titanium
dwarfs it in size. Interestingly enough the Sinn is
also lighter at 125.5g, it must be the plastic parts
in the 5100 movement!. I've read that the Stainless
Steel version of this watch weighs 206 grams. So, If
weight is a serious consideration hold out for the
Titanium model. Another excellent Titanium watch
similar to the Sinn is the Tutima NATO Chronograph.
It's size is somewhat smaller than the Space One, but
it shares absolute outstanding nighttime visibility.
The best of any watch I own. The Seamaster
Professional Chronograph also has excellent nighttime
visibility in the same league as these two watches,
but not _quite_ as good because of the skeleton hands.
An example of the SeMPC's nighttime visibility
follows.
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--
Photo graciously contributed by Ghost
Rider
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-
- The Seamaster bracelet
is not _the_ most comfortable I've ever warn either...
It's a close fourth behind my TAG-Heuer
Kirium Chrono, my
Omega
Speedsonic Lobstertail
and my IWC-Porsche
Design Chrono with a Delryn
bracelet.
-
- Regardless of your
opinions on TAG-Heuer the next time you are in a store
that carries the Kirium Chrono, try one on. It's an
amazing bracelet. The bracelet itself feels like a
strong band of liquid metal. My wrist goes
“Ahhhh” when I slide the Kirium onto my
wrist. I do have to say that the clasp on the
Seamaster is the best I've ever seen. Secure, easy to
open when intending to do so, and the “Z”
fits oh so flush with the buckle. To be brutally frank
the Seamaster clasp is what Rolex clasps dream of
being when their owners let their power reserve run
down.
-
- The strong points of the
IWC-PD's Delryn bracelet are: It is nearly as
comfortable as the Kirium, the material of the
bracelet never feels hot or cold to the skin, and best
of all for me, because it is made of a polymer it does
not mar the surface of my laptop as a metal bracelet
or strap buckle could. On DuPont's (the maker of
Delryn) website described as “a
plastic with metal-like
qualities”.
The case itself is made of Aluminum (years before
Bvlgari trotted out an Aluminum cased watch), while
the case back and internal "Z" of the clasp is made of
Titanium. Delryn, aluminum and titanium, all in one
watch... Who said Rado had the lock on exotic
materials!
Another interesting
contrast between this Porsche Design and the Seamaster
is that it is quite a bit smaller than the Seamaster
Pro Chrono, especially when you realize that they
share the same base movement (V. 7750). The PD omits
the Bezel and is not much bigger than the crystal
alone of the Seamaster as a result. But as for wearing
comfort, it is really very close between these three
Chronos as long as you discount weight and size in the
case of the Porsche Design.
-
- One thing to remember
about the Seamaster Pro Chrono is how few Chronometer
- Chronographs there are on the market. I'm really
attracted to both the Ventura
V-Matic and
Loga.
But they are not really a sport watch per se. As of
the past year or two Breitling has been certifying
more and more of their offerings as C.O.S.C.
Chronometers, they warrant a look as well. However, I
have never been able to fathom the street prices on
Rolex Daytona's... I mean one could get a Zenith
El-Primero AND a Seamaster Chrono (in Titanium, no
less) for less money than the street price of a
Stainless Steel Daytona. One of these days I aspire to
have more money than common sense too, but I guess I
prefer having more sense to begin with. =) Seriously,
Rolexphiles... I do hope that Rolex figures out a way
to increase production of the Daytona without quality
control problems. Perhaps their new in-house
Chronograph movement will be the means by which this
problem is alleviated. I wouldn't mind owning a
Daytona. But not at $6,500 plus. Perhaps their
new movement will allow them to produce more Daytona's
although I've heard that they have no plans to
increase production. It's more their loss than
mine...
-
- One of the things that I
really find notable about the Seamaster Chrono is the
attention to detail. Unlike my Titanium
Porsche Design Chrono,
or Kirium, the Seamaster doesn't have an integrated
bracelet/case. It has more traditional lugs. However
the design is nothing short of amazing. It is as solid
as any integrated bracelet/case I've ever seen, and
far superior to the Sinn Space One or Tutima NATO
Chronograph. Another interesting touch is the wave
design dial. In differing light conditions it looks
black or navy and the wave pattern doesn't distract
from the viewability in any way. The bright metal
rings that frame the sub-dials is another fine detail
that one doesn't notice except on close examination.
And finally the one that floors me is the placement of
the large luminous dot on the large second hand
"Eclipses" the axle on the top subdial when at rest
and eclipses the other axles as it rotates when the
Chrono function is in operation. BRILLIANT!!! These
folks were paying attention here!
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- The Seamaster Pro
Chronograph is attractive because it is the watch that
“has it all”... Chronometer rating,
Automatic Winding mechanical movement with excellent
durability and parts availablity, Chronograph,
Calendar, Helium Release Valve, Saphire Crystal, an
absolutely incredible bracelet w/divers extension
& twin push button safety release, non-slip
caseback, available in a variety of material's:
dial/bezel colors, great water resistance rating, and
the show stopper: the unmatched ability to operate the
chronograph underwater without compromising the Water
Resistance of the watch. No other mechanical watch
boasts that feature. Jeff Huber and I (among many many
others) say it's the best sports chronograph on the
market, and you know what... People don't argue that
point with us. There is nothing out there that does
what this watch does at any price, much less the price
point one can obtain one for.
-
- (Note:
as of January 2003 TAG-Heuer
announced the AquaGraph
2000,
a new chronograph with a 500m water resistance
rating with underwater operable pushers... The AG2k
will likely be a staunch competitor for the
SeMPC
and SeMPC-2
America's Cup
and SeMPC
Regatta/Racing
models... At this point TAG-Heuer has announced the
AG2k and is heavily promoting it in advance of
Basel 2003 but no details on pricing or
availability are known as of the date of this
revision, 06-February-2003).
-
- Oh, I do love the
Speedmasters
as well. But I do think that for most folks a
Seamaster is a more practical decision. Better water
resistance, stronger more scratch resistant crystal,
automatic movement, more variety in terms of case
materials (SS, Ti, Au), etc. The Speedmaster is like
the '57 Thunderbird with the porthole top or the '63
Split window Corvette Coupe that shouldn't be touched
because it's a classic, timeless and came from the
factory soooo close to perfection. The Seamaster is
the new classic that we will be speaking of in revered
tones in 10, 20 and 30 years from now in the same way
people who bought their prized Speedmaster's in the
'60's and '70's do today.
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- -- Chuck
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Acknowledgments...
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank Ghost Rider for his
contribution to this article.
Statement
of rights retained and permissions granted...
Permission for personal,
educational or noncommercial use is granted. The author
retains all other rights not specifically mentioned
here...
For all other use please contact
the author. If
you have information about this watch please
contact
the author so
that I may update this article... Thanks!
- Disclaimer: Opinions
are my own and knowing me should be taken with a grain
or two of salt...
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