starman351

Hello Gang received my PO today. Mine has a black date wheel with silver date

It must be white I think.

Also the Markers are a bit creamy greenish.

I'm a bit disappointed, on the Pics it looks much better.

Did you get the version with the swiss movement or a clone? I got the clone movement and the datewheel was nearly perfect. The reason I ask is I have a 4th gen with swiss movement and the datewheel is as you describe (shiny silver). My guess is wherever they are getting these swiss movements from they just use the datewheel they get on the movement (if it's close).

As to the dial. I would say it is slightly off on the color tone and thickness of the print. The green hue you are seeing is from the light passing through the green gasket. My gen has that too in certain light (the gen has a green gasket as well).

Here's a gen 42mm for comparison.

This a a gen 45.5.

Great pics.

Was the starter watch an ETA clone or ETA version? I'm planning to get one for gen dial/hands mod.

The gen strap fits perfectly? I have a 4th gen and the strap I tried flipped out (could have been a rep strap but was sold as gen).

It was a clone. Not too sure of the quality of the gen ETA's from the dealers so I tend to save the money and buy a clone. I figure if it gives me trouble down the road I can swap in a guaranteed ETA from Ofrei.

Strap fits just fine. You have to use the right spring bars, and may have to fiddle with it a bit to get them to engage, but the gaps around the case etc. are good.

Starman, what were your thoughts on doing the datewheel mod with a gen eta 2892?

I didn't do mine as I did the mods myself and it's quite tricky to do. But it is a much brighter White font than that on the eta 2824 movements.

I didn't even bother to change it. It looks very close to the gen. Your's is the 4th gen (I have on of those as well) so I can see why you'd change it. That one is further off. On the 5th it's not bad at all.

Great work. I was thinking about doing the same thing. But now that I looked at ofrei for gen bezel, crystal, dial, hands, crown, he valve it looks like with a watch we are looking at $1100-1200 plus assembly. Gens sell for $1600+ so I guess I'd rather get gen then...

I know what you mean. It is close in price to a older used gen. The cheapest I have seen a decent one for is $1700, and that was even no box no papers, so who knows... When this is done it is on par (visually) with a brand new gen. No fading of the dial, fresh lume dings scratches etc.

On top of that there is the ticking time bomb of the coaxial in the 2500 movement. My first gen stopped at 1 day old. I didn't even have it on for 2 hours. Luckily my AD did right and swapped the watch. With this one I can replace the entire movement for less than half the cost of an Omega service.

Honestly the rep bezel was really good. I probably wouldn't have swapped it if I didn't already have this one lying around. So really I think all you need are the dial, hands, crown and tube. I used the 4th gen He valve but perhaps one from a UPO would work. As for the crytal I would just get the 2geek coating. It is easily as good as the gen, if not a little better.

So I think you could have a REALLY nice piece for $700 or so. You can't touch a used SMP quartz for that.

Pics can be found HERE

As requested here are some pics of my modded 5th gen PO

It has the following:

4th gen crystal with 2geek AR

4th gen He valve

GEN dial, hands, bezel and strap

All that is needed is a GEN crown and tube, and on the wrist it would be indistinguishable from the gen. I am holding off on that mod until I replace the crystal with the one that came from the watch (after I get it coated). The one in it now has a couple minor flaws in the AR. I believe I marred it slightly installing it. This was my first (major) watch project (usually it's cars), so I think I may have been a bit overzealous. A cheap Harbor Freight case press didn't help much either.

On to the pics:

The last pic shows how good the hand stack/projection is. Spot on in comparison with the GEN. On my UPO the hour hand hugs the dial. Not so here.

It may be a minor thing but the hand projection is what tends to nag at me the most when comparing my VAC modded UPO (gen dial hands etc) with my GEN 42 PO.

Now that I have built this one I am tempted to sell the UPO. The fact that the Chief AR seems to scratch of you look at it funny doesn't help much either. The GEN AR holds up really well, and the 2geek seems to as well. Anybody looking for a nice BOND (black/white on gen rubber) UPO.....

Pics on the way. I will start a new thread with pics.

Have to disagree with you. The old school Seamaster Chrono is all but perfect. The only two flaws being the bracelet pins (undetectable anyway) and the slightly low pearl. The new PO and the UPO are nice, but I don't think the dial comes anywhere close to the gen, and the pearl is even farther off. I can easily spot a fake PO, but many times in pawn shops I have not been able to confirm the validity of an SMP Chrono one way or the other. It really is that good.

I thought he asked for right now not ever... You can't order the old SMP Chrono right now.

Once the gen bezel is installed, is it tight or loose when rotating it? Does it stay close to the case? How did you remove the rep bezel?

Thanks?

Mine rotates nice and smooth just like the gen. I did grease the clickspring to make certain it would.

It fits nice and tight. Just like the gen.

I use a swiss army knife to remove the bezel from the PO. Start prying with the small blade, once you have a decent gap switch to the big blade. The rep bezel removes easily. The gen will not. Be sure you have it just like you want it before the final install. Test fit it without the lockspring in place.

It does indeed. Just installed one on mine last night (along with a gen dial and hands). Be sure to use the springs from the rep when fitting it.

Indeed...I think I will, but not now...and also I do a lot of traveling so I want a watch that's not so expensive to wear all over...

Just looking for the best replicated Seamaster right now on the market...

Currently I'm considering the Bond SMP and trying to convince myself of the PO chrono both from Joshua. Any comments about these two watches? Are both these watches sold currently the same watches referred to in By-Tor's best Omegas guide?

Thanks

The planet ocean is the best replicated Seamaster right now. The new 5th gen 42mm I picked up has a bezel clickspring for pete's sake.

The PO chrono has similar issues to the SMP. Bad HE valve and chrono pusher placement, recessed datewheel, happy feet, etc.

If you want the best out of the box, get the new UPO (updated logo) or the 5th gen 42mm PO.