bosk

Finally, we may have a decent RO rep of the 15300 (the new jumbo). The bracelet looks decent and of the correct size where it attaches to the watch....deployment is also similar the new AP models for better comfort. unfortunately, only the gold ones are showing now....albeit a white faced gold AP RO is a classic. Hour hand and AP logo position are still off

Gen:

Perhaps King has carried the SS versions of these watches a few months ago but some of her pics distort the bracelet. Perhaps Josh's versions are just better pics

Many thanks guys.

I'll probably get a UPO then and upgrade my 42 PO rep with a gen dial (already has gen hands, chief AR, and a relume). IMO, reluming helps the rep look better sometimes, but it can never compare with a gen dial (especially when looking thru a loupe). Omega reps are great in that gen dials are not so hard to obtain and are a perfect fit in most cases.

I don't care about the crown guards. I'm much more interested in the PVD case, dial, bezel, and strap. The dial and hands look especially interesting.

Are the gen PO's the same thickness as the reps? I'm debating if I should get another PO rep...maybe the UPO...or save up for a gen.

In the case of the SMPs, the gen is thinner and thus sits differently on the wrist. The rep SMPs never hug the wrist as well as the gen....and this is true of almost all SMP rep versions....closed factory, closed factory with correct He, and Kings version.

TIA

bosk

If this is the sec at 9 version... I would just keep on pushing...screws are fakes and don't do anything functional. Are you using the correct die size on the press?

good luck.

That watch is freaking NICE. only 1000 will be produced and price will be withheld until launch (early Nov).

I removed my AP crystal without any problems using a watch press. Are u pushing from inside the case?

my model was the paris AP ROO chrono.

Best option is probably silix for this rep....pay 100 more and u'll have a decent secs @ 12 version.

-bosk

Just get a Purilite butane gas lighter refill bottle. It comes with adapters that will work with the dupont lighters....I have like 8 of them and they all work. The brass refill adapter will work too but u have to get the nozzle flush with the brass. Yes, gas shoots out but it still refills. Also, stick the lighter in the freezer for 20 min to cool it down. The dupont single charge gas bottles will work the with the lighters too but that's an expensive option.

GL.

I was tempted but the strap looks weak (and its not a part that can be easily replaced). Waffle pattern on the rep looks weak as well or we need better pics. I highly doubt any of the chronos work as they should on the gen.

I'd rather have the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Polaris as a rep.

I currently own a MBW/MBK AP ROO black themes secs@9 that comes fitted with a bracelet.

I bought from one of the dealers here a rubber strap, deployant and links that was meant for the Secs@12 but unfortunately there's no way the links could fit into my MBW/MBK.

Does anyone knows if the Oracle kit would fit instead? Thanks!

I have a MBK sec at 9 and my oracle straps fit fine. I have not tried it with my secs at 12 but I swore others here have done it.

I never noticed it but the links for Secs @12 are ~ 4.4 mm and the secs at 9 are 4mm.

-bosk

I believe Paul (watcher) did it with his MBK/MBW ROO like 2 years ago to attach rubber strap.

I remember he wrote that he needed to cannibalize the bracelet to have it done- but it turns out it is possible.

Thanks!

yes...it is possible....I believe some1 took a hacksaw to their bracelet to remove the endlinks.

Another option would be to buy puretime's rubber bracelet which also comes with endlinks for 90...if this is the sec at 12 rubber, then that is a decent deal.

GL with the operation.

I can understand the need for three considering changing the straps of these babies take awhile.

Actually, its not so hard with practice but u always run the risk of scratching the case....getting 3 seems the proper solution!

-bosk

The case is the one from closed factory model sans bezel. The bezel is for America's Cup version (18k WG) and indeed, the original dial is black with raised Omega logo (this one is the non AC version).

I tried to have my budget as low as possible, hence using whatever available on my part box

Wow.....that case is NICE...did you replace the tube? I looks just like the gen tube....and the crown guards are good too....any trimming done there? I thought the closed factory had crown guard problems. I assume that it is only the bezel insert on there since the gen bezel assembly looks different?

I'm debating the issue of further modding my SMPs but think its more practical to just get another used gen. Being flatter due the case back, the gen just sits on the wrist so much better.

-bosk

Fantastic looking watch....it looks HUGE on the wrist tho....not sure if I could pull off a wearing a watch with such a deep profile. But then again, I wear a corum bubble with a 20 mm profile.

Did the plating come off on one of the strap screws or is that an image artifact?

-bosk

I have... Watch out http://www.elitedealseeker.com/index.cgi?category=watches

1000ish is highly possible.

Damn, takashi....where did u get the gen case? Offrei? Super nice with that bezel but u should find the black dial with silver around the markers and raised OMEGA logo.

The third omega has one of the BEST crown guards I've seen on any SMP rep....very impressive.

-bosk

I believe the PO was referring to the rep factory AR.

Does anyone think whether this could be the closed factory or a good version of this watch?

http://www.ioffer.com/i/OMEGA-SEAMASTER-PRO-SS-BLUE-14914552

u can get the gen used from ebay for about 1000...ioffer reps are always questionable. 420 is WAAAY to much to pay for that rep. sometimes, gen pics are shown, but yes, members here have gotten correct He valve seamasters on Ioffer.

-bosk

River was selling a large touby...FIBER...but maybe he's out of them now.

typical flaws include the date window being too far to the right, thick handstack, and in-line alignment of the chrono buttons and the crown. Other than these issues, its a VERY nice watch.

-bosk

Omega sells the bezel with insert as a whole, when I was sourcing one for my gen (2 years ago when I was selling it) they could be had for about $90 on the bay.

Good choice on the gen, old factory smp is nice but not gen quality... and the gen's can be had very reasonably if you keep an eye out.

Totally agree with the SMP gen is the way to go...the gen watch just sits better on the wrist due to its lower profile and differnt case back. The smoothness of the omega movement and the ETA-copy reps just dont compare.

-bosk

Bad news I'm afraid.

If thsi is the same rep as Silix sells (and I'm very confident it is) the bezel insert is going to make you sweat.

I heated my watch to the point where I could not pick it up and the insert still would not move. When I tried to use a sharp sewing needle to lever between the crystal and bezel insert, I ended up scratching it.

Finally lifted it off and realigned it, but it carries the scar.

Another option to remove the bezel insert is to simply remove the crystal first and and push the insert off from the bottom of the case. No case scratches using this method.

I agree the removing the bezel is extremely difficult on some SMPs.

bosk

This bracelet was "smashed" in the box that it was shipped to me in. It was in a USPS priority mail flat rate box and somehow the USPS either stepped on the box or something. The bracelet is "kinked" four links down from the case on both sides.

The case has a stripped screw that has been epoxied in so that the bracelet cannot now be removed without drilling the screw out.

Other than that its nice...

That does not sound so bad....get a hacksaw and remove the bracelet with end pieces intact on the case and u can stick on a nice strap after loctiting the case screw.

still...excellent work with the paint.

-bosk

Here is a brief comparison of Omega SMP crystals....All watches shown have sapphire crystals which are 30.5 mm in diameter. Thickness varies depending on which model u have.

Lets introduce the players:

In the mix are a correct HE case (electric blue with chief AR), closed factory SMP with incorrect HE, King black SMP, 007 special edition SMP (unknown source, small crown guards), and a gen Bond SMP.

Starting with th bottom right (closed factory SMP with incorrect HE):

Nicely shaped crystal. low distortion of dial from angle view.

King SMP Black:

U can't even see the dial at certain angles....not as bad as a corum bubble but not gen like at all. Different Bezel assembly than the two bonds. Case is about 1mm thicker than all the other reps. Bezel is easy to turn with nice clicks but very non-gen like. Decent crown guards.

07 special edition SMP (unknown source, small crown guards)

Has a decent crystal much like the closed factory SMP. Bezel construction is exactly like the closed factory SMP. Crap bracelet and case is shorter than the other reps. tiny crown guards.

correct HE case (electric blue with chief AR):

Crystal distortion is on par with the black SMP but the double AR helps a lot. Case has the largest crown guards and is the best out of the bunch. I plan on ARing one of the flatter bond crystals and placing it on this one.

Gen Bond SMP.

Notice the low distortion from the crystal from the side angle...almost the same as the other bond reps.

Form some reason, all non-blue SMP reps seem to have the curved distorted crystal. From the pics I've seen on the web, this is another inaccurate issue with respective SMP reps. Can any1 with a gen black or EB SMP confirm this?

BTW, all reps have gen hands and dials although the 007 SE BOND was relumed poorly my me.

Small addition: the the bezel construction of the SMP reps. There seems to be two types....one like the rollies with a spring/clip that causes the clicking and one with an attached protrusion that causes the clicking.

Here is the typical bezel construction (found in the correct He Case, closed factory case, and some other out there); note the hole in the case at 11 o'clock where the clip is inserted:

images of the clip and bottom of bezel; note the bezel teeth are deep and fewer than the one shown below.

Note an aftermarket bezel is shown (not yet glued) and I'm in the process of reluming the pearl (originally looked like a pimple).

Here is the bezel from King's black SMP. As mentioned before, there is a protrusion at the 8 o'clock marker.

Note the fine teeth on this version....turing the bezel is very easy and nice tiny clicks (but not gen like).

overall the black SMP is very bulky but it has quality construction

-bosk

Simply awesome....and its the new secs at 12 version too!

There is a new york la boutique black pvd that I'd like to mod/make using the existing AP chrono rep.