TeeJay

Welcome. I'm not sure about specifics of movements, but there are some good prices on Planet Ocean's on cqout.com. I couldn't say how close they are to the original, as I've not purchassed one from there, but, the prices are pretty varied, and seem to accurately reflect the quality of the watch (in terms of accuracy to the original)

I just re-read this part of your post, and hadn't picked up on it the first time... If your PO already has the locating holes in the case, then you wouldn't need to remove the guide-pin on the strap like I did, so that, in conjunction with the second set of springbar holes, should mean you should be able to get the SMP strap to fit without gaping away from the case. The rubber straps are much cheaper than the SS Bracelets. Admitedly, it's your money, but, knowing it has the 2nd set of springbar holes and the locating holes between the lugs, personally, I would risk it

That was precicely my thoughts as well, that it was an interesting concept and use of materials.

Also, if you look at the website for Alpha Watches, they sell a strap which is cosmetically identical to the bracelet of an SMP 2254.50, but without any branding marks. I would not like to guarantee it's fit on a Planet Ocean, but it might be worth considering...

Pretty much As you can see from the photos, it's tollerable, and something only a watch enthusiast would realize was incorrect, so I can live with it till I can get a proper Planet Ocean strap for it Well, my original SS bracelet is now on my orange Planet Ocean (as that was already sized to my wrist, and I'll be wearing the orange PO once I fit a black bezel insert) The second SS bracelet (that it was originally on), was already sized for a smaller wrist than mine, did not come with the extra links, and I can't seem to find the ones that were taken from mine, so it wouldn't be fair to send it incomplete, and most likely unwearable, and I was going to hang onto it for spare parts, should the other bracelet ever get seriously damaged... If you have a look on eBay or cqout, you might be able to find an individual SS bracelet for sale.

I forgot to say, if the Planet Ocean does not have the extra hold for the guide pin, and you cut the pin off the strap, it will probably still gape a little away from the case...

Yes. Likewise. However, to fit properly, either the watch or the strap MUST be modified. The strap and watch will not go together properly otherwise. Looking at the orange strap, it has the same code number and imprinting as the one on my wrist. I would hazard a guess that the manufacturer uses the same moulds, but simply uses a different rubber compound. Going on that assumption, I would strongly suspect that that black strap does have the guide pins. Mine did, but I cut them off to try and fit it to my Planet Ocean. No problem at all, I'm more than happy to help. A lot of this information, I did not even know in december when my fiance ordered the Planet Ocean for me. Indeed, the two straps really are quite different when compared together. Ofrei.com is the best source of images which show the differences. If you have a look at my 'Meet the Twins' thread, you can see how the rubber strap gapes away from the case. This should not happen. I can tollerate it (because I want to wear the black Planet Ocean on a rubber strap as I now find the SS Bracelet too 'noticeable' against my hand) but it is far from ideal, and if I can get hold of a proper 20mm PO strap (even if it does mean getting one from Ofrei.com) I'd get one as soon as I can. I would not like to say "Yes, it will definitely fit 100%", but, it is a very good chance that the SMP strap will fit better (even if not perfectly) on the set of holes closest to the case. That is a tough one. The guide pin is designed to prevent the strap from flexing away from the watch when it is worn. I have been told that the gen straps have solid inserts inside the end of the straps that prevent them flexing away, but, I have no personal experience of this, so I can only pass on what I have been told. My SMP strap fitted well on my 2531.80, but, when I removed the guide pins, tried it on the Planet Ocean and saw the gape, I tried fitting it back to the 2531.80. The strap still went into place, but, it then rotated on the spring bars away from the case, so it actually gaped worse than on the Planet Oceans (I have absolutely no explanation for why this would be) so having rendered the strap useless on the 2531.80, it was a case of re-fitting it to the Planet Ocean.

Is this the 20mm Planet Ocean strap with the off-round notch holes and 7mm buckle tongue, or the 20mm Seamaster strap with the rectangular notch holes and the 10mm buckle tongue?

I forgot to say. Although I did not try and cut another pin hole through the strap, I had planned to use (have to buy first) a body-piercing needle to create the necessary tunnel through the rubber.

To address both points, I had no problem fitting the strap to my Seamaster 2531.80 (there was a very minimal gape, but I suspect this was from bent spring pins, not the strap itself) I would expect the strap to fit on either the SMP or the SMP Chrono (assuming they are the same case) and I wouldn't be surprized if it fitted onto the SMP 2254.50. But, and this is a BIG but. The case will have to have the guide holes between the lugs for the locating pin to fit into. Without that hole (or as I found when I cut the pins off to test fit to my Planet Ocean) the strap will still 'free wheel' in the lugs of the SMP. For what it's worth, these straps are extremely comfortable. I only wore mine for a few weeks, but in that time, I got so used to it, that the Planet Ocean's SS bracelet felt noticeable against the back of the hand, and I felt I'd rather live with the gaping issue so I could wear the rubber rather than 'putting up' with the SS bracelet... Hope that's of help

I probably won't be getting a 45 for a while, so I'll have to give this a miss. However, if there are any leads on a 20mm PO strap, please let me know

That's very true.

The black strap is the same as mine. It will not fit to a 42mm PO without either drilling extra lug holes, or somehow cutting a new hole through the strap for the bar to go through (probably 1-2mm closer to the notch holes)

My guess, is they mean the 20mm Seamaster strap. If yours has the 2nd set of springbar holes, you might be lucky and get one to fit.

Is that the 20mm Seamaster strap seen on most rep POs sold on rubber? (and sold individually by Joshua)? If so, that's not a Planet Ocean strap, and that's why it doesn't fit properly. I've got my 42 on one, but it's a far from perfect/satisfactory fit. It's tollerable, but definite room for improvement, so a 20mm rep PO strap would be most welcome...

PS Gun wielding debt collectors, eh? I don't suppose there is a 'UK Division'? My mother in law could certainly use their services against her ex husband who never paid a penny in maintenance or child support. (Son of a [censored] now drives round in a brand new Mercedes, and takes frequent cruises around the Med and North Africa ) Needless to say, he's not getting a wedding invitation...

So with the greatest of respect, no need to be offended on behalf of those who did (or do)... As I said, I can see the point that it is a graveyard, and grave desecration is reprehensible. However. I cannot ignore, from a historical perspective, how interesting it is that the watches are made from reclaimed metal from the Titanic. As I said, perhaps I should be more offended by it than I am, but with my grandmother's funeral in a few weeks, that's at the top of my 'grief list' at the moment, and, as I said, I think it would be a nicer gesture for the company who made them to give them to descendents of those who died rather than just selling them.

Did you have a relative on the Titanic?

Any updates on the adventures/whereabouts of PAW?

One is genuine materials, the other would not be. I can see the point that it is a graveyard, but as someone with a personal connection to the Titanic, I am not (perhaps I should be) mightily offended by it. If anything, I think these watches should not be sold at all, and given solely to direct descendents of those who died (which would count me out, as they were a distant relation, several times removed)

Barring 'special occasions', or 'going out', which might require me to wear something smarter or more disposeable, this will be on my wrist for the forseable future:

Wow! I absolutely love that watch! As someone who had a (albeit distant) relation on the Titanic, I think it is a fascinating watch, but indeed, please do not rep this watch, that would be distastefull.

Having performed a strap swap, I now have my orange PO on my own SS bracelet (it came on an SS bracelet, but was already sized too small, so it made sense to put it on my own bracelet) The watch is such a contradiction, it is crazy. The SS bracelet says 'smart and serious', the orange bezel insert says 'casual and fun'. As I mentioned in other threads, from pictures I had seen, I did not originally like the orange PO. I still would not say that it is 'my style', but it's growing on me. I remember reading someone saying they felt the 'Pepsi GMT II' was a good watch to put on after work (presumeably as a relaxing casual watch) and having the orange PO on SS, I can actually now understand what they meant. To me, the orange PO's not a watch meant for Corporate Life, but wearing while out with friends or relaxing at home. It's a sharp design, and eye-catching without being too Over The Top (under those casual circumstances) Even though I'll likely still swap the bezel insert for black, I can definitely see it's appeal. So what do others feel about the orange PO? An equal twin to the classic black bezel, or is it a poor cousin? Any opinions either way would be interesting

As Dutchy said, Speak for yourself. I didn't see too many people rushing to buy that latest version of the Omega 21531.80, infact, the majority of people who commented, thought it was utter junk. There are way more accurate Planet Ocean reps available than mine, but I haven't ordered one for two reasons: a) They were both gifts, so both have sentimental value that outweighs any inaccuracy, and I prefer the inaccurate details over the gen/Top End reps. People had problems with the Omega Logo being offset on their dials... Not a problem with mine, as they're printed on. Okay, so I had a problem with my crown stripping, but so did people who bought the UPO, so where's the benefit of having the UPO? Perhaps there are other people who feel the same, and are happy with what they have already. A new rep available does not necessarily always mean people will fall over themselves to actually buy them. PS The should be a b ) marker...

I couldn't take it any more! I'd gotten so used to how the rubber strap felt, I couldn't stand to have the black PO on the SS bracelet any longer. I kept swapping between the orange and the black, loving how the orange felt, but wanting to be wearing the black, umming and ahhing about how the rubber looks more casual than the SS, and being a more casual person, so I swapped the strap and bracelet around. I know it gapes, but it just feels sooo much more comfortable. I was tempted to buy the 45 as an occasional watch, with the 42 as the regular wear, but, I know the rubber is the more comfortable, so inevitably it would get the more wrist time, but, the 42 was a gift from my fiance, so that has to take priority, so it was easier to swap the strap and bracelet. My next mission, will be to track down a 20mm Planet Ocean strap for it. I might have to bite the bullet and buy one from Ofrei, but, they don't seem to carry the proper buckle for it, and there's no way I'd risk forcing a 10mm tongue through the holes of a PO bracelet... Anyhoo, photos of the make over