[Houston]

As we know, Omega will be announcing a Co-Axial update of the famed and much-loved 2254.50 at BaselWorld 2008. Thus far, the word is that we are looking at a minimum of changes. Perhaps the Seamaster legend in red and of course, the word Co-Axial somewhere on the dial presumably in the lower half amidst the depth rating. One would expect the appearance of the caseback to be brought up to date as well in line with those of the 2500C-shod Bond 300M diver and the PO.

What if Omega decided to make further changes to the watch? What would we rather they did not do the the successor of the 2254.50?

To begin with, I hope they'll retain the sword hands. Those stubby skeleton limbs on the original 2531.80 never did much for me and I rejoiced when on its' Co-Axial younger brother, these were lengthened. The round markers were possibly made a little more prominent too which added that much more presence to the watch imho. I like the red Seamaster legend which again makes the watch stand out.

When the 2254.50 was introduced in the US, another version with the comfortable Bond bracelet was also launched, the 2054.50. It was however only made for the American market. Don't know why this was. It could have been used to test the market and was a short-lived variant. I think it worked well and upon discovering its' comfort factor, I no longer harbored any reservations I once had about the aesthetics of the 9-link Bond bracelet.


So guys, what changes would you rather not see in the " Son of the 2254.50 ", which presumably may be designated the 2220.50? :001_rolleyes:


Y'all have a nice week now pals :001_smile:

and remember.....


Let's Keep Talkin' :thumbup1:

ZIN

 

[JPS]

Personally, why change? Most people are happy with the 1120 movement and there is that question of being able to justify an extra few hundred bumping the price up more because it's been upgraded to co-axial movement.

 

[Dell Deaton]

Influence factors

Interesting question. For me, I guess I'd differentiate between what I think "will" happen, versus what "should" happen.

And with no particular inside knowledge beyond that of the man on the street, I believe the Rolex Submariner will have as much or more influence on direction as anything else.

That said-- when the Seamaster 2531.80 went co-ax, the major cosmetic change that stood out to me was in the applied markers. I don't own the 2220.80, but when I held it at an AD two years ago, I remember thinking, "Omega has finally given the impression of Rolex here." That was around the time of the last James Bond film, Casino Royale; we're now hearing rumors that 007 will wear a newly designed "black version of the 2220.80" in Quantum of Solace when it's released this November. If so, Houston, that may give you the 1503-825 ("Bond") bracelet here. Although Rolex envy says nah.

Markers are likely to (and, in my opinion, should) go to the "dots," clearly differentiating it from the Planet Ocean. With surrounds (although I personally prefer the face without). I'd like to see the bezel markings more in line w/ the 2220.80 as well, as they do the job, and the current 2254.50 numbers strike me as crude (and possibly confusing to buyers who might think them fake, if they were more familiar w/ the 2531.80). I've always disliked the blue dials, feeling them hard to read in reflections. I similarly don't like the "disappearing" skeleton hands, but, again, if we're talking about a Bond watch, I can see that becoming the new norm here.

Summary:

• Skeleton hands > likely
• Marker surrounds > certain
• Dot markers > more likely than not
• Bezel markings changed > anybody's guess
• Bracelet > depends on "James Bond's Choice"
• "Planet Ocean lite" > think they'll look to create more differentiation on this front

'Nuff said.

 

[Houston]

Interesting answer my friend :biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: Many Thanks.

Yes I have this feeling too that there will be a need to distinguish the watch from the Planet Ocean hence some changes not quite in the direction of my own personal preference. I think it will be interesting to see what transpires but a question if I may please.

If 007 does indeed wear the black dial version of the 2220.80, does it follow that the 2220.80 may be on the way out? Possibly not as the other voice in my head says we may end up with two versions of the Co-Axial 300M diver - blue and black.

I am so unused to the Bond watch even if at times I have liked the face-lifted 2220.80. Mind you if Ms Murino were to present me with one, I'd definitely be encouraged to keep it and the memory of the occasion forever :thumbup1:


Have a good week Dell :001_smile:

ZIN

 

[Dell Deaton]

Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan

... If 007 does indeed wear the black dial version of the 2220.80, does it follow that the 2220.80 may be on the way out? ...

For a variety of reasons, I think not.

There is a certain market and studied ROI for the James Bond product placements. We can substantiate this by looking at selling prices for vintage Breitling and Seiko models that can only be accounted for due to their 007 affiliation. There's a strong market for the Brosnan-era Omega Seamasters, ie, the 2531.80 and the 2541.80 (the first Pierce Brosnan Omega, worn in GoldenEye). Fan demand carried these watches through the between times after Die Another Day and before Casino Royale, and remain attractive since, given their price points versus new.

A school of thought exists that Omega SA had no intention of featuring anything but the Planet Ocean in Casino Royale. (The line where Vesper Lynd looks at and confuses the 2220.80 with a Rolex suggests this to me, as I find it hard to believe that character could confuse that Omega w/ any Rolex model, but certainly could have mistaken the Planet Ocean for a classic Submariner.) But then Omega SA realized that it couldn't claim new Brosnan-era Seamaster sales with its 2220.80, after discontinuing the 2531.80, so it had to do something to credentialize the new blue/blue version.

As long as it currently sells a model that "was" in "a" James Bond film, it's still in the game. Just as, I would argue, Rolex is with the current Submariner Date, because that's close enough for government work to the watch worn by Timothy Dalton in Licence to Kill.

 

[Houston]

Thanks again DEll for your insightful analysis :thumbup1:


Catch up soon :001_smile:

ZIN

 

[triton]

I've never been partial to the Bond SMP look,to me the bracelet is too fancy,skeleton hands on a diver are not for me and the small dot markers don't do it any justice IMHO.I can only hope that the new 2254.50 sticks to it's original design,except for what Zin mentioned in his first paragraph.If so,the 2254.50 will be my next diver,not the co- axial version.

 

[Dell Deaton]

Looking for a steel

I've never been partial to the Bond SMP look,to me the bracelet is too fancy,skeleton hands on a diver are not for me and the small dot markers don't do it any justice IMHO.I can only hope that the new 2254.50 sticks to it's original design,except for what Zin mentioned in his first paragraph.If so,the 2254.50 will be my next diver,not the co- axial version.

Watch your local ADs, then, and make your face a familiar one. I'd had my eye on a 2541.80 for some time (since, actually, I regretably parted w/ my first one!). When I heard it was on the chopping block, I scoped out one in the display of my AD and offered to take it off her hands for the right price; what a deal!

Ironically, they got a replacement from their rep almost immediately after! :laugh:

 

[triton]

That's great advice Mr. Deaton,thanks.

 

[diver88]

I'm really not sure just yet, this is important..:thumbup1:


it's got to be just right you know..

diver88

 

[Houston]

The way I see it and even if I'm not too wild about all the aspects of the Bond watch, the future of Omega is really exciting. If nothing else there is the usual round of speculation in between Bond movies. There is more meat to the bones of course. Would Omega ever drop the 300M diver then I wonder? Probably not considering what Dell said earlier.

Incidentally the press room has been rather quite all February so I'm expecting great guns come BaselWorld.


Y'all be well now pals

ZIN

 

[Dell Deaton]

Power of the press

... the press room has been rather quite all February so I'm expecting great guns come BaselWorld....

Are you talking about the Press area on the Omega SA website, or another one for Basel?

 

[Houston]

The one on the Omega website

OK Pal :001_smile:

ZIN

 

[Texcowboy]

I wish they would leave the 2254.50 as is, it is such a classic. That has worked for the Rolex Submariner. I am glad I bought my 2254.50 when I did, not even knowing that it was discontinued. I now have a few classics, my Seamaster Pro, my Speedmaster and my Rolex Datejust. I'm Good to Go!!!:001_tongue:

 

[wilfreb]

I've never been partial to the Bond SMP look,to me the bracelet is too fancy,skeleton hands on a diver are not for me and the small dot markers don't do it any justice IMHO.I can only hope that the new 2254.50 sticks to it's original design,except for what Zin mentioned in his first paragraph.If so,the 2254.50 will be my next diver,not the co- axial version.

this is my same feeling.

 

[Houston]

May pay to wait and see too Wilf. Everything out there at the moment is speculative.


Be well now :001_smile:

ZIN

 

[ru06]

I'd like to see applied hour markers, like on the PO.

 

[G.J.]

If they only would make it 40mm....:001_wub::001_wub::001_wub:

 

[Houston]

Hey Gee Jaay


You wear the Speedy alright so the SMP should be fine too :thumbup1:

Now go get one or two:thumbup:


Cheerio 4 now :001_smile:

ZIN

 

[diver88]

:mellow::mellow:

thinking a lot about this..

it would be my hope that significant changes would be made.

that would make the new 2254 a completely different watch and not just a slightly improved version rendering the current version percieved as not as good... to me this would make the new version a "new watch" leaving the 2254.50.00 a classic with nothing to apologize for. make sense?


diver88