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Time2watch
Original UDWF Member #1
Registered: August 2006
Location: Montreal, QC - CANADA
Posts: 1496
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Review Date: Sat September 23, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Omega Planet Ocean, 42mm vs. 45mm
This is now my eleventh Omega since 1996. Pathetic I know, but Omega is without a doubt my favorite watch company. Not only do I find the designs refreshing, innovative and good-looking, having them serviced is a breeze, since there is an authorized service center right here in Montreal. Here is the list: (in chronological order)- Seamaster Pro, quartz ca. 1994
- Seamaster 120, two-tone, quartz ca. 1997
- Seamaster Pro, automatic, blue/blue, James Bond version
- Seamaster Americas Cup, white gold bezel
- Seamaster Pro, black/black
- Seamaster 120 multi-function
- Seamaster Pro Chrono, white dial
- Seamaster GMT, white dial
- Speedmaster Professional
- Seamaster Pro Planet Ocean, 42mm, black/black
- Seamaster Pro Planet Ocean, 45mm, Orange bezel
The other companies I have owned multiples of areBreitling (5), Tudor (5), Tag Heuer (5), Oris (4), Doxa (4), Angular Momentum (2) and Eterna (2). Then again, if you combine my pre-WIS and WIS years, Seiko and Citizen far outnumber these by a long shot! At any rate, let’s just say I have owned more Omegas than any other SWISS brand.
Since I have owned both size versions of the Planet Ocean and since I often see the question “Which PO size should I go for?” I have decided to put this little article together. I hope it helps some of you make your decisions, as well as entertain others.
So here goes!
Both are massively constructed. Let us not forget, 42mm may be the smaller version, but it is still a formidable size. Go back 10 years and most would have considered it too big. Still, its design is so masterfully executed, that even those with pencil wrists can pull it off. Side by side with the 45mm version and it does look small and deceptively thicker. While it is slimmer by 1mm, it appears thicker do to its diameter to thickness ratio. I also find the 42 looks thicker because the bezel appears taller due to the different knurled edge. The 42 has tiny groves that are very close together and are straight and square. The 45’s groves are further apart and seem to wave in and out of each other. Both bezels are easy to grip, a huge improvement over the regular Pro line, but I prefer the 45 on looks alone.
The multiple crowns on both watches are identical and proportionally bigger on the 45, nothing to really note here. Contrarily the case back is quite different. If I am not mistaken, the center, medallion, is identical in size, while the outer ring that has the PLANET OCEAN engraving is larger on the 45. After owning the 42, the 45’s back looks kind of “uneven”, but I have quickly gotten over this illusion.
Omega is one of the best companies when it comes to luminescence. After being so pleased with the 42’s lum, I was hoping that 45 would be even brighter, since the markers and hands were likely to be bigger. That is an incorrect assumption. While the hands are longer, the actual lum is not. The applied markers are not larger either, therefore the 45 seems to have much more black “real-estate”, for the lack of a better term. Another minute detail I really like about the 45, is the lum on the second hand fits perfectly between to the 2 lum portions on the minute hand as it goes around the dial.
Something I did not like about the 45 at first was the position and size of the date. It was foolish of me to think it could be different from one watch to the other, since they both house the exact same movement. That being said, it did look odd to me for quite a long time. I am now used to it, but still feel the dial proportions much more esthetically pleasing on the 42. I will not talk about orange vs. black, since that is purely a personal preference, though I do like the orange best.
The bracelets on both watches are AWESOME. Much better than the previous speedy style, they are thicker, rounder and better finished. They seem to mimic the newer Speadmaster Broad Arrow bracelet, but without the polished accents, which, in my opinion, do not belong on a serious dive watch. One thing that baffles me is the clasp. It has been the SAME clasp since 1994. Everything else about the Seamaster line has improved / upgraded over the years, except the clasp. Most will quote ”If it ain’t broke, why fix it” I just feel that the bracelet has improved, why not try improving the clasp? Have a look at the Tag Aquagraph clasp; it has tiny ball bearings for securing the diver’s extension, which is an improvement over the somewhat fragile friction closure used by the Seamaster Pro (who hasn’t had one pop open by accident?). Also, with the half link in place the clasp kind of looks out of place.
I have a 7” wrist and I long thought I could never pull off 45mm. I remember going to my local AD and trying on a 45mm only to shake my head and strap my 42 back on and walk out the store. Then one day I went without my kids (4 year old and 2 year old), so I had a little more time. I got to strap on the 45 and speak to the sales person for a bit. After 5 minutes it became apparent, the 45 was for me. It even became more obvious when I put my 42 back on, it almost felt like a ladies watch. This is not to say this will happen to you, but if you strap on a LARGE watch and the lugs do not stick out on both sides, you can basically pull it off.
I am so very pleased with my 45 and would highly recommend trying both on before making a decision. Do not let a poll on a watch forum make your decision for you. I spent 8 months wearing my 42 and thinking it was perfect, then BAM! I made the switch. They are both terrific and so different, that you could potentially own both in a collection and be content. Either way, you cannot go wrong.
Before I finish, let me just state that out of all the watches I have owned these 2 Planet Oceans have been the most accurate watches I have ever had. From April 1st to mid August, the 42 had only gained 15 seconds and now the 45mm has only gained 10 seconds since last Saturday and is still in the break in period, since I purchased this one new. Maybe the new free-sprung balance with it’s tiny screws make it easier for Omega to regulate their watches, I don’t know, but whatever they have done to make these watches so accurate, KEEP IT UP!
Hope this has helped and you’ve enjoyed reading.
------------------------------
Marc
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JDS (Ohio)
Legacy Member
Registered: August 2006
Location: Loveland Ohio, home of the Loveland Giant Frog
Posts: 8743
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Review Date: Sun September 24, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Darned good work Marc! I agonized over which PO to get, but ended up falling in love with the 45.5 orange bezel. For some reason the orange 42mm has never looked quite as good as the 42mm black bezel to me, and the black bezel 45mm looks somehow outsized. Had I not finally seen the larger orange bezel, and also already had the sword hand SMP in 41.5mm, I'd have been quite happy buying the black bezel 42mm.
BTW, I think you are absolutely right about the "black space" vs. luminous area on the 45mm size. Omega should have scaled up the lume strips to match the larger proportions.
------------------------------
John
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John T.
Junior Member
Registered: August 2007
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Sat August 25, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 0
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Pros:
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Info/Gorgeous photos
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Cons:
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Hey Time2Watch! Great article!
I'd already ordered the 42mm orange bezel PO (currently waiting on delivery). Saw the watch in a jewellers window this afternoon and thought the 42 looked kinda small (I too have 7" wrist), even though I also own a 42mm SMP (blue/blue). After reading your article I managed to call dealer and put a hold on the order and change to 45.5mm. Cant thank you enuff for taking the time to discuss and post photos.
Top job fellah !!!
Thanks again  ) John T. (London, England)
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scarab007
Junior Member
Registered: October 2008
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Wed October 8, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Love the watch
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Cons:
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I like the pics and your description of the watch. I recently just got my PO as a gift, the 45.5 with the black bezel and the numbers are orange color. The best watch I own and built like a tank.
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Drolex
Junior Member
Registered: July 2009
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Sat July 25, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Just got a 455 PO in black and white. Love it. Looked at the orange but thought it lacked class and was a bit faddy. Black is timeless. I love the watch. Not sure if my SMP will ever see the light of day again.
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jrh1194
Junior Member
Registered: September 2009
Posts: 1
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Review Date: Wed September 2, 2009
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 9
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Fantastic watch!! I bought the orange bezel and love it. The black looks too much like many other dive watches. The orange sets it apart.
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