Planet Ocean - To Bond or not to Bond

[ALY77]

Hi, looking for a little input from those more in tune with the matter than I and please, excuse the slightly rambling post.

For clarity, I'm not in the line of work to have large bonuses landing in my direction to throw about and I do have a fair few financial commitments these days, mostly small human ones.
However, its my 40th soon and while I've never spent more than £400 on a watch, I've always fancied something a little bit, special.
A five figure spend is out the question but low/mid four is feasible. I justify that to SWMBO (and myself to an extent) on the basis that I'm not pissing the money up a wall and will actually have something to show for it which is nice and should last a long time.

Having spent a fair bit of time discovering I'm much more fastidious than I'd like to believe, I found myself looking at an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, stainless bracelet and black face, thinking "that one".
Then I stumbled across the limited (5007 pieces) Skyfall movie edition of exactly the same watch.

Now I liked the movie a lot, as I have most of the Daniel Craig era Bond movies and it was released the year I married so reminds me of a special time. I also like the relatively subtle differences on the watch itself and the fact there is a limit to the number of these ones around. I expect a themed version won't be to everyone's taste but I like it.

The issue I have is that the now pre owned limited edition ones already command an asking price of circa £5k if the papers/box are present (£4250 new), where the standard version retails at £4k new, before movement on price is discussed or alternative suppliers to a High St jewellers considered.

My fear is a dealer with no movement on price for the Skyfall version (only three or four UK wide for sale just now, one at least doesn't have any paperwork) against a Beaverbrooks/Goldsmiths branch desperate for a sale throwing a 15-20% discount at me, could see the price disparity at as much as £1800.

My questions are thus;

If you liked the ltd edition, do you think paying anything up to a third more against a new standard version is worthwhile?

Also, would you expect the piece to hold a degree of value at least as well as its standard counterpart?

My concern is I pay a premium now only for the residual value of the piece to plummet as the movie its associated with dates.

I thank you in advance for both taking the time to read this and for any informed input...

[ALY77]

Thanks for the speedy input gents.

I'd be happy with either, I like the 007 version a little more, just not perhaps a third more thats my main sticking point.

The resale is less of an issue as it would be a keeper - I'd just be really pissed to see one for sale in three or four years for peanuts!

[ALY77]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

http://www.chrono24.co.uk/omega/skyfall-seamaster-...

And that's before you ask for any discount which, in my personal experience you always get with C24 sellers.

This one is on e-bay as well with VHB marking by the price which so far as I can make out means nearest offer. The lack of packaging or papers puts me off, though at least they are being up front from the outset and providing an authenticity document of their own.

[ALY77]

Sheetmaself said:

I'm fgoing to sound like a prick in a second, i didnt mean to but I've deleted and retried this a few times.

I'd buy the one i want but then i can afford too. If cost is as strong a marker as it seems to be with you then you need to weigh up the extra £1800 and see what f its worth it for you. But at the same time look at similar watches that would be cheaper but have the same feel or a secondhand planet and cean as some real bargains to be had if your not too fussed about the co axial movement.

Thanks for all the input guys - Not overly concerned if a poster were to come across as sounding like a prick (which you're not), I was looking for the opinions of watch aficionados and I'm grateful of honesty.

Less concerned at looking at other models, as said I liked the look of the PO before stumbling upon the 007 version. Certainly wasn't looking for something solely on the basis of its association with the fictional novel/movie character.

[ALY77]

T6 vanman said:

Don't forget a wrist shot to close the thread :beers:

So no wrist shot as I'm awaiting a call to say it has arrived in store. However I'm pleased to say I will shortly be the owner of a brand new Omega.

Truth be told I fancied three variations of the PO by the time I got to putting them on my wrist and a 41mm Diver 300 was still an outside possibility too.

Had narrowed it down to;

Diver 300M 212.30.41.20.01.003
Planet Ocean 42mm 232.30.42.21.01.001
Planet Ocean 39.5mm 215.30.40.20.01.001
Planet Ocean 43.5mm 215.30.44.21.01.001

Trying them on turned things on their head slightly as I thought the newer 39.5mm Master Chrono would best fit my girlie 6.5 inch wrists. In the metal, it just didn't look right - the proportions are wrong at the diameter size.
The 43.5 looked good, but too big on my aforementioned girlie wrists. I thought it might but it was mostly as my pronounced ulna bone at my wrist made what is a flatter back on the newer case sizes sit the watch higher than the older 42mm cased PO.
I found the diver too plain - From them all, it was the one that looked more different on my wrist than it had on line and on display.

So from having picked out one that looked like "the one", having my head turned by limited edition exclusivity (albeit movie themed), then again by shiny black bezel equipped newer size options and maybe even a non PO altogether, I've ended up going for the one I was going to in the beginning. Arriving soon, one black faced, matt grey bezel 42mm PO on a stainless bracelet!


In the time I've been considering my options, the birthday has came and went too.

Given the lack of a photos of a watch yet, here is a couple of how I spent that, this is Pistonheads after all...

Edited by ALY77 on Thursday 16th February 19:35

[ALY77]

ellroy said:

Glencoe?

First two are Rannoch Moor on approach to Glencoe yes!

BJ, thanks for the input, slightly late as I bought at the start of the week however I have secured the watch, new, with a suitable sizable discount also.