Rolex GMT Master II or Omega Planet Ocean GMT or ???

[_rubinho_]

A little while ago now I fell in love with the Rolex GMT Master II blue-black bezel. I think I even posted a photo of it on here when I discovered it. Since then I have made it my mission to get one when I was able. Whilst researching the market I also stumbled across the Omega Planet Ocean 600M GMT Good Planet which I also think is a very lovely thing. To remind everybody of the models I am thinking of here are photos of them both:



Now here is my quandry; I am very close to pulling the trigger on one of these two but I can't seem to choose. I have tried both on (well only a black bezel GMT as the dealer didn't have a blue-black in stock). To me the Omega felt and looked nicer than the Rolex; it was bigger, heavier and the proportion of face diameter to bezel thickness is "better". I also feel the dial is clearer on the Omega. I wasn't very keen on the green GMT hand and script on the Rolex but this wouldn't be an issue on the blue-black as they are blue on this model. I prefer the crown on the Omega (although it doesn't "park" with the symbol aligned nicely). So Omega it is then, right?

Not so fast! There are a couple of things which bug me about it. Firstly the date wheel is too small and the black clashes with the blue face. I also love the cyclops date on the Rolex. Secondly I worry that on my small wrists I may feel that the large, thick, blue/orange Omega may end up looking a little gauche whereas the Rolex is a little more understated so may be easier to live with long term.

Finally there are the financials. Both watches retail north of £5k; Rolex £5800 and the Omega £5160. I have found good discounts on the Omega (>20%) but nothing substantial on the Rolex. This makes me worry that the Omega is a £3800 watch pretending to be a £5000 watch whereas the Rolex is a true £5800 watch. Obviously this has bearings on future value as well as my thoughts of its true retail value.

I am set on a real traveller's GMT i.e. one which has a quick-set independent hour hand which discounts anything based on the ETA 2893 (Bell & Ross BR 123 GMT, the new TAG Formula 1 GMT). I'm a bit fussy about an in-house movement for this sort of money which discounts the IWC Ingineur Dual Time. There is the Breitling Avenger II GMT but I am not keen on the steel bezel or the fonts. The Rolex Explorer II fits the bill and I do like the Omega Seamaster 300M GMT Great White (although this is no longer available new).

This will be the first time I spend anything like this kind of money on a watch and I want my purchase to be perfect. Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks for taking the time to read my long rambling post!

[mikeh501]

Rolex GMT 2.... But you already knew that. Maybe an older Pepsi etc?

Checkout the grand Seiko GMT as well. Proper GMT quickset, 36k BPM movement, in house etc and amazing build quality of GS. But its still a Seiko

[don logan]

Absolutely first an foremost you must buy the watch that you are really drawn to or you will just spend your time Googling pictures of it while wearing what ever else you bought instead!

I've had a ceramic GMT since 07 but recently bought an Explorer 2 as well, obviously I liked the Explorer 2 (black dial) enough to buy it but I did't expect to love it as much as I do!

I paid £4,5k in France for it and will never regret it, it's not going anywhere!

I didn't fancy it for myself but the GMT function on the Zenith was pretty clever

[_rubinho_]

mikeh501 said:

Rolex GMT 2.... But you already knew that. Maybe an older Pepsi etc?

Checkout the grand Seiko GMT as well. Proper GMT quickset, 36k BPM movement, in house etc and amazing build quality of GS. But its still a Seiko

For the Rolex I'd prefer to have a ceramic bezel.

The Grand Seiko is pretty cool. I fear the rarity might mean there aren't many good deals around. I'd rather something a bit more "sports" and less "dress". Not afraid of a Seiko per-se

don logan said:

Absolutely first an foremost you must buy the watch that you are really drawn to or you will just spend your time Googling pictures of it while wearing what ever else you bought instead!

I've had a ceramic GMT since 07 but recently bought an Explorer 2 as well, obviously I liked the Explorer 2 (black dial) enough to buy it but I did't expect to love it as much as I do!

I paid £4,5k in France for it and will never regret it, it's not going anywhere!

I didn't fancy it for myself but the GMT function on the Zenith was pretty clever

Definitely agree on buying a watch I'm drawn to. It's a head/heart thing between these two.

If I were to get an Explorer I'd go for a white dial.

Not sure which Zenith you're referring to but the Pilot one I just saw whilst very nice is too big for my puny arms at 48mm!

[MrSimba]

Explorer II or Rolex GMT both will look great & still be iconic in 10 years time not sure the same will be said of the PO GMT, the PO range tends to look dated very quickly IMO

[NorthernSky]

I am no expert on the subject but the Omega looks much nicer!

Just a thought, why not get a £75 fossil watch to tell the time & date, then spend the £1000's on a faster car

[ellroy]

Omega want to be a £6k watch, Rolex is, hence no discount.

I've got the black/blue GMT and it is truly lovely. Omegas are just not special enough for me.

However, at the end of the day you should get what you want if the watch is going to be a keeper.

[tigerkoi]

_rubinho_ said:

A little while ago now I fell in love with the Rolex GMT Master II blue-black bezel. I think I even posted a photo of it on here when I discovered it. Since then I have made it my mission to get one when I was able. Whilst researching the market I also stumbled across the Omega Planet Ocean 600M GMT Good Planet which I also think is a very lovely thing. To remind everybody of the models I am thinking of here are photos of them both:



Now here is my quandry; I am very close to pulling the trigger on one of these two but I can't seem to choose. I have tried both on (well only a black bezel GMT as the dealer didn't have a blue-black in stock). To me the Omega felt and looked nicer than the Rolex; it was bigger, heavier and the proportion of face diameter to bezel thickness is "better". I also feel the dial is clearer on the Omega. I wasn't very keen on the green GMT hand and script on the Rolex but this wouldn't be an issue on the blue-black as they are blue on this model. I prefer the crown on the Omega (although it doesn't "park" with the symbol aligned nicely). So Omega it is then, right?

Not so fast! There are a couple of things which bug me about it. Firstly the date wheel is too small and the black clashes with the blue face. I also love the cyclops date on the Rolex. Secondly I worry that on my small wrists I may feel that the large, thick, blue/orange Omega may end up looking a little gauche whereas the Rolex is a little more understated so may be easier to live with long term.

Finally there are the financials. Both watches retail north of £5k; Rolex £5800 and the Omega £5160. I have found good discounts on the Omega (>20%) but nothing substantial on the Rolex. This makes me worry that the Omega is a £3800 watch pretending to be a £5000 watch whereas the Rolex is a true £5800 watch. Obviously this has bearings on future value as well as my thoughts of its true retail value.

I am set on a real traveller's GMT i.e. one which has a quick-set independent hour hand which discounts anything based on the ETA 2893 (Bell & Ross BR 123 GMT, the new TAG Formula 1 GMT). I'm a bit fussy about an in-house movement for this sort of money which discounts the IWC Ingineur Dual Time. There is the Breitling Avenger II GMT but I am not keen on the steel bezel or the fonts. The Rolex Explorer II fits the bill and I do like the Omega Seamaster 300M GMT Great White (although this is no longer available new).

This will be the first time I spend anything like this kind of money on a watch and I want my purchase to be perfect. Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks for taking the time to read my long rambling post!

Hi _rubinho_,

Absolutely fascinating! I have, today, just picked up my Omega Planet Ocean GMT 'GoodPlanet'. It's been a 5 month odyssey, which started with an innocuous visit to my faithful and friendly jewellers.

Whilst doing my daily errands, one balmy weekday afternoon I wandered in to look at a suitable 'eternity' ring for my lady. Regardless of the relentless 60's De Beers marketing machine, I could envision that with wedding and engagement ring bonding her left hand, that a veritably chunky and desirous piece - something really 'dreadknought-y' - on the right hand would give the right balance. Some real powwow and pizzaz glistening both paws.

Anyway...five minutes later after perusing what was on offer, I'd scooted over to the other side of the store. The Place Beyond The Baubles. The watch section.

Ten years ago I had an Omega 2254. At the time, my third 'serious' watch purchase. But then a burglar treated it as swag. I used the insurance payout to work the Breitling angle. I settled upon a SuperOcean Steelfish 42mm - I think they only made it for one year. But as the years went by, and I started to get amongst the other brands, I always thought I needed to fill that Omega-sized hole.

When I looked at the range, I was aware of the Planet Ocean series. I watched the 2500 launch, and always thought I'd have one. Then when the 8500 series came out with the clear case back, and the further in-housed co-axial movement, I sat up further. But my thinking went like this: 42mm or 45mm three-hand? 9300 Chrono at 45.5mm? Either too large or concerned I wasn't getting the 'big-dog' of the range.

Then seeing the GMT, the 43.5mm, best of both worlds sizing, and the relatively useful complication - a GMT - then I knew this was the sweet spot in the range. And with having a dozen or so visually similar and proportioned diver's watches, then the GoodPlanet, with the ceramic gold and blue styling became something I found hard to resist.

But I placed things on pause whilst I considered other things: I spent four or so months umm'ing and aah'ing over the IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition "Expedition Charles Darwin" and the Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea (Tribute). For one reason or another (IWC - movement; JLC - I already have some vintage-y looking dive numbers), I was swayed back to the Omega range.

I wasn't considering anything Rolex-y. They are fine, fine watches, be of no doubt, but, for me I like exploring other brands. I'll pick up a 5513 or a 1680, something that dates to when the Beatles were hip and LBJ was president, one day. Something with a monster dome. But the current range for me is overwhelming 'corporate attire'. Lovely watches, but part of the toolkit for the middle and upper management classes. My very personal opinion. Now that shouldn't cloud the oft-quoted view that 'buy what you want to wear not what others think'. Rolex make fabulously well engineered and reliable watches. They are the E46/E92 M3 (F82 M4?) of the watch world. A benchmark.

I bought an 8605 GoodPlanet because a) I was closing a personal watch-owning arc, b) knew that they are relatively uncommon, and c) have a fair few watches already and wanted some variety in the collection. But if I was looking at this fresh, and for the first time outlaying what isn't chump change, then I can certainly see any sane person being swayed by the Rolex GMT.

Either way, good luck and rest assured that at this level they are all lovely and attractive watches. So enjoy the journey!

p.s. I got the eternity ring in the end. Simple 15 minute decision.





Not my pictures. It's said often on various fora that the Omega PO range doesn't photograph that well, but hopefully these are reasonably representative

[leginigel]

Hi This how collections start,I purchased my all time favourite watch a rolex sub then wanted a work watch I went for a omega speedy then fell in love with a deepsea the speedy went and the deepsea got in the winder,now no watch for work,again back to omega this time a blue face seamaster which I part x for a black face seamaster which is too close a look to the deepsea room for aother deal there,the stainless steel sub has turn into a bi metal sub and now the hunts on for a chopard.The point,buy with your heart you can always keep,sell or swop.

[kazste]

The blue black gmt is something special in my eyes and would go for it over the omega, that said just like the evoque as soon as there starts to be lots of them they lose something.

Hmm not sure ive helped. Try again.

If the watches were both the same price which one would you go for?

Then ask yourself if you would notice the difference in a years time.

Has this changed your mind from the first question?

Get the one your now thinking of.

[hilly10]

If future value is your bag, then its the Rolex all the way. I like both watches and do own a PO 45MM just love how big and bold it is but yes the date wheel rather spoils it some what. I think I would go Rolex for the GMT plenty of Kudos.

[RichB]

Omega looks far more classy than the Rolex. However if I were you I would simply buy what I really wanted.
p.s. I've never been a fan of Rolex so I'm biased.
p.p.s Not a fan of large watches either so in fact I wouldn't want either of them

[Andy OH]

My wife has the Rolex GMT II with the blue and black bezel. When I showed her a photo of one she didn't like it at all. We went to Mappin & Webb and she tried on a Submariner, Sea Dweller 4000, both black and white face Explorer II's, a black bezel GMT II and then the blue and black bezel GMT II. As soon as she put the blue and black bezel GMT II on she said that's the one and bought it.

The watch in the flesh is so much nicer than looking at pictures of it.

Good luck with your choice.

[MountainMutant74]

I have a BLNR

It does look so much nicer in the metal than those images above.

Just been watching a foody program with James martin and he was wearing one. Under the TV lighting the blue looked fantastic

I have to agree with an above poster in that I think the Omega will date. The rolex is a timeless piece of design (excuse pun), and as an art director/designer (powerfully built) that appealed to me.

MM

[Dolf Stoppard]

Has to be the one you like. In my view though the Rolex. Definitely the Rolex. I may even swap my 16610 for one before too long. Look at it this way, if you buy it and it doesn't gel, you'll easily be able to move it on and buy the Omega. It's not going to work like that if you go Omega first though.

[HoHoHo]

I have a 2011 black GMT II and love it wearing it every day and haven't worn any of my other watches since I bought it.

However the Omega does look great and Tigerkoi's example looks quite magnificent

Difficult choice but I guess your decision will be made eventually based on which brand you'd rather have on your wrist!

[SVS]

_rubinho_ said:

Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions?

[rog007]

The blue/black GMT is a thing of beauty. Once I've got a Seadweller Deepsea deep blue and a GMT Pepsi I intend to get one. If it helps, why not just get the Rolex first then get the Omega later? Simples!

[Mosdef]

leginigel said:

Hi This how collections start,I purchased my all time favourite watch a rolex sub then wanted a work watch I went for a omega speedy then fell in love with a deepsea the speedy went and the deepsea got in the winder,now no watch for work,again back to omega this time a blue face seamaster which I part x for a black face seamaster which is too close a look to the deepsea room for aother deal there,the stainless steel sub has turn into a bi metal sub and now the hunts on for a chopard.The point,buy with your heart you can always keep,sell or swop.

Apologies for hijacking the thread but I was thinking of moving my Chopard GT XL on. Feel free to PM me if you're interested.

[andy355]

Blue back is much nicer in the flesh than the pics. Mine is now my daily

Saw the new red blue WG one in a window but would rather have the original Pepsi and save 20k