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| Joined: | Sun Apr 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Perth, Australia |
| Posts: | 1268 |
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O, the O7 is purely an homage. Latest news is that it will run a Selitta movement, have Pantone 282 (??) as the dial colour, have a white surround to the date window, black numbers on white background for the date, slight variation to the case blank of the Ploprof, an aluminum bezel lock (maybe red) and be supplied on rubber - with the SS bracelet to come later at additional cost. Places in the queue have apparently been sold at a premium - but clever O7 decided that warranties would not be transferrable from the name of the original person who made the deposit - making loyal clients out of the potential speculators with one flick of the pen. I don't mind - I bought one for myself and nor for instant speculator resale. But if it gets here and I hate it - on the block it will go. I wouldn't expect a loss from a quick sale - but I wouldn't be exp[ecting to make money on it , either.
As best I can recall, the Omega patents on the Ploprof were for crown guard, case monobloc construction and the bezel lock - and if I am not mistaken all of those patents expired. The new Omega Ploprof 1200m has a new configuration for the crown guard (very clever and very toolish) a new combined bezel lock / HRV (which is again a very clever piece of engineering) and what looks to be an identical 24mm lug width version of the 1970s Ploprof case. There is enough innovation to call it a new model IMHO. But hey - I am working from CAD drawings - don't shoot me if I am wrong!!
As for the LM-7 - the release date keeps slipping backwards. Latest is that it will be "sometime ... by the end of summer...". I am still looking forward to getting the watch, but the shine has worn off a little and now, for me, it has probably become a short term thing rather than a keeper. As for the infringement thing, I guess that if Mitch from O7 doesn't call it a Ploprof, a Seamaster, or an Omega - a duck is not a duck! You can't infringe an expired copyright, and Omega have innovated the new items sufficiently to be able to patent new designs IMHO.
Like you - I reckon the Omega version will outclass and outperform the LM-7. This new Omega might even become a future collectors item. I don't believe that the O7 will be every bit as good - but we are talking under $1000 versus $7000 here. A bit like trying to claim that your Corvette is a Ferrari because both had a type of red paint on them. Wrong comparison, I know - but you get my drift.
Chris - that's why Ocean7 decided to make an homage in the first place - most of the look for a fraction of the price. Not trying to claim the O7 is a Ploprof, only that O7 make a watch very similar to the Ploprof for less money. Both the Omega and the O7 will probably have a following, I guess. I am, for at least a short while, gonna be in both camps until I decide which one or both to keep. It will be interesting...
I have an incoming MKII Stingray 50 with Bund dial and a red-tipped second hand. I bought it cos I love the look of the watch. After deciding that I liked it and that I wanted one, I also discovered that it looks similar to the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Different watches - love 'em both for different reasons. But I don't think one is trying to actually BE the other. Is the O7 a worse watch because it mimics a more well-known icon of the watch world?
Whaddya think?
Cheers all! IanM hand6.gifhand6.gif