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TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > New Arrivals > 2538.20 Omega Seamaster GMT 'Great White" Arrives |
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TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > New Arrivals > 2538.20 Omega Seamaster GMT 'Great White" Arrives |
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stew77 Admin 
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Ok...My very first "new to me" GMT arrived this week (first Omega as well), the discontinued 2538.20 Omega Seamaster GMT (aka 'Great White'). I am pretty sure that you 3T veterans know this piece very well. This has been on my wish list for a very long time, and I actually thought that the excellent 2254.50 would be my very first Omega piece, but the right one came up when I was somewhat focused  ....and the rest was history.An extremely gorgeous piece in pics, but even more so in person...this dial really pops due to the nice black border surrounds on the indices and hands and that white Omega wave dial provides a nice backdrop for the nicely detailed GMT and Regular hands as well. Case, bezel, and Speedmaster-style bracelet are completely brushed on the 2538.20...no polished pieces to speak of anywhere on the watch which looks great to me and will make finish maintenance an easier task. Case finish and machining is really spectacular...just beautiful and you've got to love that deeply machined classic Seamaster Seahorse caseback! As I mentioned, this is my very first GMT and I'm thinking that the Omega Cal. 1128 (Omega modified, COSC certified, 23 jewel movement based on the ETA 2892-A2 with GMT function), that is powering this beauty is spoiling me rotten (buttery smooth to wind of course, but I absolutely love that the engine allows for independent setting of the hour hand forward or backwards while keeping everything ticking (via 1st crown postion)...and then of course you can hack the movement to set the date and then overall time and GMT hand via the 2nd crown position). This setup would seem to be a travelers dream when jumping from timezone to timezone. Keep in mind that you do loose the quickset date feature due to this setup, but this seems like a reasonable tradeoff to me for a GMT timepiece. Would love to hear you veterans chime in regarding this GMT setup compared to some others out there (ie ETA 2893-2, rolex caliber 3185, others...). Love the Speedmaster-style bracelet (the previous owner included an extra set of Omega Speedmaster bracelet half-links for obtaining that absolute perfect fit), which is ultra-comfortable on the wrist (tapers from 20mm at the lugs to 18mm at the very, very nice 2 button push Omega clasp). I highly recommend the half-links as the Omega Speedy clasp has no micro-adjust capability. And for you Lume junkies out there...the Lume is SPECTACULAR...and charges heavily via the smallest amounts of light exposure. The basic specs: Case: All brushed stainless steel finish Bezel: Bi-directional rotating bezel Diameter: 41.5mm diameter (without crown) - measures about 42mm to me Movement: Omega Cal. 1128 (23 jewel, COSC certified automatic movement based on the ETA 2892-A2 with GMT Function, 44 hour power reserve) Crystal - Sapphire crystal - anti-reflective coated on the inside Water resistant to 300 meters Bracelet: Speedmaster-style bracelet with 2 button Omega signed sport clasp (w/dive suit extension) A keeper so far!!! A few pics - note that the Omega Cal. 1120 pic is one of the few pics that I could find that could be publically reproduced (note the copyright). The Omega Cal. 1128 looks just like this with the addition of the GMT function...I found it to be a rather gorgeous movement, so included the pic here for you guys since I'm not planning on opening mine up any time soon.    Last edited on Tue May 25th, 2010 01:43 pm by stew77 |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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stew77 wrote: Ok...My very first "new to me" GMT arrived this week, the discontinued 2538.20 Omega Seamaster GMT (aka 'Great White'). I am pretty sure that you 3T veterans know this piece very well. Superb choice for a first GMT, Chris.  The simplicity and exactness of the design is top-rate. Enjoy it in good health |
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Nabco 3T WIS 
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Awesome Chris  |
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OldeCrow 3T WIS 
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And that is how a white dialed watch is done! |
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Hammerfjord Moderator 
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Very clean design: Congrats! |
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natevan70 3T WIS 
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Sweet! I like the all brushed look My Seamaster bracelet is a pain in the a** |
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omegaman41 3T WIS 
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Congratulations on a great looking watch. This is one of my alltime grails. Congratulations |
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Tony Duronio 3T WIS 
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Stunning Chris |
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Edgel 3T WIS 
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One of my all time favorite Omegas. I am very envious.  |
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rockmastermike 3T WIS 
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Fantastic! big_eyes.gif |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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absolutely awesome Chris...Congrats!....great pics and review Buddy! |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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Congrats and enjoy. |
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stew77 Admin
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Thanks so much Jeff, Nick, Chris, William, Nate, Omegaman, Tony, Edgel, Mike, Oscar and Skipdawg for the kind words and congrats... Would love to hear you GMT veterans chime in regarding this Omega GMT caliber compared to some of the other GMT calibers out there in terms of operation and ease of use (ie ETA 2893-2, rolex caliber 3185, others...). |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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Congratulations on the Great White, Chris. Surely one of the most recognizable and imho "pretty" of the Omega watches. Certainly one of my personal favorites and one I've come close to grabbing a number of times. I've got a few GMT watches including the Rolex GMTII and it sounds like your GMT functions pretty much identically to the Rolex caliber. I'm not a complications guy, but I find the GMT or four hand arrangement to be pretty useful and an uncomplicated complication. I prefer the arrangement on the Rolex caliber thought you do lose the quickset date. Keeping the second hand running and being able to move your hour hand forward or backward in time do indeed make it a travelers dream.. Again, big congrats on a really superb addition to your phenomenal collection. You say its a keeper for now... well should you chnge your mind (and I don't think you will) you know where to find me! |
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Jeep99dad 3T WIS 
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Chris she is a beauty, simple yet awesome design! I am so happy for you, first Omega! WOW, I'm looking myself, saving... Thanks for the review and awesome pics as always my friend! Wear it in good health! Brice |
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stew77 Admin
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Wow!!...Mark and Brice...Thank you guys for the continued kind words and congrats!!! Brice - These "classic" pieces tend to remind me that I need not get wrapped around the axle regarding case sizes that need to be in the 43mm + category...This classic Omega at ~42mm does wear very easily on the wrist (I'm very much reminded of this when switching between this one and one of the larger divers in the 44-46mm category)...but there is something very nice about "classics" like these (although I think 42mm is about as small as I want to go)...I think of the Doxa cases that you have in both the Sub 750T size and the Sub 1000T size...who knows I might start considering any and all case sizes for the Doxa series as well (with a 42mm minimum). Mark - Thank you very much for the detailed response...I knew you were an Omega fan (I actually thought that you were one of several 3T'ers with a 'Great White' already). Thanks also for the extra detail on the comparison to the Rolex GMT II which is known to be the standard in GMT watches...I had assumed that the Rolex caliber may have offered the advantage of being able to quickset the date as well, but had not really researched the Rolex GMT calibers like the cal. 3185. I wouldn't hold your breath on the "keeper for now" comment...I've only worn the piece for 24 hours or so, but I'm really starting to bond with this one (You are the first in line, however, if I ever change my mind). |
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Devin 3T WIS 
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That is a great catch Chris! Enjoy that one, it's a perfect summertime watch! |
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Paladin 3T WIS 
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Big Congrats Chris! I'll bet the pics don't do the white dial justice!  |
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froschd 3T WIS
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OMG...sweeet! |
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Graham 3T WIS 
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Chris Kudos on acquiring an iconic GMT. I, too, have often considered pulling the trigger on one of those to compliment my GMT Master II. Absolutely my favourite white dial out in the wild. Just a pity they are becoming extinct at an alarming rate..... Enjoy in good health! |
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stew77 Admin
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Thanks Trent, Bill, froschd, and Graham for the continued kind words... Trent - agree, this will be a very nice piece for summer! Graham - I agree, and IMO it is one of the really great White dialed GMT's that I seem to like to compare to the Rolex Explorer II GMT (which is a great classic)...this one is much easier on the wallet too compared to the Explorer. It does seem like these are becoming increasing hard to find (especially for a sample in excellent condition with all the right documentation and goodies). I actually missed a couple "good ones" on the way to finding this one. |
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ncvol17 3T WIS 
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Arctic white dial..very beautiful timepiece. Omega has one classy timepiece collection..well done.. |
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