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SMP Bond Quartz black review
I've owned my Seamaster 300 M quartz now 7 months and here's my feelings about this model.
This particular model (212.30.41.61.01.001) is a full size, black version of familiar 300 M Bond model and was bought in 2008. Generally speaking we are talking here about a diver watch with distinctive styling design originating from early 1990's. This, and it's sister model 2221.80.00 blue quartz, differ somewhat from the original Bond quartz 2541.80.00.
CASE AND BEZEL
Watch has stainless steel case with 41 mm diameter, 11,5 mm height and has around 150 gr weight with steel bracelet. Water resistance is rated to 300 m/1000 ft. Compared to 1. generation 300 M quartz, caseback has now full size hippocampus figure with large Seamaster text, Omega logo and added counterfeit emblem. Watch has a quite low profile, which makes it very easy to wear on the wrist. Black bezel has unidirectional rotating with 120 clicks with luminated dot inside triangle at twelve o'clock. Turning has easy, yet very solid, definite feel, which has considerable difference compared to my older 300 M Seamasters. Is this due to the fact that my older ones are pre-used and may have got dirt in bezel or have stuck for not been used? 300 M has previously got bad rap for not very easy rotating bezel. I suspect Omega has changed something in the mechanism compared to older ones as I have no problem at all to rotate it with sweaty, wet hands or wearing gloves. I also like very much that minutes are marked all the way around the bezel. I do not dive (other than pool), but I tend to/like to use it to timing duties.
DIAL AND CRYSTAL
Crystal is made of scratch-resistance sapphire in domed shape. Anti-reflactive coating is only in the inside of the crystal. Despite this, visibility has never been a problem to me. Dial is black with now familiar Omega Seamaster waves. Differences compared to 1. generation: hour and minute hands are longer, hour markers on the dial are little bigger and Seamaster text is colored red instead of white. Also the date window has black background with white numbers, while blue ones, old and new, have it other way around. Despite having bigger hour markers, maximum lume is not quite as bright as on my old 90's Seamaster Bond automatic. However, new one keeps it's luminence somewhat better than my old SMP. Differences are still small and both have enough visibility to last through night. Due the design of hands and markers, some might say dressier design, luminence is not quite up to watches with sword hands, say as Seamaster Planet Ocean or Seamaster GMT 2234.50.00.
MOVEMENT
Timekeeping abilities come from cal 1538. It is not thermocompensated, but as stated by Omega is quartz precition movement with rhodium-plated finish with date function. Base movement is ETA 255.461 with 6 jewels. For a new watch Omega lists power reserve from 27 to 36 months. As a quartz watch, mine is running now about 1-2 seconds fast a month. Setting it up is simple. Unscrew the crown and it pops free to 1. position. On automatics, this is were manual winding is done, but here it has no function. Pull to position 2 and you have two functions available. While watch is still running, you can move the hour hand back or forth to different time zones or winter/summer time. Second function is date setting. And as you might now guessed it, this quartz has no quick set date. To change date you move hour hand forward or backwards past midnight as many times as needed. That sounds handfull, but in reality isn't that hard.
BRACELET
Stainless steel (Bond) bracelet is one of the highlights of this watch. Besides good looking, it is very comfortable with no hair pulling. About only thing before buying that worried me was locking mechanism. Couple of my other watches have clasps with locks and I do like them. However, with properly sized bracelet, accidential opening has never happened to me. Locking mechanism feels very solid and secure. Getting bracelet to correct size may not be easy. Of course, when buying new watch, AD's will size it for you. About only negative thing with the clasp is lack of microadjustment. Other than clasp, watch does not seem to scratch easily.
To sum it up: here is watch with excellent shock, dust and water resistance, good propotions and weight (to me), excellent legitibility in a classic design. I like skeleton hands and round hour markers. Quality and attention to details is phenomenal. Since it does my working duties, black color suits it perfectly. Though I have other kind of watches, I seem to gravitate towards diver watches because their rugged design, uncluttered dials and good luminence. Seamaster 300 M Bond quartz definitely fullfills those requierements.
Thank you for reading!
DISCLAMER
Errors and mis-spellings are unintentional and all mine.
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