Talk to me about the "Great White" GMT

[Luminescent]

I am lusting after the Great White GMT for my next watch, and Omega #2. Currently in the process of selling all my other watches as they cannot be worn in place of my Bond GMT. I want the "Great White" GMT as my next Omega - please give me your feedback and talk me out of it or validate my desires, your choice! Any and all info on this watch is greatly appreciated.

[ken_sturrock]

I love my 2538.20.00 however, it is a Seamaster variation. Since you already own a Seamaster, you may have to think about if you really want another watch that is, in many ways, quite similar. Do you have an actual need for a GMT hand?

In my case, although I love the watch, I don't wear it as much as I thought I would. As a biggish, bold, white dialed, dive watch, it simply doesn't fit my day-to-day "dress code". Since it does not have a quick-set date function, I often bypass it even when I can wear it because the date is wrong and I'm too lazy to set it.

The watch excels as a travel watch. The ability to track three time zones (assuming they are time zones that are off by a whole hour increment) is very useful when I'm on the go. The 2538.20.00 also has really nice lume and, despite the all-white look, is actually very easy to read.

I bought mine on the Sales Forum from a member.

[jmsrolls]

I love the "Great White" as evidenced by the fact that I have owned four of them. It is a beautiful piece for sure. Even Brosnan likes it:



Unfortunately, I could never wear any of them comfortably due to the fact that the thickness of the cases would not allow them to sit comfortably atop my 7 1/2" round wrist.

Eventually I ended up with a different "Great White" with a lower profile:

[ehutch01]

I generally agree, especially with Ken's thoughts above. I own and enjoy the Great White. Wear it for travel almost everytime I change time zones.

Yet I do not wear it as much as I expected I would. I typically wear my speedy pro and SM300 more. I generally find some of my other pieces to be more versatile. Just one man's opinion.

Still a fine and handsome watch. You can't go wrong.

[ajsylvester]

The Great White and the original Railmaster are the two discontinued Omegas that I would love to own.

Good looking watch.

[gt_5454]

Nice watch but the lack of a quick set date stopped me from getting one so far

[Luminescent]

I don't have a problem with lack of quick-set date because I actually prefer the quick-set hour hand that doesn't stop the rest of the hands. So it's a trade-off there of course. I love the Speedy as well but I'm just not a chrono fan due to case thickness - I really don't like a tall case.

Thanks for posting the Explorer 2 Jmsrolls - I've also been considering that one as of course it is quite similar to the Great White. The only reason I slightly prefer the Great White is due to movable bezel and lack of date cyclops which I do not like. The date cyclops is probably the only thing stopping me from being a huge Rolex fan.

[ken_sturrock]

I love the Speedy as well but I'm just not a chrono fan due to case thickness - I really don't like a tall case.

They are both thick. My Great White is 0.01 mm thinner than my sapphire sandwich Speedy Pro.

[jmsrolls]

Thanks for posting the Explorer 2 Jmsrolls - I've also been considering that one as of course it is quite similar to the Great White. The only reason I slightly prefer the Great White is due to movable bezel and lack of date cyclops which I do not like. The date cyclops is probably the only thing stopping me from being a huge Rolex fan.

I know what you mean about the Cyclops. When I sold my last "Great White", I replaced it with the 40mm (actually 39mm) 16570 EXPII and removed the Cyclops:



But Rolex has now added AR coating beneath the "bubble" and with the white dial, I do not find the Cyclops objectionable. I also thought I would prefer the movable bezel but found I never used it and the fixed SS bezel of the EXPII is much more "bullet proof".

Like I said, I loved the Omega especially on a gold brown Hirsch Principal strap:

[ehutch01]

Agreed. I din't know the measurements but the GW FEELS thicker.