The more I’ve spent time with my 300M, the more I’ve come to appreciate it (PCL and all) and a few thoughts come to mind.
If you realize this is a dressy diver, the PCL are not bad whatsoever. I once had a “No PCL policy” when buying watches… even passing on this one a few times due to the PCL’s. I think I wanted too much from a watch back then… I wanted a “do it all” bracelet diver – and now I realize there isn’t such a horse.
I tried this on at the local Boutique and asked them to take off all the protective plastic that was covering the bracelet. They did. While my wife chatted it up with the SA, I spent a good 3-4 minutes with the watch on my wrist, looking at it in the mirror… and you know what, PCL aren’t all that bad. It shocked me how they are not all that “blingy” from 3-4 feet away. You almost hardly notice the PCL from 3-4 feet away.
Anyway, more on the “do it all watch”, and learning to not expect that from this 300M. I own quite a few Omega’s. A Skyfall Blue Aqua Terra (non-master brushed bracelet), a PO8500, a Speedy Moonwatch, and the Speedy FOIS… and of course this 300M. If I want to wear a t-shirt and jeans, causal look – I’ll grab for my Moonwatch or Planet Ocean without hesitation. A little more dressy attire and I’ll go for my Skyfall AT8500. But if I want to wear something more dressy like a white dress shirt and blazer, this 300M is my choice unless I’m going with a leather band watch like my IWC Portofino. And with more dressy attire (white button down shirt, etc… the PCL actually compliment the look moreso than an all brushed bracelet which can come off as more tool-watch like. So once I understood and embraced that, I enjoy the PCL with my more dressy clothes. Casual gets other watches wrist time.
See below photo borrowed from the internet, 300M with a white button down dress shirt = perfection IMO. Not to say you can’t wear it with other things… but with a 7 watch collection, I tend to not force what doesn’t look right IMO and wear what I feel works best. Its nice to have options.
Also, a few words on why I don't think an all brushed bracelet works on this watch. Due to all of the polish on this watch - the case, lugs, bezel sides, in addition to the hi-gloss bezel top.... to me, the all brushed bracelet has a major 'disconnect' with the rest of the watch. However the PCL ties it all together IMO. And this is coming from someone who 2 months ago wouldn't consider buying a watch with PCL!! I'm glad I saw the light!