So after having long hesitated between "da big UPO" and " the small 5th gen 42mm", I've decided to go "small" and get the 42mm
Then came the time of hesitating between Swiss ETA, Asian clone ETA or DG 4813... That one wasn't easy, yet based on my experience that supposed "Swiss" were rarely that, that Asian clones were not necessarily great and that I've always had good experiences with "21 jewels" movements (actually better experiences overall than with the more up scale movements), I've decided to go for the cheapest, the DG 4813 (if it craps out, I'll replace that with another of those cheap workhorses... )
Then came the colour problem. I wanted something that was a change, was different from my other watches, gens and reps. So the orange numbers on the dial were a given. The colour of the bezel was not as simple. I tend to prefer fairly classic, not to "show-off-ish" watches... yet, I though that the orange bezel was not too garish and a welcome change relative to what I have.
Last was the question of the "shoes". Well that one was fairly quickly solved... I'm a bracelet guy, mostly, and when I go straps it's either rubber or because it's a dress watch. That PO is anything but a dress watch, even if it's smallish size makes it wearable with a suit, and there's no rubber directly available.
So yeah, all that to say that I went for the 42mm 5th gen PO, orange bezel, orange dial numbers, on ss bracelet, powered by a genuinely Chinese DG 4813 (beating at a slightly too fast 28.8k).
- Overall impression is great. Watch case is very well finished and well repped, same for the dial, bezel, etc. Pearl is fairly convincing if a bit too recessed. (maybe some lacquer on top, or something, could really make it perfect... )
- The AR, albeit a bit too purple, is rather good, one of the best I've seen on a rep, and well on par with what can be found on many gens.
- The logo is correct, no happy feet, but a tad too close to the "OMEGA" name.
- The hands are a little bit dirty, nothing really bad, but on close inspection that is perceptible and doesn't really scream "gen"!.
- Crowns are a bit too tall (both the real one and the one for the He valve) as per the gen, but in the real it's nowhere as bad as it seems on some photos.
- Case back is great, with the seahorse having the same 3D/roundedness the gen has, and is, in the flesh, way better than what shows on most pics.
- Bracelet and clasp are good. OK, the first link has this "gap" problem, but unless you know what to look for, it's not a problem. Only real concern (but that may well be said as well of real Omega bracelet) is that resizing it is a real pain, even with adapted tools... The pins are sometimes so well set that the link comes apart before the pin agrees to move!!
-The bezel is mounted oh so very slightly off... The part at 12 being raised something like a quarter of a millimetre (or less) while at 6 it sits perfectly on the case... Not clearly visible... It took me 1 month wearing the watch constantly to notice it!
Overall, having owned 2 gen Omegas, 1 still in my drawer, and having more than a few friends having some, this watch could pass for a gen easily if said gen is not alongside.
As for the movement, well, it sweeps smoothly (too smoothly compared to the gen which beats at 25.5k) keeps great time so far -I'm on a basis of loosing 1 second a day from when I got it, 6 days ago- even if that's not a long enough time span, etc. etc. We'll see in the future how the thing goes...
Now, pictures !
The traditional wrist shot:
And finally the no-less traditional lume shot:
OK, this one is fairly poor, even if the lume really seems quite OK on this watch. Thing is, I was lazy and didn't feel like getting the tripod out, so I had to raise the ISO and have a short exposure...
So, a better lume shot:
and then two more:
First, the "classic" semi-low light shot...
Then, in full dark:
Then came the time of hesitating between Swiss ETA, Asian clone ETA or DG 4813... That one wasn't easy, yet based on my experience that supposed "Swiss" were rarely that, that Asian clones were not necessarily great and that I've always had good experiences with "21 jewels" movements (actually better experiences overall than with the more up scale movements), I've decided to go for the cheapest, the DG 4813 (if it craps out, I'll replace that with another of those cheap workhorses... )
Then came the colour problem. I wanted something that was a change, was different from my other watches, gens and reps. So the orange numbers on the dial were a given. The colour of the bezel was not as simple. I tend to prefer fairly classic, not to "show-off-ish" watches... yet, I though that the orange bezel was not too garish and a welcome change relative to what I have.
Last was the question of the "shoes". Well that one was fairly quickly solved... I'm a bracelet guy, mostly, and when I go straps it's either rubber or because it's a dress watch. That PO is anything but a dress watch, even if it's smallish size makes it wearable with a suit, and there's no rubber directly available.
So yeah, all that to say that I went for the 42mm 5th gen PO, orange bezel, orange dial numbers, on ss bracelet, powered by a genuinely Chinese DG 4813 (beating at a slightly too fast 28.8k).
- Overall impression is great. Watch case is very well finished and well repped, same for the dial, bezel, etc. Pearl is fairly convincing if a bit too recessed. (maybe some lacquer on top, or something, could really make it perfect... )
- The AR, albeit a bit too purple, is rather good, one of the best I've seen on a rep, and well on par with what can be found on many gens.
- The logo is correct, no happy feet, but a tad too close to the "OMEGA" name.
- The hands are a little bit dirty, nothing really bad, but on close inspection that is perceptible and doesn't really scream "gen"!.
- Crowns are a bit too tall (both the real one and the one for the He valve) as per the gen, but in the real it's nowhere as bad as it seems on some photos.
- Case back is great, with the seahorse having the same 3D/roundedness the gen has, and is, in the flesh, way better than what shows on most pics.
- Bracelet and clasp are good. OK, the first link has this "gap" problem, but unless you know what to look for, it's not a problem. Only real concern (but that may well be said as well of real Omega bracelet) is that resizing it is a real pain, even with adapted tools... The pins are sometimes so well set that the link comes apart before the pin agrees to move!!
-The bezel is mounted oh so very slightly off... The part at 12 being raised something like a quarter of a millimetre (or less) while at 6 it sits perfectly on the case... Not clearly visible... It took me 1 month wearing the watch constantly to notice it!
Overall, having owned 2 gen Omegas, 1 still in my drawer, and having more than a few friends having some, this watch could pass for a gen easily if said gen is not alongside.
As for the movement, well, it sweeps smoothly (too smoothly compared to the gen which beats at 25.5k) keeps great time so far -I'm on a basis of loosing 1 second a day from when I got it, 6 days ago- even if that's not a long enough time span, etc. etc. We'll see in the future how the thing goes...
Now, pictures !
The traditional wrist shot:
And finally the no-less traditional lume shot:
OK, this one is fairly poor, even if the lume really seems quite OK on this watch. Thing is, I was lazy and didn't feel like getting the tripod out, so I had to raise the ISO and have a short exposure...
So, a better lume shot:
and then two more:
First, the "classic" semi-low light shot...
Then, in full dark:
