It’s Been Repped: SMP300 Bond Blue (Low-Mid Tier)

[TheWatchGuy2]

<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6v9o.jpg" alt="3p6v9o.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6uKk.jpg" alt="3p6uKk.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6MRD.jpg" alt="3p6MRD.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p67MJ.jpg" alt="3p67MJ.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6NDP.jpg" alt="3p6NDP.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6RqW.jpg" alt="3p6RqW.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6fTS.jpg" alt="3p6fTS.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6FbQ.jpg" alt="3p6FbQ.jpg" border="0">
<img src="https://clickpix.org/images/3p6SUL.jpg" alt="3p6SUL.jpg" border="0">

 

[Got20Mate]

Looks nice - let us know how it fairs in hand

 

[Physiopete]

Yep ordered

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

Looks nice - let us know how it fairs in hand

https://www.reddit.com/r/RepTime/comments/130ucsq
It arrived. Looks great aside from lack of miore affect. Strap not as comfortable as I'd like it to be.

 

[pippo]

It arrived. Looks great aside from lack of miore affect. Strap not as comfortable as I'd like it to be.

Have you considered to replace the milanese strap with a planet ocean bracelet?
Not sure it would fit but it might be worth a shot.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

Have you considered to replace the milanese strap with a planet ocean bracelet?
Not sure it would fit but it might be worth a shot.

It feels like it belongs with a mesh strap though. Ive got another mesh strap I could try to see if any different.

 

[Got20Mate]

It feels like it belongs with a mesh strap though. Ive got another mesh strap I could try to see if any different.

Do you think they've just cut back on the quality of the strap like they usually do? What other "downsides" do you have as it looks great overall.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

Hard to say. I have one other mesh strap I put on a Breitling but haven't worn it yet. So this is really my first experience with them. I loosened it one position and think it will be fine. It will just take some getting used to I think. Other than that it's a great piece. I almost bought a ZF Blue smp but glad I waited for VSF to release this as it completely satisfies my desire for a blue dial smp!

 

[pippo]

The mesh strap is the only reason I haven't bought yet a NTTD or a blue 40th anniversary.
I have a < 7" wrist and a ss bracelet with endlinks is a non negotiable requirement.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

The mesh strap is the only reason I haven't bought yet a NTTD or a blue 40th anniversary.
I have a < 7" wrist and a ss bracelet with endlinks is a non negotiable requirement.

I'm going to get a oem Omega deployment buckle if I can't bend this one to the right curvature. That will make it more wearable. The VSF deployment buckle is just too flat and doesn't have the right curvature to it.

 

[Got20Mate]

I'm going to get a oem Omega deployment buckle if I can't bend this one to the right curvature. That will make it more wearable. The VSF deployment buckle is just too flat and doesn't have the right curvature to it.

Where would you pick something like this up? Just the usual places like eBay etc?

 

[Teamjlf]

Wouldn't surprise me since VSF crowns extend quite far out but man that crown is out there...

It’s not the crown extending per se. It’s actually the typical VSF crown guard issue where the CG are the wrong shape and too stubby. ZF and ORF seem to get them right so not sure why VSF persist with this issue. I would have thought that VSF would have corrected this with this new release, but it just looks like the same case as the regular 300 SMP that they have. Based on that + the non animation + the expected crown and tube stripping issues that VSF almost always have with screw in crowns on Seamasters…. Sadly this is a big miss for me.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

Where would you pick something like this up? Just the usual places like eBay etc?

Probably or other online sellers. I don't think I need to go that route though as I bent the deployment buckle to give it more curve and it worked out pretty good. Fits much more comfortably.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

Yep ordered

pro tip: The AliExpress Omega strap is much more comfortable. Deployment buckle has the right curvature. The end link is gen like. I had bought one to put on one of my other Seamasters because I didn't know when VSF would come out with this model and I liked the look of a mesh. I had this sitting in the drawer so pulled it out this morning put it on and it's definitely staying on. The VSF strap is just not good. They clearly don't put as much effort into their Omega's as their rolex's.

 

[Physiopete]

pro tip: The AliExpress Omega strap is much more comfortable. Deployment buckle has the right curvature. The end link is gen like. I had bought one to put on one of my other Seamasters because I didn't know when VSF would come out with this model and I liked the look of a mesh. I had this sitting in the drawer so pulled it out this morning put it on and it's definitely staying on. The VSF strap is just not good. They clearly don't put as much effort into their Omega's as their rolex's.

What seller did you buy from

 

[KushBandit]

Where would you pick something like this up? Just the usual places like eBay etc?

You can go to an Omega AD. They usually sell seperate bracelets, straps, and clasps.

 

[Got20Mate]

You can go to an Omega AD. They usually sell seperate bracelets, straps, and clasps.

This is helpful and super obvious. I suppose I didn't think of this just incase they'd ask "why" from which I'd panic and run out

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

What seller did you buy from

NH35 Store. 20mm o logo

 

[clk168]

IMHO I'd be wary of buying this rep knowing the caseback animation doesn't work. Omega does a good job in ads and social media about this watch and the nifty animation, to the point there's a good chance even a novice watch person would ask to see the back of the watch. This is, after all, a James Bond watch. So it most likely garnered a lot of attention from aficionados and laymen alike. I mean I'm a watch novice and even I know the Speedy Snoopy has a spaceship in the back, so I will politely ask to see it if I ever notice one in public.

 

[TheWatchGuy2]

IMHO I'd be wary of buying this rep knowing the caseback animation doesn't work. Omega does a good job in ads and social media about this watch and the nifty animation, to the point there's a good chance even a novice watch person would ask to see the back of the watch. This is, after all, a James Bond watch. So it most likely garnered a lot of attention from aficionados and laymen alike. I mean I'm a watch novice and even I know the Speedy Snoopy has a spaceship in the back, so I will politely ask to see it if I ever notice one in public

While my preference would be to have a working animation, IMHO it's not the end of the world. I really doubt that anyone will ever ask to see the caseback. I guess it depends on your circle. As for the snoopy it's not even a good rep from the front side so no need to see the caseback as the whole watch is an obvious tell. At least the Bond does look really good.