Omega Seamaster Pro '96

This is the Omega Seamaster Professional, divers watch. This one is the smaller model, the mid-size, ref. number: 2551.80.00. The watch is automatic chronometer.

I had a chance to buy this watch on the Tradera auction. I was the highest bidder and bought the watch 2000-05-11. The price ended at Skr 6540 (~US$ 715) (1).

Four days later the watch arrived. Yes! Great service at Tradera.

It's a cool watch. One can really feel its weight (130 grams). I have 6.5 inch wrist, so I went for the mid-size. I thought the full-size would be too big on my arm and too heavy. If You're thinking of buying the Seamaster Pro and You cant decide on the sizes of it, contact your local Omega dealer and try them on.

The bezel is very hard to turn with the fingers. I found out that if I put the whole hand (the other hand, of course :-) on the watch and turn the bezel with my palm, the bezel turns pretty easily.

The bracelet is absolutely fantastic! When I saw the watch for the first time, I thought the bracelet was too feminine, but now... Wow! It is so smooth. No hair puller here. On 2000-05-16, I went to my watchmaker to size the bracelet. He removed one full link, so now I have four full- and one half-link on each side of the clasp.

Summery: Great watch! And at this price it was simply a bargain. The bracelet is great. The Seamaster with its bracelet makes the weight to distribute evenly around my wrist, which feels very good. The accuracy is great, within the COSC specifications! BUT I would prefer to have the sword hands, instead the skeleton ones, for the better readability. I might change the hands to sword hands, see Dial and hands for more info.

2000-08-18: After having this watch for over three months now, I have to say: I love it. I got used to the skeleton hands. So consequently I will not change them.

Watch info
The watch was delivered to the Omega Agents in Sweden on February 1, 1996.
It has been serviced ones, what I know, in September 1998.

Case
Ref: 2551.80.00,
stainless steel case,
case diameter: approx. 35 mm.

Crystal
sapphire crystal,
crystal diameter: approx. 26 mm,
domed,
anti-reflective,
scratch-resistant.

Dial and hands
The dial is dark blue with a wavy pattern,
white Omega sign and the word OMEGA below,
words Seamaster, PROFESSIONAL, CHRONOMETER, 300m/1000ft below the dial-center, in white,

The dial close-up. (4)

skeleton shaped hour- and minute-hand,
luminous Tritium-paint on the dial and the hands (confirmed by Omega),
words Swiss Made at the bottom of the dial.

Data window at 3 o'clock,
black numbers on a white background,
white border around the data window,
the date changes at 4 minutes past midnight.

Sword hand: I have been in contact with Omega.ch about the sword hands. I was told it is not a problem to change the hands. The only problem is that I have to send the watch to the Omega agent in Sweden (Stockholm). The sword hands are about Skr 150 , the work is about the same and then VAT, which is 25% here in Sweden. So the total should be about Skr 500 (US$ 55) (1). The sword hands that fit are the hands from the 2253.80.
Here you can see how the modified Seamaster would look like.

Bezel
The divers bezel is very nice, with no scratches. Unfortunately, the bezel is very hard to turn.

Crown and helium escape valve
Both the crown and helium escape valve are of a screw-in type and has Omega-sign.

The crown has four positions:

1. screw-in, or locked position,
2. winding position,
3. date-set position and
4. time-set position with second-hand stop function (the second hand stops, making the correct setting of the time easy).

The helium escape valve. (5)

The helium escape valve is an OMEGA innovation, which is indispensable to divers who must spend several days in a diving-bell. A watch without a helium escape valve could explode from too much pressure inside the case when the diver returns to the surface. By unscrewing the crown positioned at 10 o'clock, the pressure is released through the valve without water infiltrating the case. (3) Many view the manual helium release valve to be superior to the automatic, flush type that you find on the Rolex Sea-Dweller or the Breitling SuperOcean, as the manual valve can be tightened down. This is thought to provide better water security. (6)

Back
Screw-in back with wave pattern.
The word Seamaster with a Seahorse-sign and a small Omega sign below.

The back of the Seamaster. (5)

Bracelet and clasp
The bracelet is very comfortable. It is so smooth on my hairy arms. No hair-puller here.
One half-link is removed by the former owner. My watchmaker removed one full-link and inserted the half-link. The bracelet feels very good on my hand.

On the bracelet, there is 32S engraved,
on the clasp there is 32 inside a circle, words STAINLESS STEEL, Omega-sign inside the triangle with word OMEGA and 1502/824 engraved below.

Movement (2)
Caliber 1120 with 23 jewels,
self-winding mechanical movement with the power reserve of 44 hours (tested below),
certified chronometer (COSC) ,
Geneva wave decor,
finely finished with circular graining,
polished beveled bridges,
rhodium-plated surfaces.

Movement view. Picture of a cal. 1120, front and back

I haven't seen the movement but it sure must be a beauty!

Accuracy
The official Omega FAQ states the accuracy of mechanical chronometer movements should be -4/+6 seconds per day, which is the COSC criteria.

2000-06-01: The watch was reset and precise accuracy-test was started. The watch was worn in a normal way and it was left with its helium escape valve down at night. The time gain was measured at about same time every day, at 17:45. Unfortunately, the test had to be stopped at 2000-06-10. This short test period showed that the watch has very good accuracy, which is in the limits of COSC regulations. The test will be re-made and it will stretch over a longer time-period shortly.

Accuracy test.

Power reserve
2000-06-11: I had to leave my match at home, because I went to Malmoe, Sweden for The Bridge Race. I left the watch, helium escape valve down, at 9:00.
2000-06-12: I returned home from the race at 23:00. The watch had stopped and was showing 8:55. Now, I don't know if the watch stopped at 20:55 same day, or 8:55 or 20:55 next day. This means, either 12, 24 or 36 hours power reserve. I guess it should be 36 hours reserve for a watch been wear daily. 

2000-08-22: Over a period of two day the power reserve of this watch has been tested. 
The watch was been hand-wound to the maximum. The hands were set at 12:00 (2000-08-22). Two days later, the watch stopped at 9:51 (2000-08-24). This test indicates that the power reserve of this watch being hand-wound is about 46 hours.

Links
Tradera - An European auction site.
OMEGA Discussion forum @ TimeZone
Omega.ch - The official Omega page.
zOwie - THE Omega Seamaster site with Seamaster FAQ and more...
Omega-Addict - Robert Jan's site about Omega.