Pulled The Trigger : Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean XL (Model No : 2200.51.00)

Readers would know that I had recently sold off an Omega Seamaster Professional 300m as made famous by James Bond (when under Pierce Brosnan's stewardship).

I was thereafter thinking of picking up another Omega made famous by James Bond too, in the form of Daniel Craig's Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean XL 600m as appeared from Casino Royale onwards. This model utilises the 2500D co-axial movement (as compared to the current crop utilising the in-house 8500 co-axial movement) and is therefore thinner and more wearable on one's wrist.

The PO XL is a large watch at 45.5mm, and the thinner movement ensures that the watch case could remain within the cuffs on one's long-sleeved shirt.

But finding the PO XL 2500D was not an easy affair as most ADs would be carrying the PO XL 8500. After all, the price difference between the 2 models as researched from the Net shows that the 2500D could be gotten new at RM13,909 (RRP : circa RM17,000) while the 8500 could be gotten new at RM15,239 (RRP : circa RM18,000); therefore the 2 models' prices were merely RM1,330 apart.

In fact, I would actually prefer the bracelet clasp from the PO XL 2500D that was engraved with "Omega Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean", rather than the PO XL 8500's simple "Omega".

And it so happened that a fellow collector got in touch with me to see if I was interested in his PO XL 2500D. It was in the same colour combination that I wanted i.e. orange numerals with black bezel, was in a full boxed set and sounded altogether a promising proposition.

I searched online and there was only another same model being sold by a pre-owned shop, and that was a 2010 piece selling at RM8,900.

The one that was offered to me was a much-newer one and still under Omega warranty, so I arranged to see him and sure enough, the watch looked the part although there were some desk swirls and light scratches here and there. But nothing that a little hard work and careful detailing couldn't make right, so I decided to strike the iron while it's hot and took the PO XL 2500D home.

Needless to say, we all know how the sales thread ended - with a happy conclusion for both parties :

And after a good 2 hours of working on the watch, I am happy to report that I have managed to size the bracelet to good fit, and removed the light scratches on the watch. It now looks as good as new, and you would be hard-pressed to find another PO XL 2500D in such pristine condition in a hurry.

I am indeed happy with this purchase, and the timing and everything fell into plan picture perfect actually. It was the right time and right model for the right monies, so I am indeed a happy man. Let's all wear our watches in good health!