It feels good to kick things off this week! Chronological order of release is on my side as I look to sway you all in favor of my pick, the old but gold 1:1 fake Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 2531.80.00. I hope you’re ready, Jorg, because I’m feeling confident in my choice, and I know that our audience has a soft spot for the high quality replica watches uk of that early 2000s sweet spot. I’m not pulling any punches, though, as it’s clear that in some technical aspects, you have the upper hand. But for me, it’s all about materials that age and develop character. Like a pair of good leather boots, it’s nice when they’re brand new, but so much better once they’ve broken in and developed a unique patina. But that’s not all, my friend. I have one other heavyweight factor on my side that I think could make all the difference.

There are two things to note before I kick things off. The first is that we will pretend that the awkward mid-2010s luxury replica Omega reference 212.30.41.20.03.001 doesn’t exist. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad watch per se — if you have one and you absolutely love it, please go on loving it — but in a battle of old Seamaster versus new, it’s definitely the worst of both worlds (and then some). The second is that I recently picked up a Seamaster 2254.50.00 from 2006. This is the black version with sword hands (my favorite AAA fake Omega Seamaster diver ever made), but it sat in the collection alongside its blue counterpart. So, in a way, I’ve put my money where my mouth is. I wholeheartedly stand with the aluminum-bezel beauties of the late ’90s and early 2000s. That said, let’s jump into it!

Making waves, not ripples
Now, one of the first key differences you’ll notice when looking at these watches can be found in their dials. The high quality fake Omega Seamaster 2531.80.00 has the classic wave dial that everyone has come to know and love. This guilloché-like texture is present throughout the full dial, including the outer minute track. It plays with the light in a unique way, disappearing and appearing, the waves shifting from dark blue to white as they reflect light. If you haven’t seen one of these in person, you’re missing out. It truly is a beautiful thing. However, the main thing lost in the new models is the dial’s subtlety. The older dials are completely matte with no applied elements whatsoever. Only the hands catch the light with their unique gleam (another distinctive element also not found in later models).

The white text and luminescent markers contrast beautifully and crisply against the subtly textured backdrop. There’s a certain understated elegance that one can only appreciate after staring at one of these dials up close in the light. By contrast, the cheap fake Omega Seamaster’s dial is equipped with deeply laser-etched… ripples? You can’t call them waves, especially not compared to those on the classic 2531 dial. There are fewer of them (19, to be exact), and the wave’s amplitude is severely reduced. The fact that the dial’s surface is glossy (even the lume markers look glossy) betrays this diver’s tool-watch roots. The bezel is equally shiny and abandons the classic SMP numerals in favor of a more Planet Ocean-like look. But this is not the only point where the new copy watch loses some of the original’s charm and character.

Dumbing it down
That’s right; in some way, the subtle intricacies of the original are watered down or even ironed out in the new AAA fake Omega Seamaster 300M. I find that removing some of the organic curves from the bracelet is a big loss. It removes character and dumbs the watch down. On top of that, the helium escape valve’s crown on the new model looks like the bottom of a cupcake — surely, a tapering crown is more prone to slipping through the user’s fingers? Then there’s the text distribution on the dial. The old model puts the brand and its logo up at 12 o’clock, with the rest of the information below the hands at the 6 o’clock position. The date is placed at 3 o’clock in the most traditional manner. Is there too much text on the 2531? Maybe. There will always be differing opinions on this, but I, for one, enjoy it.

But what’s worse than four lines of text at 6 o’clock? That’s right, three at 12 o’clock and three at 6 o’clock (and that’s not counting the completely unnecessary stamp of the elemental formula of ceramic under the central pinion). The entirety of the 6 o’clock area in the modern top super clone Omega Seamaster 300M is a mess. The dial text is too high, the date window is also, and the stubby marker looks silly, leaving too much space for the minute track and “Swiss Made” print. Do I love “Swiss Made” printed on either side of the full marker on the 2531? Not really, but at least the dial is far more balanced. It’s also devoid of color, which adds to its understated look, whereas on the new replica watch, the color leaks from the seconds hand (where it serves as a visual aid) to the “Seamaster” wording (which is distracting and tacky).