Another review of SMP Chrono

[halcyon 0]

There are already some great review of this watch in this forum. Many people may read them as a reference to decide whether to buy or not. I'm such a person, so I decide to contribute my review to them. It may useful for people to see descent model of SMP Chrono. I bought this watch July 2012.

 

In this review, I would like to write about the watch I received as it is, and to show how it will be if little mod have done to the watch.

 

1. Dial

 

Dial is beautiful. Wave pattern is deep enough but a little bit shiny.

 

 

Short small hands. Its one of major flaw of SMP Chrono.

 

2. Logo

There are four pattern of combination of OMEGA logo and OMEGA lettering. It is combination of OMEGA logo with happyfeet and without happyfeet, and O_M_E_G_A lettering and O-M_E-G-A lettering. Be aware to this point when you buy this watch.

 

Correct dial looks like this.

 

 

 

3. Bezel

 

Pearl position is not centered. This is major flaw of this watch.

 

4. Brecelet

 

Beautiful. I can not write any words other than that.

 

 

5. Case

 

See these photos. Good quality.

 

 

 

6. Modification

 

Major flaws of this watch are below. If you know more of it, please let me know about that.

• Bezel insert (pearl position)
  
• Crystal without AR coating
  
• Date wheel
  
• Too short small hands
  

I changed DW and Small hands since it is inexpensive and effective. Of course you can buy and change Bezel and Crystal to gen's. But they are so expensive. You have to pay more than you paid for this watch. I would rather buy another good reps than buy gen parts.

 

 

6.1 Date Wheel

DW font is simply ugly. If you see gen OMEGA watch at least once, you must not live with rep's DW. It is down and dirty.

I recommend you to change DW because it is very reasonable to buy and easy to change.

 

This is gen's DW.

 

6.2 Small hands

 

Short small hands are also strange. It appeals loudly that this watch is replica.

As I measured the dial, I found that the length of small hand should be 4.5mm. But, rep's hand length is 4mm. It's too short.

 

However hard I searched watch parts shop around the internet, I couldn't find true one. So I Decided to make it by myself. I bought some small hands at local watch shop and cutted, filed, polished, colored them.

It's very difficult to decide the color of hands. Some says it is red and other says it orange etc...I mixed red and orange.

 

 

Isn't it acceptable?

 

 

If you interested in this small hands, let me know. I sell it to you since I made some spare throughout this DIY.

 

 

6.3 The Result

 

 

 

I think only these small mods drastically change the quality of this watch. SMP Chrono serve a good base for modding.

I don't know how long this model will be sold. If you still don't have it, buy it now before it's too late.

[Cyril_Clunge 0]

Excellent review and good job on the Chrono hands

[007omegafan 0]

Wow that's really nice. Which TD did you buy this from?

[jcagara08 31]

Wow amazing review!

Very nice DIY on the sub-dial hands BTW!

How about the bezel insert color? how close is the shade of it to the gen insert?

Wear in good health my friend

[YoungGPS 0]

Great review of a very nice watch!

 

[halcyon 0]

@Cyril_Clunge

Thank you. This watch becomes my daily beater now.

 

@007omegafan

I bought this from WI.

 

@jcagara08

Bezel color is little bit shiny same as dial. I'm wondering the way to darken the color.

 

@YoungGPS

Thank you.

[jcagara08 31]

So you mean the stock bezel insert you have on this baby is quite on the light blue side?

I believe the biggest flaw so far that this model has is only the bezel insert (pearl and color,should be navy blue and not blue violet)

and the short sub dial hands which you have tremendously corrected!=)

otherwise all parts are all direct swap from the gen (not so sure on the chrono pushers though)

two thumbs up!

[007omegafan 0]

Which Omega is better.. this SMP chrono or the SMP (standard) being sold in this thread? : http://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?showtopic=33923&hl=&fromsearch=1

[rbel13 0]

great review

[halcyon 0]

@jcagara08

Talking about a color sometimes lead us to the labyrinth of subjectivity. But I try to.

 

I agree with you that color is not blue purple but navy blue. It is luminance that I'm concerning.

When I see gen SMP Chrono, I felt bezel insert have more chic atomosphere as if it has matt finish.

So, not color, but luminance, I think.

 

Anyway, I also totally agree with you about "two thumbs up! ".

[halcyon 0]

@007omegafan

 

Its difficult to say better one because I don't know what you want to mean by the word "better".

 

I personally prefer simple watch. From that point of view, I buy SMP.

If more flawless watch is needed, I buy SMP Chrono.

[halcyon 0]

@rbel13

Thanks.

[HeavyKrush 16]

Fantastic review and modifications guide!

[DeLaForce 2]

Nice work, looks great.

[HeavyKrush 16]

With the exception of the pushers this looks pretty close.

 

[nunu78 1,743]

Nice job . Wear it in a good health.

[halcyon 0]

@heavykrush

Thanks for comparison.

I did not notice the diifference of Chrono Pusher. It is my next target.

[Mr. Pap 0]

Nice review and great work on the sub dial hands!

 

About the pushers watch out that the gen ones are screw in in while the rep ones are just pushed in.

[watchman12345 0]

Great job...

[onzenuub 307]

Great post.

[Del 4,462]

Great post, great work and great watch!

[Drvibe 0]

Where did you buy this replica and what was the price,i would like to have one

[JaceyBoy 10]

They don't make it anymore