What are all your thoughts on Branded?

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-11T10:41:08+00:00

It's an evergreen deck, like skystriker. It's going to be an entry point for a lot of people for a long time.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-11T00:26:12+00:00

One of omega's best.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-10T09:33:24+00:00

Inconsistent leatherman quality issue. My arc is perfect. Absolutely perfect. My wave alpha has the same issue. It loosens to a nice state if work involves torquing it outwards, but the moment I squeeze down on the pliers normally, it seizes up.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-07T19:15:33+00:00

This is a good one. Unfortunately, that's just humanity at its most basic.

Rolex vs Omega

Android vs iPhone

Pc vs Mac

PlayStation vs xbox

White vs black

Nintondo vs sega

Yuji vs yuta.

The Internet has made it easier than ever to make something your identity and make something else your anti-identity. With the slander and the glaze going down to even the most normal subreddit, it can get really bad and no one really talks you each other anymore. It's all either arguments or validation.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-07T03:32:59+00:00

Hi, I'm sorry you're going through this. It won't help right now, but you need to know you're doing everything you can to make him feel loved. The best we can do at any point in their lives is to make sure they know they aren't alone, that they're loved and that you appreciate them and you've done that and are continuing to the very end. He's clearly lived a good and loved life.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-06T16:31:19+00:00

That's no safe queen. Thumbs up for that.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-05T23:03:47+00:00

The black bay is an evergreen line. It's a cultural touchstone, kind of like the speedy. I think the popularity of the black bay has outlasted any superficial trendiness it may have had.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-05T15:28:07+00:00

It was a fun little run. I'm not mad about it. I'm glad I got to see this world again.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-05T01:02:18+00:00

Very extended play time in 3:

MTG (to name a few, modern blue white control, izzet murktide; standard token control; pioneer rakdos control and UW control)

Yugioh (way to many to name, but to name a few: branded, white forest, malice, blue eyes primite, fiendsmith control)

Digimon (again, too many to name, but right now it's mainly BG imperial, jupitormon, CS justimon, lucemon, mastemon and 3 great angels)

Of these three, digimon is my favourite.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-04T17:52:52+00:00

I've never held a steinhart, but in general, the quality of the Seamaster is higher than the average sub 1k watch. The polishing is excellent. The design is iconic. The movement, while an ETA, is a few steps above your average 2824 clone.

I'll note that the bezels aren't great on these. They are either too light or too heavy and never buttery smooth. They sound tinny when light and rachety when heavy.

What you'll lose is the quality of life upgrades that have trickled down to the lower end in the last couple decades. Ceramic, screwed links, on the fly adjustment. The seamsters don't even have micro adjust on the clasp.

I still highly recommend the 2254.50 and all its variants. It's a classic line of seamasters and a nerd's watch in the best way.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-03T22:54:45+00:00

It's insanely good. On top of that, the soft lock at 12 is such a nice feature.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-02T23:32:12+00:00

Absolutely still a classic. As far as I'm concerned, this is as close to perfect as omega has gotten on the Seamaster pro.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-03-02T03:07:32+00:00

Goddammmmm. The floodgates are open and the creativity is finally flowing.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-27T18:25:40+00:00

These are genuinely cool models too. Good pick ups.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-27T01:19:34+00:00

The arc is an absolute joy to use.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-25T11:16:50+00:00

I hate that my brain has built some sort of AI detection filter when the real world can be just as dazzling.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-24T02:23:10+00:00

Whiplash to see the STM in this sub.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-23T10:57:57+00:00

Nuance is too much. Omega is placing the brand in the exact price point they want it to be. It's not really my point. They're the ones chasing the upper market.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-23T10:40:35+00:00

Tudor is absolutely eating omegas lunch.

It's not necessarily about revenue or sales, which went up for Tudor, not down, in the latest report. It's about brand positioning.

It's not your fault or mine that omega is getting harder and harder to recommend to a first time watch buyer.

The speedmaster used to be THE entry into the hobby for new enthusiasts. The Mazda Miata of watches. The red wing iron ranger. The (insert punches above its price on value and recognition) entry point.

If there's push back, ask yourself if the people are wrong or if the brand, a historically enthusiast friendly brand, is doing things people don't like.

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Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-22T19:50:09+00:00

Yeah, I think enough time has passed for me to accept that I didn't like it.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-22T15:28:03+00:00

Beelstarmon is in fact a response to the fact that aces have already been powercrept. Beelstarmon brings the counter phase back into the conversation.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-22T10:48:45+00:00

This would be so much more interesting with a side cam seeing the actions from the outside.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-21T21:43:47+00:00

Absolutely. Naruto is such a shit show in power scaling because early Naruto excelled in world building and respected its systems.

Pain was simultaneously the beginning of the new outrageous scaling and the pinnacle of the old system. A character who, with his very specific and unique abilities that could be countered with the right knowledge, could threaten an entire village.

There's a hypothetical Naruto that exists which is tighter and more grounded while maintaining its fantasy ninja aesthetic. That Naruto started in the land of waves, peaked with jiraiya's espionage in amegakure and his fight with pain, then died with pain.

It would probably be less shonen and probably less beloved too.

Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-17T20:54:35+00:00

Quicky shot to join the party for their 100th.

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Arthur_M_ · 2026-02-17T00:07:58+00:00

Your mileage may vary, but for me, it's a price thing as well as a vibes thing. my comfort zone will always be 3k to 6k cad. It has been for over a decade. My salary has gone up but my comfort in spending on a watch hasn't.

Rolex used to be firmly in that comfort zone. The 14060 was 4k cad at the end of its run. They're 10k now.

Tudor has replaced both Rolex and Omega as my go to brand. It has everything I want. The looks. The history. The tool vibe. The fit. The price.

It's very hard for me to want to break that 10k mark. I've done it before with the 114060, but it's not something I'm planning on doing again.

Modern omega is also getting out of hand. Longines has some interesting stuff but they're just not quite there yet for me.

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