The Nomega SeaDisaster??

2manywatches

Tyme Machine
Joined
Jul 23, 2019
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So, coming off the heels of the PAG Heuer, the Aquaracer “homage” effort from Pagani Design, I was dubious about what to expect from the watch I’d ordered weeks earlier, that still had not arrived, until just recently.

The order itself had proven to be a nightmare, as I’d indicated in the prior post.

Let’s first talk about even getting this watch at all, and then we can look at whether this is, “From Pagani With Love,” or perhaps, “The Pagani is Not Enough?” A bit of both??

First, here’s the story…

Over the long years of this hobby, truly graily grails were, for a time, just financially out of reach. That has slowly changed, but then it was more just my preference for smaller gems, by the handful, rather than one big one. I like getting more watch than what I spend, as I’ve said many times, and that’s quite easy to do with smart picks in under two grand pricing brackets.

But, the graily designs are nice, yes?

Since a Seamaster is a main grail of grails, for me, I was a bit hesitant to ever consider any kind of homage, but, in terms of the No Time to Die version, it’s not a watch I’d ever get, or even be able to get, frankly, considering the rarity, but, to celebrate Mr. Craig’s last run at the role, I was eager to have something that was a nod of respect to the films and I appreciated that Pagani’s version didn’t seem to be trying too hard to replicate it, as much as just give it a salute.

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Now, as to the shipping process, a nightmare. I tried first to get it on Amazon, and my order was canceled and refunded a week later. I then tried Pagani Design, directly, and, weirdly, they say this model of theirs is only sold by their distributors. Huh?!

Anyway, knowing others have used Ali Express successfully, I tried there next.

Shipping order generated for DHL, yes! Item on the way, GREAT!

Item delivered…..to someone else's address on the opposite side of the country.

What next ensued was a plethora of promises from the Seller that it would be all straightened out, and weeks of frustration for me that finally had me googling, “Ali Express scams,” and not liking what I found.

Final threats to declare all out war finally prompted shipping, and the order arrived two days after shipping was confirmed.

I will say that, to his credit, the Seller is a very nice fellow, and I appreciated that he didn't leave me hanging. In talks with DHL, it does seem valid that local DHL there has issues that can be beyond a Seller's control. In any case, he hung in through my nervous and eventually stern messages, and the watch did arrive.

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Enough of shipping woes, let’s get on to the watch.

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Far fewer finishing debacles, compared to the PAG Heuer, but certainly imperfections, including a scratched rotor. Seems the white glove treatment in a medical grade laboratory environment is not a standard Pagani Design practice, lol.

Anyway, it looks not entirely awful. In fact, I think now that part of the issues on the PAG Heuer was that I did not actually get a version 2.0.

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It seems Pagani’s first release often has issues, which buyers complain about, so they go back and fix that stuff and release an “upgraded” 2.0 version, but I think my PAG was still a Gen 1, despite being advertised as a Gen 2 by the Seller (a different Seller) and I say that because this almost feels like it’s from a different brand, and I’d say it is certainly a Gen 2 of the Commander/007 NTTD. It even arrived in a better box.

Issues? Well, yes, of course, it’s not a pricey build here, so the finishing is far from perfect, the bezel is not quite fully aligned, and the bracelet did this….

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It’s held together only by a tension pin, a substandard one, that simply fell out. I already have ordered a new bracelet, and the Seller will refund me that price. That order almost immediately had shipping issues as well, haha. It showed as shipped, then showed as cancelled. It now shows as on the way, with a late January delivery date. I didn't bother to pay for DHL this time.

This bracelet implosion was a surprising letdown because the rest of the bracelet was okay. Milled clasp, savagely milled dive extension (that requires a crowbar to open, lol), solid, well finished links with a rounded sculpt, and the clasp closure was quite handsome – until it fell apart. There was even a half link for sizing and, despite no micro adjust points, this one wound up fitting very nicely, thanks to that inclusion.

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Speaking of inclusions, it also came with a fully branded, very decent quality Bond style NATO.

I’d already ordered a coffee and black NATO, and I think that one is the better look, because of the brownish hues of the watch, but, even so, the free NATO they added was an unexpected, quality gift.

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As for the clasp, I fashioned a new pin and, with the assistance of some liquid weld, re-assembled the clasp bridge, but, certainly bracelets are not a strong point for Pagani, it seems, and, when the replacement one ever arrives, it will be interesting to see how it shapes up.

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Specs, well, 42mm, 22mm lugs, NH35A inside, screw down crown for 100m WR, and hugely improved lume over the PAG Heuer.

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Applied indices, sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel and very nice action on the very slightly misaligned bezel. Crown operation is also excellent, so, for a hundred and thirty bucks, not bad, really. Add in the fact that it’s a NTTD tribute piece, and I’m a happy camper.

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Will there be any more Pagani’s in my future?? Or, Ali Express buys, for that matter? I think I can now say, “been there, done that,” and I’ll call it good. There are some “get what you pay for” blues with this brand, and, even at throw away prices, I don’t have money to toss.

I do consider both of the Pagani purchases to be fun novelty kind of buys though, so, no regrets and, after all the ranting I’ve heard about homages, it was cool to buy a few and not find that my world imploded or anything.

And, I rather like owning something snobs would really hate, after being so sick of listening to pompous views about what “watch guys” are willing to respect, or how they think I’d want them to “tip their hat” to me, because of what they own. Yikes, talk about ego.

Having this level of an homage? Well, I’m okay with it. It's a tribute, not a knock off, and I’ll enjoy popping it on the wrist to catch a Bond flick.

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And, speaking of, I’ll wrap this up with a bit of Bond trivia!

1. Daniel Craig himself has had increasing input into the Omega watches, for the Bond movies, as the years have passed.

2. Mr. Craig did not at all expect to even get the role, initially. He thought it “silly” that he was even going to be interviewed.

3. So convinced was he, in fact, that he didn’t have a chance, that, while on a job in Hungary, prior to a later scheduled “sitting down for tea” with Barbara Broccoli, Mr. Craig went ahead and stopped in at (in his own words), “…a very dodgy second-hand watch dealer in Budapest and bought this Seamaster, which was a little bit worse-for-wear…” and he did so, simply to have a memory of sorts of what he thought would culminate in being rejected for the Bond opportunity.

Seems it was a buy just to have a laugh and remember that time in his life when he didn’t get to be James Bond, but at least bought an Omega.

4. After landing the role, Omega being Omega, they took the ravaged second hand watch, refurbished it for him, and, according to Craig, it remains a watch he still loves to wear often, to this day.

Back to this Nomega, I recently noted that the watch was featured here at WiT, in early November, although I didn’t catch the post at that time. Among the interesting notes of the advertising scroll from Pagani, was that the watch has “light luxury taste,” the ability to somehow, “carve carefully and pursue extraordinary quality,” the bezel finish is “smooth and smooth” and the crystal provides a “transparent and unbounded stereo vision experience.” I did not see listed a self-destructing clasp, haha. Maybe that is Q's fault....

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Anyway, so, that’s the watch, and, both shaken and stirred, those are my thoughts.

At day’s end, I won’t say a full on Dr. No to this one, but, I’ll keep my Goldeneye out for the real thing, to, hopefully, Buy Another Day. This little bauble only makes my burn for a Seamaster grow brighter.

In fact, I've officially launched my Omega savings fund, and, outside of a few very late year end buys that will arrive in January, I'll hope to now consider my desired prize, squirrel away every penny I can, and, instead of trigger pulls, take any amount that could be for an impulse buy, and funnel it to the Omega account!

LOL, I can already foresee the problem, when the balance reaches Sinn buying territory.....but, I'll do my best, and, if, hopefully, Tomorrow Never Dies, then maybe my Seamaster day will come.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for reading!

Keep on watching!
 
Looks nice when not up close. Your great photos show way too many reasons why I'd pass. Worth the try though, but I have to say on this one I think your review serves more as a warning and a reason to respect what Omega really is. Love your reviews, but this one watch is a big Dr. No for me, but Live and Let Die.
 
Thanks for sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not a bad looking watch, though. Does look real good on that strap and thanks for all the pics. Congrats.
 
Yup, live and learn. I like to mix up the journey a bit and, for couch cushion change, it was a valued learning experience. I can't agree with the positive reviews I've come across, or maybe I was at the bad end of QC, but, geez, the "fit and finish" is appalling.

As @roadwarrior said, it can up one's appreciation for other low cost brands, that's for sure. Granted, I've had good luck with Invicta, for the most part, but watches that literally fall apart....not cool.

I'm now saving for an Omega, lol, so it was worth it, from that perspective.
 
Well...That was certainly some tale. I hope that after all of that exercise in getting this thing right that you are happy with the purchase. :applaud:I must say that you have the gift of Patience!:banghead: Do enjoy your new watch! Congrats on the acquisition!:up:
 
Well...That was certainly some tale. I hope that after all of that exercise in getting this thing right that you are happy with the purchase. :applaud:I must say that you have the gift of Patience!:banghead: Do enjoy your new watch! Congrats on the acquisition!:up:
Thank you and yup it was an experience, for sure, lol. I'm happy to have learned from it, and glad it was not an expensive experiment. I've paid a lot more to be disappointed, in other instances, so I can live with this one.
 
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