The mid-range sports watches bring some interesting options to the table. Firstly, the quality of the movements is good at this point. You can expect to purchase a lifelong partner if you intend to care for it and make sure it gets its recommended servicing.
My go-to pick in this category is the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 2531.80.00. This will be a used watch as it is no longer in production, and its newer siblings are much more expensive. If you are more into new watches I would definitely go for the Longines HydroConquest.
Since the condition of a watch is only as good as the owners care for the watch, you can end up with a lemon (meaning damaged watch that would need repair).
Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 2531.80.00
While I am biased toward the Omega Seamaster, this is genuinely what I would buy if I were in the same position again. It is a solid movement and a beautiful watch. I have used this watch as a daily driver for a long time. So far, it has withstood hunting, swimming, baths, and a lot of other daily work that can wear down watches, such as washing the dishes (soaps and water).
You can view the watch at Jomashop (opens a window to Jomashop.com).
- Omega’s automatic 1120 movement with a 44 hours power reserve. A movement based on the ETA 2892-A2, which remains in production today (Omega 1120 is discontinued with the production of the watch).
- Sapphire domed crystal.
- Incredible details on the dial. Looking like waves, physically marked into the dial, not just a print.
- Luminous hands and markers.
- 300 meters water resistance.
- COSC certified (accurate within −4/+6 seconds per day).
- Just a neat gimmick, but it has a helium escape valve.
Longines HydroConquest Automatic
However, if I was forced to buy a new watch, or just didn’t want to deal with the potential repairs that come with an old watch I would go for the Longines HydroConquest Automatic. A good looking watch that looks and reminds me a lot of the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M.
You can view the watch at Jomashop (opens a window to Jomashop.com).
- Longines’ Automatic Caliper L888 with a 62 hours power reserve.
- Stainless steel case.
- Sapphire Crystal.
- Index dial markers with Arabic numbers at 6, 9, 12.
- Water-resistant to 300 meters.
- Stainless steel with polished middle links comes with a deployment clasp.
- Very good luminous on the hands.
- Date at 3 o’clock.
