If you do ACTUALLY find a new 2296.80 at an AD, make ABSOLUTELY SURE you get all THREE of the cards (warranty, COSC, and features icon) with the watch. I had an AD in St. Paul sell me what was probably a gray market 2296.80 for 37.5% discount, and it only had the warranty card by itself, and broke after three weeks. After that I conducted an extensive search on the internet, and was unable to find another source for that watch, and that was a year and a half ago. I also doubt that you will be able to get the same 30% - 33% discount like we get from the preferred ealers we use. It IS a great looking watch, but be VERY careful not to get stuck with a used one, even if you're dealing with an AD. As far as AuthenticWatches or the Bay is concerned, you'd be better off taking $4000 to the nearest casino and betting it all on 00 on the roulette wheel.
The one place I DID see a 2296.80 last June was the duty free shop in the Munich airport. It was definitely the titanium and gold with the blue wave dial, and even at that location the sales people couldn't find a reference to it in their current Omega catalog, so their information showed it to be discontinued.
Seeing as I've been where you are, I should note that I'm very happy with my 2293.50, which is what I got instead. It has NO bling factor like the 2296.80, and the bracelet is three link instead of nine, but the movement in the 2293 is MUCH better, and you NEVER will have to worry about getting mugged with a pure Ti watch. Ti and Gold, on the other hand, is fairly distinctive and is probably something you would have to worry about in some less safe locations.
Good luck!!
