For more than half a century, Omega has been manufacturing the Seamaster collection of mechanical, automatic winding, and chronometer wristwatches. Since 1995, the Seamaster has appeared in every James Bond film.
Seamasters typically have stainless steel cases and bracelets (Bond style with Omega symbol clasp), screw-in crowns and case backs, engraved with the Omega hippocampus logo, up to 1200-meter water resistance, luminescent hands, unidirectional bezel, blue, silver, or black dial with orange accents, sapphire crystal (anti-reflective) and helium release valves.
With the use of the Limiting Factor bathyscaphe in 2019, three experimental Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professionals survived an incredible 10,928-metre dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Basics: Omega Seamaster 300m
42mm stainless steel tool/dive watch Seamaster Diver 300M. That alone elevates it to the level of some of the most fiercely competitive timepieces in the industry, including some of the biggest names.
It’s “just perfect” in terms of size since it’s 50mm lug-to-lug and has a 20mm lug width. There is a nice balance between polished and brushed surfaces, which includes the iconic Omega lugs.
Since 1994, the Seamaster has been known for its etched wave pattern on its white polished ceramic dial.
The dial is constructed of Zirconium Oxide, a ceramic substance, if you look very carefully at the carved sign “Zr02” just below the center of the dial.
White Super-LumiNova is used for the applied hour markers, while thin black borders provide contrast.
As you would imagine, below the 12 o’clock markers, Omega displays its emblem and the classic Seamaster logo is shown in brilliant red.
There are white indexes and Arabic numbers every 10 minutes on a polished black ceramic bezel. Three o’clock has a screw-down crown, and ten o’clock has a helium escape valve.
The Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8800 is protected by a sapphire case back on the back of the watch. Incorporating a coaxial escapement and free-sprung balance with a silicon balance spring, this Omega automatic movement is METAS approved. The power reserve of this movement is 55 hours, and the beat frequency is an unusual 25,200 vibrations per hour (or 3.5Hz frequency).
Surely Omega knows more than I do about the best frequency. Geneva waves in arabesque adorn the bidirectional rotor. As an introduction, the METAS certification includes an extra series of eight tests for movements that have previously been COSC certified, ensuring that you are receiving the “Master Chronometer” stated on the dial in its truest form.
Modern Day Omega Seamaster 300m
Omega introduced 14 new Seamasters in 2019 to commemorate the Seamaster’s 25th anniversary. However, it was the one with the white dial that really drew our eye. Unlike previous years’ offerings, this year’s is not going to be released in a restricted quantity.
At least one design feature from every version of the white Seamaster 300M has been incorporated into the present design throughout the last three decades.
However, there is a case that can be made that the fundamental design has stayed mostly unaltered.
It’s true that the watch looks different, but it doesn’t change the fact that it feels different.
As opposed to the subtly different Rolex Submariner variations that can only be seen by those with a trained eye, there is an obvious consistency in design across the range.
Trial Above The Sea: Omega Seamaster 300m
Sailing and diving with the Seamaster Diver 300M allowed me to test it out in a variety of sea situations.
We went out on the water for the first time in the Gulf of Mexico. Seamaster’s white dial provides it an advantage over its blue and black siblings in the series since it already seems more nautical-themed.
Because recreational sailing does not need precise timing, wristwatches are solely utilized for the purposes for which they were intended by the vast majority of their wearers in the first place: telling time and looking stylish. The Seamaster, on the other hand, is a master of both.
It’s the right balance between rugged and utilitarian and refined and refined.
In other words, the Seamaster Diver 300M looks great whether you’re close-hauled and trekking windward or just having a glass of wine back at the harbor.
While large enough to be seen, it is also sleek enough not to get tangled up in any of the many halyards and sheets that sailing entails.
Is It Water-Resistant?
In addition to being water-resistant, the Seamaster has you covered in this area as well. The Seamaster features everything you need in a small package as a sailing, boating, or general nautical watch.
Conclusion
As a lifelong admirer of the Seamaster Diver/Professional 300M collection, this is almost certainly the timepiece you’ve been hoping for. Everything about the Seamaster 300M has been retained, yet the watch has a new feel to it. It’s as though it’s brand new.
The Seamaster’s popularity stems in part from its status as a go-to one-watch solution. There aren’t many watches out there that are as excellent as this one in keeping time. Compared to a dressy-tool watch, this one is much better prepared. For the first time in 25 years, it has a feeling of duality.
