Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean is an automatic professional Swiss made luxury diving watch designed and manufactured by Omega SA since 2005.[1] It belongs to the Seamaster line and has been characterized, since the beginning of its production, by a 600m/2000ft water resistance, a helium release valve, and the chronometer certification.[2] Throughout its history, many authoritative international sources have often mentioned it as one of the greatest dive watches of all time.[3]
 | |
| Manufacturer | Omega SA |
|---|---|
| Type | Swiss made luxury diving watch |
| Display | Analog |
| Introduced | 2005 |
| Movement | Automatic |
History and versions
Year 2005: the first version
The Planet Ocean has been introduced in 2005 as the evolution of the Omega Seamaster 300 (ref. 165.024) produced around 1960.[4] It has been produced in different sizes (with 38mm, 42mm, and 45.5mm diameter options) and with different movements (chronograph and non-chronograph options), colors of bezel and numerals, and versions of strap and bracelet. All models had an analog display with luminescent hands, a unidirectional rotating bezel, a screw-in crown, and a screw-in caseback engraved with the Omega hippocampus logo. The movement of the non-chronograph version was the Omega calibre 2500 which represents the evolution of the 1120 calibre (which in turn is an Omega modified and decorated version of the Swiss made Eta 2892-A2 movement) fitted with the coaxial escapement invented by English watchmaker George Daniels.[5]
The first generation of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean has been used in different James Bond's movies:
- Ref. 2900.50.91 appeared in Casino Royale;
- Ref. 2201.50.00 appeared in Quantum of Solace.
Moreover, several limited editions of this Planet Ocean version have been produced with reference to Olympic Games (see for instance ref. 22230385001003) and James Bond's movies (see for instance ref. 2907.50.91 - Casino Royale Limited Edition - and ref. 22230462001001 - Quantum of Solace Limited Edition). One of the most appreciated variants amongst watch-enthusiast communities is the Liquid Metal Limited Edition (ref. 222.30.42.20.01.001), in which both the Liquid metal and Ceramic technologies have been profitably exploited in order to further improve the watch's overall appearance.[6]
Year 2011: 'Face-lift', transparent caseback, and movement upgrade
In 2011, the Planet Ocean underwent an aesthetic finishing of indexes, hands, and bezel, and received several technical improvements including:
- a transparent caseback;
- a ceramic bezel;
"a significant upgrade of the movement. For instance, the basic non-chronograph calibre 8500, designed in-house and assembled in-house by Omega, with respect to 2500 calibre has:[7]
- a co-axial escapement organ 13% larger, getting its power from twin mainspring barrels made of diamond-like carbon and coated inside in order to reduce friction (which have been tested to simulate over 10 years of use);
- a redesigned bi-directional winding rotor which winds with the slightest wrist motion and is almost inaudible;
- "Cotes de Geneve en Arabesque" decorations;
- 14-leaf meshing pinion (versus 8-leaf on the 2500);
- Nivarox Anachron balance spring;
- zircon oxide rotor pivot jewels;
- an improved Nivachoc shock absorber;
- a massive transverse balance bridge;
- a more stable silicon Si14 balance spring.
All variants in terms of diameter size have been kept (see for instance ref. 232.30.46.21.01.001), and a 43.5mm diameter version has been added to the product range. The watch has been produced also in the chronograph (calibre Omega 9300, see for instance ref. 232.30.46.51.01.002) and GMT (calibre Omega 8605, see for instance ref. 232.30.44.22.03.001) versions. Finally, variants characterized by titanium, gold, or diamond-made parts have also been produced.
2016: the Master Co-axial movement
In 2016, the Planet Ocean got further (slight) aesthetic refinements to face, case, and bracelet. More importantly, it has been equipped by the Master Co-Axial calibre.[8] While keeping the chronometer certification, this movement offers an array of improvements with respect to 8500-based calibres, including the resistance to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. This remarkable manufacturing accomplishment led to the achievement of the METAS's Master Chronometer certification[9], which makes the Planet Ocean the first watch in history able to provide, at the same time, a resistance to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss, a 600m/2000ft water resistance, a helium release valve, and the chronometer certification.
Notable Wearers
Daniel Craig[10], George Clooney[11], Michael Phelps[12], and many others have been seen wearing and/or advertise an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean.
References
- https://www.omegawatches.com/watches/seamaster/planet-ocean-600m/product/
- https://www.omegawatches.com/watch-omega-planet-ocean-big-size-22005000/
- https://timelessluxwatches.com/reviews/omega-planet-ocean-master-chronometer-review/
- https://www.fratellowatches.com/vintage-omega-seamaster-300-reference-165-024/
- https://www.ablogtowatch.com/watchmaker-compares-omega-seamaster-timepieces-caliber-1120-2500-8500-movements/
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2017-12-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- https://www.bernardwatch.com/blog/omega-2500-8500-movements/
- https://www.omegawatches.com/planet-omega/watchmaking/the-master-chronometer-certification
- https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html
- https://www.omegawatches.com/planet-omega/cinema/our-screen-legends/
- http://capitalpictures.photoshelter.com/image/I0000m8_loAEER60
- https://www.omegawatches.com/watches/seamaster/planet-ocean-600m/michael-phelps-limited-edition/product/