Omega Seamaster Diver 300M – Underwater Dive Evaluation (Specs & Worth)

Let’s play a phrase affiliation recreation. If you hear the title “Omega,” what’s the very first thing that pops into your head? Should you’re like me, it immediately conjures up ideas of Speedmaster chronographs and area exploration. That is no small because of Omega’s advertising prowess and (well-deserved) satisfaction at being on the wrists of the lads who boldly went the place no man had gone earlier than. However it’s on the different pinnacle of exploration the place you will see that the longest-running watch in Omega’s huge catalogue: the Seamaster. And for an additional of my diving journeys, I took probably the most traditional but ultra-accomplished mannequin underwater, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M.

First launched means again in 1948, the Seamaster was Omega’s reply to the rising demand for a troublesome, on a regular basis wristwatch. Primarily based on the success and watchmaking know-how they honed making over 110,000 timepieces for the British army throughout World Battle II, the primary Seamaster was a sturdy, do-it-all timepiece, with even higher water resistance than its army forebears, because of the innovation of the rubber o-ring gasket to maintain the weather out. 

Whereas these watches had been sturdy, waterproof and extra aesthetically suited to civilian life than their army predecessors, it wasn’t till 9 years later, in 1957, that Omega launched its first correct, civilian dive watch, full with timing bezel and 200 metres of water resistance: the Seamaster 300. That watch gained its bona fides when it was utilized by Jacques Cousteau and his workforce on the CONSHELF II underwater habitat experiments in 1963. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.

The Seamaster line has been in fixed manufacturing, in many various varieties ever since. Whereas it’s in all probability most well-known to non-watch folks because the timepiece worn by some bloke referred to as James Bond, starting together with his portrayal by Pierce Brosnan and persevering with till current, the Seamaster will be present in each configuration you’ll be able to probably consider; quartz or mechanical, males’s or girls’s, sq. or round, they’ve made all of them. The present lineup consists of the Seamaster Aqua Terra, which is the trendy model of that unique, non-diving Seamaster; the Seamaster Planet Ocean assortment, which is reserved for the chunkiest and most water resistant dive watches of the road, the recently-launched Seamaster 300, a classic re-edition of the enduring 1957 watch, and the watch we’re at this time, the Seamaster Diver 300M.

The Seamaster Diver 300M line was revamped in 2018, upgrading it to an in-house, Grasp Chronometer-certified motion, with this white colourway following a 12 months later in 2019. A little bit of a sleeper hit, it has slowly gained recognition, particularly within the fanatic group, over the previous few years. We’re going to put this traditional Seamaster by its paces, with a day of crusing and a day of diving, and see if it lives as much as its provenance as a look ahead to all actions, maritime and in any other case. However first, let’s look over the small print.

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M – The fundamentals

At its core, the Seamaster Diver 300M is a 42mm chrome steel software/dive watch. That alone places it in league with among the fiercest competitors within the watch world, from among the heaviest hitters on the market. At 13.7mm thick and 50mm lug-to-lug and with a lug width of 20mm, it matches squarely within the “excellent” sizing class, not less than for me. The case ending is a pleasant mixture of polished and brushed surfaces, together with the enduring Omega twisted lugs. The sensible white polished ceramic dial options the etched wave sample that has been emblematic of the Seamaster since 1994. Just below the centre of the dial, for those who look very carefully, you will notice the engraved image “Zr02” which helps you to know the dial is manufactured from the ceramic materials Zirconium Oxide. I don’t know if that is essentially pertinent data to have displayed proper on the dial, however it’s sufficiently subtle that you just in all probability gained’t even discover it until you’re searching for it. 

Elsewhere on the dial, you will see that utilized markers crammed with a white Tremendous-LumiNova and skinny black borders for distinction. The Omega brand is slightly below the 12 o’clock markers the place you’ll anticipate it, and under that’s the iconic Seamaster brand in a shiny, radiant pink. This, together with the tip of the lollipop second hand, is the one color on the dial and I discovered it to be the proper quantity. One thing concerning the little bits of pink amongst all of the white and black make it pop in simply the suitable means. I discovered myself simply it intermittently all through the day, even once I had no want to know what time it was. The polished, blackened hour and minute fingers are skeletonized and crammed (as a lot as skeleton fingers will be) with the identical Tremendous-LumiNova, as is the lollipop a part of the second hand. 

The bezel is a refined black ceramic with white indices and Arabic numerals each ten minutes. Issues are sealed up with a screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, and there’s a helium launch valve at 10 o’clock. I’ll talk about that and the bezel in additional element down within the diving part, so learn on. 

Across the again you will see that a sapphire caseback, defending the true star of the present right here, the Omega Grasp Chronometer Calibre 8800. That is Omega’s METAS-certified computerized motion, that includes a co-axial escapement and free-sprung stability with silicon stability spring. This motion has a 55-hour energy reserve and beats on the oddball cadence of 25,200 vibrations/hour (or 3.5Hz frequency). Omega says that’s the optimum frequency and so they absolutely know higher than I do. The bidirectional rotor is completed with Geneva waves in arabesque. Should you aren’t acquainted with the METAS certification, it’s a set of eight extra checks for actions which have already been COSC licensed, so you’re actually getting the “Grasp Chronometer” marketed on the dial. (A lot) Extra on that subject on this video right here. 

Above the Sea

I had the chance to take the Seamaster Diver 300M crusing and diving, thus making an attempt it out in all circumstances sea-related. The primary day we took it out within the Gulf of Mexico for a day on the water. The white dial of the Seamaster offers it a head begin right here, in that it already appears to be like considerably extra nautical-themed than its blue and black counterparts throughout the assortment. There aren’t any actual timing-intensive duties concerned in leisure crusing, so the wristwatch is barely used for what 99% of individuals need them for anyway: telling time and looking out cool. And the Seamaster is certainly a grasp of each of these issues. 

It completely straddles the road between powerful and toolish and chic and stylish. So whether or not you’re close-hauled and mountain climbing to windward, or having fun with a glass of wine again on the marina, the Seamaster Diver 300M appears to be like the half completely. The dimensions and dimensions really feel nearly excellent on my 16cm wrist. Large enough to know it’s there once you want (or need) to have a look at it, however modern sufficient that it doesn’t get caught up in any of the quite a few halyards and sheets concerned in crusing. And for those who occur to by accident fall within the water? The Seamaster has you lined there too, with water-resistance aplenty. As a crusing, boating, or simply throughout maritime watch, the Seamaster has every little thing you want in a tidy little bundle. Now let’s see how she fares UNDER the ocean, however earlier than…

The subject of the Helium Escape Valve

Earlier than we go diving, let’s speak concerning the helium escape valve. As chances are you’ll or could not know, that little one-way valve on the aspect of some dive watches serves just one, very particular perform: permitting helium molecules to flee the watch in the course of the decompression stage of a saturation dive. Contemplating that this can be a job that 99.9999% of us people won’t ever undertake, having one in every of these valves is mostly a ineffective, though cool characteristic, in an esoteric type of means. I’ve a couple of watches with them and once I do randomly discover it’s there, I’ll assume “oh proper, neat” for about 5 seconds after which overlook all about it for an additional 12 months. The HEVs which can be recessed into the case, similar to on the Rolex Sea-Dweller and numerous different dive watches are largely innocuous options. Not likely helpful, however not in the best way both; you possibly can take it or go away it. Having by no means worn a Seamaster Diver 300M earlier than, I all the time discovered the lively HEV at 10 o’clock to be an odd design alternative. 

Why have it protruding of the case when you possibly can simply recess it? Why make it lively as an alternative of passive? There’s a respectable probability, with the stress and checklists already concerned in a five-day decompression, that I might overlook to unscrew the little crown to activate it anyway. So I’ll admit to having gone into this evaluate with a slight bias in opposition to the lively HEV. Now, after having worn it for per week or so, I can fortunately report: it’s nice. It didn’t essentially develop on me as a characteristic, but it surely didn’t trouble me like I assumed it will, both. Reality be advised, after initially pondering it for a couple of minutes, I just about forgot it was there altogether. Similar to a HEV ought to be. Now with that out of the best way (and because it performs no position in leisure diving anyway), let’s get within the water.

Under the Sea

Everyone knows that the times of timing our dives with only a watch are gone. Computer systems have taken over that position and plenty of others to the good enchancment of security in trendy diving. Being relegated to a backup timer leaves our mechanical timepieces with one different vital job: a reminiscence collector, of types. Outdoors of the watches, I’m lucky sufficient to evaluate, I’ve a really choose few private watches that I take diving with me, and I all the time ensure that to put on a sure one when doing something extra-memorable, similar to reaching a brand new depth or gaining a brand new certification, or any form of milestone. That means, years down the highway once I look again, I’ll know that this specific watch was with me by all of that, and maybe these tales can be handed on to whoever will get it subsequent. You get the image. 

As that kind of totem, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M leaves little or no to be desired; it may simply be an individual’s one dive watch for all times. The white dial and contrasting, lumed indices are extremely seen and legible, even deep underwater. The rubber strap that this one got here on could be very snug and has loads of size to suit over a wetsuit. It’s fingers down probably the most snug and high-quality OEM rubber strap I’ve ever worn. The watch continues its wonderful wearability under the waves, being proper there once you want it and mixing away into your wrist once you don’t. 

My solely small grievance with the watch when diving lies with the bezel. The place you’ll usually discover a ridged, gear-tooth-esqe sample round a bezel to facilitate most grip, the Seamaster has bigger, curved recesses for traction. The result’s a bezel that could be a little tougher to grip and rotate than I would love, particularly with a neoprene gloved hand. It’s manageable and never a deal-breaker, but it surely might be somewhat bit higher.

Closing Ideas

All issues thought of, I feel the Seamaster Diver 300M utterly lives as much as its title. It’s a one-stop look ahead to all issues maritime, and it does it with class and magnificence. As a 42mm, sub $10k metal dive watch, Omega is in a really crowded discipline, amongst among the heaviest hitters within the recreation, most notable the Rolex Submariner and Tudor’s Pelagos and Black Bay strains. I’m happy to say that it holds its personal in that weight class after which some. I feel there’s a tendency to consider the Seamaster as a runner-up, the watch you accept when you’ll be able to’t get one other one, resulting from sure shortage points on the market on the earth. You’ll be doing your self an important disservice to assume this fashion. This watch has the construct high quality to match any of the opposite massive boys on the market, if not surpass them, and a sure indefinable attraction that’s all its personal. 

Now obtainable for USD 5100 or EUR 5,000 from Omega boutiques, retailers and on-line at omegawatches.com.