ReviewThe Spirit Of The Ocean: Omega’s Seamaster Diver 300M 25th Anniversary Edition

Since it was first introduced in 1993, the Seamaster Diver 300M has been a favourite among many watch lovers, newcomers and veterans alike. It is also the one collection that brought to life the brand’s longstanding partnership with our favourite spy—James Bond. Hence, it’s a no-brainer why the collection has reached far and wide with its popularity, influence and sheer aura. This year, Omega celebrated 25 years of the flagship Seamaster collection by unveiling the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M in a wide range of variations. Featuring a unique blend of new materials, updated sizes and a modern movement, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M was quite a record-setter at Baselworld 2018.

Waves Of Change

To be honest, aesthetically, the Seamaster 300M is essentially the same watch that you have loved and known since it was first seen on Pierce Brosnan’s wrist in the movie GoldenEye (1995). Having said that, it also inculcates some major updates that cannot be ignored. The 2018 version creates a unique blend of colours in a stunning palettes that makes this new edition difficult not to like. It features a ceramic bezel with the diving scale in Ceragold™ or white enamel—depending on the variation—which ensures longer-lasting whiteness and durability. One can also notice the return of the signature wave pattern on the dial that has been laser engraved this time. And this takes the watch to a whole new level.

The beautifully designed dial is available in black, blue and a PVD-treated chrome colour. This works beautifully against the raised indexes filled with SuperLuminova—a must have—and subtly reshaped skeleton hands. A welcome change is the position of the date window that has moved from three to six o’clock.

The generously sized case, accompanied with a black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel, houses a polished black ceramic dial

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Water resistant up to 300m, this Omega Seamaster is perfect for the tumultuous seas,

₹5,45,900

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Now sized at 42mm—slightly larger than its 41mm predecessor—with a water resistance of 300m, the collection offers six models in steel while the remaining eight are available in two-tone—steel and gold—versions. An update that is pretty exciting is the new patented cone-shaped helium escapement valve at 10 o’clock, which allows the wearer to operate it underwater with more ease.

What Lies Beneath

Beating inside is the brand’s in-house manufactured calibre 8800—a METAS-approved Master Chronometer movement. A certification by METAS (the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) is achieved after a watch housing a COSC-certified chronometer movement is put through rigorous real-life scenarios to test its performance and precision. This assures accuracy under various extreme circumstances and has a high resistance against magnetic fields, up to 15,000 gauss. Only after the watch has passed these tests can it be called a ‘Master Chronometer’. This piece clocks in a power reserve of 55 hours, without having to be worn, for the bidirectional self-winding rotor to do its work. The view at the back comprises a domed see-through sapphire crystal insert that allows the wearer to see the movement in motion along with a wave-patterned edge for that extra something.

A Splashing New Edition

Among the new models of the new Seamaster Diver 300M, each model is available with an integrated black or blue rubber strap with a much-needed fold-over extendable dive clasp, apart from the customary yet modernised stainless steel bracelet. A special mention goes out to the limited edition Seamaster Diver 300M Titanium Tantalum—a standout timepiece that is limited to just 2,500 units worldwide. Its use of the material called tantalum—a rare, corrosion resistant, blue-grey metal—combined with grade-two titanium and 18-carat Sedna gold is revolutionary and breath-taking, simultaneously. While the tantalum is specifically used only for the base of the bezel and the middle links of the bracelet, its subtle contrast against the brushed titanium case and bracelet, and the Sedna gold crown, bezel ring and bracelet links creates the kind of magic that can be seen, felt and enjoyed, in order of your preference!

The silver jubilee generation of the Seamaster is truly an impressive update, which retains the essence of the extremely identifiable series. Whether you’re in the sea or far from it, with this watch, the spirit of the ocean will always be around you.