Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph (Hands-On)

Last year, at Baselworld 2018, Omega introduced the new “James Bond Watch”, a.k.a the Seamaster Diver 300M. Not shy of being one of the best luxury dive watches available on the market (really, it is), it came with an updated case, a new ceramic laser-engraved dial, a new ceramic and enamel bezel and mainly, a Master Chronometer in-house movement. It is now time for the first evolution in the collection with the introduction of the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph – in three different versions, including steel, bi-co and Sedna gold.

This new chronograph version of the Seamaster Diver 300M doesn’t really come as a surprise. It is the natural evolution of the collection and is a watch that already existed in the past. It feels quite natural for Omega to deploy the new design codes on the much-loved chronograph version of the 300M at the TimeToMove event (what replaces Baselworld for six of the Swatch Group brands).

The basic principle with this new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph has been to integrate a familiar chrono movement in the case of the 2018 Diver 300M.

Indeed, this new version relies on the tried-and-tested Calibre 9900 – or 9901 on the gold model – which has been used in the past on the Planet Ocean 600 Chronograph. As times change, the movement also evolves to integrate Omega’s latest technical delicacies, as this 9900 is now Master Chronometer certified, resistant to 15,000-Gauss and, for a change, now visible through a sapphire caseback. This movement is an automatic, column-wheel chronograph with double-barrel architecture, co-axial escapement, 60-hour power reserve and a unique display with a co-axial minute and hour counter placed at 3 o’clock.

To accommodate the new movement, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph is larger than the 3-hand version (which is 42mm) but remains faithful to the 44mm diameter of its predecessor. The case is water-resistant to 300m, thanks to screw-down ceramic pushers, and retains the Helium Escape Valve at 10 o’clock.

The new Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph will be available in multiple different versions (non-exhaustive list):

• Steel case, blue ceramic dial and blue ceramic bezel with white enamel scale (rubber strap or steel bracelet)
• Steel case, black ceramic dial and black ceramic bezel with white enamel scale (rubber strap or steel bracelet)
• Steel case, grey and blue ceramic dial and blue ceramic bezel with white enamel scale (rubber strap or steel bracelet)
• Bi-Co with steel central case, Sedna gold bezel, crown, HEV and pusher, blue ceramic dial and blue ceramic bezel with Ceragold diving scale (rubber strap or bi-co bracelet)
• Bi-Co with steel central case, Sedna gold bezel, crown, HEV and pusher, black ceramic dial and black ceramic bezel with Ceragold diving scale (rubber strap or bi-co bracelet)
• Sedna gold model, with black ceramic dial with gold rings and black grained/polished ceramic bezel (rubber strap only)

The dial of the Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph is the main evolution compared to the previous edition, as it first re-introduces the iconic wave pattern (here it is laser engraved) and also inaugurates a new display, implied by the new movement. No longer tri-compax but a 3-and-9 bi-compax display, with a date positioned at 6 o’clock. The rest of the dial, meaning hands and applied indexes, is identical to the 2018 time-and-date version of this watch.

Prices for the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph will start at EUR 6,600 (steel on rubber) or EUR 6,900 (steel on steel), which is a slight increase compared to the previous version, however, it now integrates a much better movement and features higher-end materials. The release date has not been confirmed yet. More information available on www.omegawatches.com.