Remember the Paris Olympics? It seems, somehow, like they took place a lifetime ago, but it was just this past summer – mere months ago. It was a crazy time. Lots of conversation about the pollution in the Seine, an all time great gymnastics competition, and, of course, Daniel Craig teased a new Seamaster in a conspicuously inconspicuous way. If you’re a Seamaster fan who has been waiting with baited breath for the full details of that mystery watch to be announced, it appears that Omega is making all of your wishes come true this week, with the announcement of not, but two new Seamaster references that seem aimed directly at the enthusiast market (and James Bond fans).
The new versions of the Seamaster Diver 300M are actually a significant departure from the current generation of the watch, which history will likely remember as being absolutely loaded with one of the key watchmaking materials of this generation: ceramic. The standard issue Seamaster we’ve become familiar with over these last few years has not only a ceramic bezel, but a polished and laser engraved ceramic dial. While many collectors and enthusiasts obviously find a certain appeal in the brightly colored and/or meticulously polished ceramic, these watches always had a lot of it, and dive watch fans looking for a daily wearer with more classic tool watch vibes were likely left wanting with the current Seamaster.
These updated references remove ceramic from the equation entirely. There are two new models, each available on a rubber strap or mesh bracelet. The first, the one Craig was spotted in earlier this year, has a stainless steel case paired with a black aluminum bezel and black aluminum, laser-engraved dial. The second, and in my opinion the standout of the two, has the same 42mm stainless steel case and an all new titanium bezel and brushed PVD stainless steel dial. Both watches are linked aesthetically to the enthusiast favorite Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition worn in No Time to Die, as well as this LE which incorporated aluminum into the equation, but they of course don’t include the on-the-nose Bond branding.
Like all modern Seamasters, these run on an excellent in-house Omega caliber, the 8806 in this case, which is METAS certified and rated to stand up to stronger magnetic fields than it is frankly advisable to be around on a regular basis. This caliber notably does not include a date, which should please collectors. It’s the right choice for these watches, for sure, as they really lean heavily on dial material and texture, and having a completely unobstructed dial to admire helps draw a contrast between these new references and the old.
The new Seamaster Diver 300M references are available through Omega channels now. The retail price for each watch on a strap is $5,900, and they’ll cost you $6,500 on a bracelet. Omega
