All That Glitters: The Omega Seamaster 300 In Bronze Gold
The Omega Seamaster 300 Bronze Gold is a Bond-worthy watch that gives you all the character of bronze, with all the luxury of gold.
Sometimes, you crave the perfect fusion of two great things, but the result falls flat. Take fruit and cake—fruitcake is an abomination. Or pizza and pineapple—both incredible on their own, but together? This gastronomic alchemy is essentially culinary heresy. (No, I am not here for you to change my mind).
In watchmaking, the same dilemma exists with materials. You might want the rugged strength of bronze but the luster of gold. Enter Bronze Gold, a proprietary alloy from Omega that, unlike fruitcake, truly delivers the best of both worlds—resulting in a watch that is as striking as it is durable.
Yesterday, Omega released its new Seamaster 300 variant in Bronze Gold and burgundy, adding to Seamasters legendary and extensive line. This watch also builds on the wildly popular James Bond 007 Edition from the 2020 film No Time To Die. This watch previously made the rounds on social media as former Bond Daniel Craig was recently spotted with it on his wrist. I do have to unfortunately admit, outside of the Nintendo 64 game Goldeneye, my Bond knowledge and investment in the series as a whole is pretty limited. Anyway, this new Seamaster, despite entering an exhaustive lineup, is actually pretty sick.
Some Bronze-Aged Knowledge
Bronze does not have a single formula. It is much like your grandma’s pasta sauce (lots of food analogies today), there is no one recipe, it all depends upon the desired outcome. However, traditionally bronze is composed of 88% copper and 12% tin. Depending on its intended function or aesthetic goals, other elements such as aluminum, silicon, nickel, manganese, zinc, or phosphorus may be incorporated. Or in this case, combining it with yellow gold to make something entirely “new.”
Bronze, due to its high copper content, will patina. Depending on how it was made, the patina can obviously vary widely, as it won’t always end up like the Statue of Liberty but could end up like an old dusty penny that you found deep in the junk drawer under the microwave.
Bronze Gold, the alloy in question here, is essentially a variation of what many in the watch world call red gold. This watch is not actually bronze, as the name would have you believe, but rather 9K gold that has the appearance of bronze. Bronze Gold or red gold, gives the cosmetic look of bronze with the chemical stability of gold. Meaning, as stated previously, it won’t give you that well-known green “rust” standard bronze would.
Brief History of Bronze in Watchmaking
True bronze, however, as a watch case material can generally trace its origins back to the 1980s. In 1985, Panerai’s product development lead, Alessandro Bettarini, crafted eight prototype watches—four in titanium and four in bronze. At the time, Panerai was still a niche supplier to the Italian Navy, however the military ultimately passed on those prototypes.
A few years later, in 1988, the Gérald Genta introduced the Gefica, a watch that fully embraced bronze as a case material. Around the same time, Chronoswiss made its own mark with the Régulateur, the first widely available wristwatch to feature a regulator-style display—showcasing separate dials for hours, minutes, and seconds—all housed in a bronze case. These early pioneers laid the groundwork for bronze to become a modern-day cult favorite.
Despite these early experiments, bronze remained largely on the sidelines of the luxury watch market for decades until 2011 when Panerai made waves (yes, pun intended) by introducing the PAM00382, 47mm Submersible clad in bronze. In a way, Panerai came full circle: they were the first to test the material in 1985, and decades later, they were the ones to reignite the industry’s fascination with it.
After the PAM00382’s success, the bronze trend took off. By 2015, Zenith had entered the fray with the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special. Then, in 2016, Tudor and Oris cemented bronze as a mainstay, launching the Heritage Black Bay Bronze and the Carl Brashear Limited Edition Divers Sixty-Five, respectively. From an obscure experiment to a full-fledged movement, bronze had officially arrived.
The Watch: The Omega Seamaster 300 In Bronze Gold And Burgundy
Although the exact formula is as much of a secret as Steve Urkel’s “cool juice,” Omega’s Bronze Gold is a unique alloy crafted with 37.5% gold (hallmarked as 9K) and enhanced with noble metals like palladium and silver. The palladium specifically, is there to prevent the copper from oxidising. Designed for exceptional corrosion resistance, it avoids verdigris oxidation or green rust (according to Omega), allowing it to develop a rich, natural patina.
All this to say that it is a gold watch, that doesn’t shine like yellow gold, and will evenly patina overtime without turning a moldy green color. That coupled with its James Bond connection, and the beautiful burgundy oxalic anodised aluminium bezel makes this more than just another colorway from Omega.
Ticking away inside is the METAS certified caliber 8806, a co-axial movement that maintains accuracy within 0 to +5 seconds per day and boasts magnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss. It’s a powerhouse movement that can essentially take anything you throw at it.
My Take
The watch world can be overwhelming at times, and it’s easy to feel burnt out by releases that seem like nothing more than a fresh coat of paint. But this watch isn’t just a color swap—it brings something more to the table. I love the burgundy and want to see more brands embrace it. But what really sets this piece apart is the way it will age with you. That Bronze Gold isn’t just for show—it’s designed to develop a rich patina over time, evolving as you wear it through life’s frills.
This is the watch for someone who wants gold—but also, doesn’t. It strikes the perfect balance. And with that Bronze Gold mesh bracelet (which if you opt for, will make a dent in the wallet), it delivers more than just good looks. Between the movement, water resistance, and 42mm sizing, it checks just about every box you could ask for in a watch.
And isn’t that what we really want in a watch? Something that tells a bit of our story—whether that’s a love for James Bond, a spirit of adventure, or simply a refusal to fade into the background. It’s for those who want something with a little personality, a little edge, a little presence on the wrist. This is a watch that’s built to live alongside you—whether you’re bathing your baby, hiking a trail, or unwinding at your favorite brewery.
Kudos to Omega on this one.
The Omega Seamaster 300M comes in a 42mm Bronze Gold case and matte black dial, featuring applied indexes with Super-LumiNova. Water-resistant to 300 meters, it’s powered by the METAS-certified OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806, with hours, minutes, and seconds functions. Available on either a Bronze Gold mesh bracelet ($27,900) or an integrated black rubber strap ($13,900), this watch is ready for immediate purchase. Visit Omega for more details.