Hands-On Expert Review: Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Chronograph
Omega Seamaster is a name that commands respect from fans of luxury dive watches. Since 1957, the Seamaster has held the line against its eternal rival from Geneva, the Rolex Submariner, but the latest generation of Omega Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial Chronograph packs the tech and taste to gain a jump on the stolid “Sub.”
Skip to the features and capabilities that most interest you about this luxury timepiece, or watch the video by Tim Mosso, our in-house expert, as he reviews the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean and all of the features that make it a must-have in tool watches.
Skip ahead to learn more about
> Overview of this Dive Watch
> Watch Features & Distinctions
> On the Wrist: Casual Wear
> Diving Watch Capabilities
> New and Pre-Owned Costs
Overview of the Seamaster Planet Ocean
Omega opens its volley with equal measures of class and mass; the 45.5mm stainless steel case features a full-bodied presence that surpasses the comparatively dainty Submariner’s 40mm span. This watch totals 57.6mm across the wrist and is 19.4mm thick, making it a heavy, gigantic luxury watch ideal for larger wrists or enthusiasts with Hublot-era standards and boasts a caliber 9300 within its extra-large casing.
As for the bracelet and clasp, its stainless steel construction and oval cross-section 3-link bracelet add weight and a sense of quality that smaller watches sometimes lack. The clasp offers the kind of security that no friction-fit competitor can match. Even better, the clasp it offers one of the best deployment dive extensions in the business; it’s equally useful over a dive suit or a winter coat.
All in all, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph is the perfect go-to when the mantra is “go-big or go home.”
An expressive, full-sized watch, the Planet Ocean 600M is a sophisticated companion that offers its owner the advantages of Swatch Group’s formidable materials science labs.
The unidirectional diving bezel featured on this dive watch is a type of ceramic that ranks with sapphire crystals on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Nothing short of a diamond can damage the bezel, which is far removed from the “weathered bezel” look that marks nearly every vintage dive watch in the past.
The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Collection Timeline
Browse the lifespan of this collection, categorized by release date and features.
2005/6: Omega introduced the Planet Ocean as a luxury watch in their Seamaster line. This first generation was positioned as a tool watch that looked good enough for casual wear and had caliber 2500 and 3313 options.
2009: They introduced their latest innovation, with a limited edition ref. 222.30.42.20.01.001 that featured LiquidMetal, a protective alloy designed to strengthen the material and prevent discoloration.
2011: The Planet Ocean received an aesthetic upgrade as well as a new movement: the Caliber 8500. The result was an extended power reserve, skeleton and smaller case options, more colors, and more material options.
2013: Omega added the GMT feature with an adjustable hand, 24-hour bezel, and a new size of 43.5mm.
2016: This marked the third generation in the Omega Planet Ocean with the integration of galvanized rubber and LiquidMetal on the bezel, like with this ref. 215.92.46.22.01.003. They also introduced the Caliber 8900, Omega’s first master chronometer movement.
2022: In March Omega released the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep to the public. In testing it reached a depth of 6269m in the Mariana Trench—the equivalent of the Burj Khalifa stacked seven and a half times.
For enthusiasts of the brand, it wasn’t a surprise to see James Bond sporting an Omega Seamaster in 1995’s Goldeneye, or that Omega replaced Rolex’s Submariner as 007’s watch of choice since then.
Watch Features
Inside its burly ferrous carapace, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M benefits from numerous advancements that make this watch an ideal choice for professional and casual divers alike. Complete with a shock-resistant free sprung balance wheel and dual-anchored balance bridge, this COSC automatic chronometer races ahead of conservative Rolex in the tech department.
Here are some other notable features of the Omega Seamaster:
> Automatic
> 60 Hour Power Reserve
> Silicon Hairspring & Escapement
> Up to 600m Water Resistant
Additionally, a A standard helium release valve keeps a lid on the works when accumulated nitrogen of exotic gas environments asserts itself during post deep-dive ascents. Another particularly useful feature for divers is the ability to set two timers using the chronograph and bezel, making it ideal for dives as well as ease of use. When combined with the audibility of the bezel as it moves and the luminescence of the timepiece, this tool watch is ideal for underwater exploration.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Chronograph
This Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph features a skeletal back, allowing collectors to see some of the inner workings that make this luxury watch magnificent. Its complications include a chronometer as well as the date, making it easy to keep track of time.
Style: Casual, Sport
Gender: Mens
Dial Color: Black
Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
Buckle Type: Folding Buckle
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On the Wrist: Casual Day-to-Day Wear
There’s no denying that the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph is a whole lot of watch. At 260 grams, it weighs just over half a pound and wearers feel every gram of that. For some that might discount this tool watch as a casual watch to be worn and shown off on a daily basis, but for die-hard enthusiasts that want a larger-than-life watch, the Omega Seamaster is ideal. And, with numerous variations and varieties as well as an affordable price point, it’s the perfect luxury watch for casual wear.
Dive Watch Capabilities
While this dive watch might fall behind in its power reserve, at a range of almost 2,000 feet, divers won’t have to worry about damage to their watch due to depth. Regardless if you are exploring Belize’s Blue Hole for peace and quiet or the Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman for some amazing views, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph holds up under pressure.
How Much Does the Omega Seamaster Cost?
Despite being such an impressive watch, the Planet Ocean is still an affordable option for luxury watch collectors and divers looking for a quality tool watch. Brand new, their 2022 release of the Ultra Deep is priced at a surprising $11,600 USD. Here at The 1916 Company, our pre-owned Seamaster Planet Ocean watches range from $3,650 USD for the ref. 2200.50.00 and $10,950 USD for the ref. 215.92.46.51.01.001.
An excellent choice for collectors that just love Omega or divers that need a large, stylish luxury watch The Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph brings a lot to the table in terms of functionality and style. Explore this luxury dive watch, and others like it, on The 1916 Company today.
This article was edited and updated on May 10, 2022.