The OMEGA Seamaster Professional

In 1995 James Bond returned to the silver screen in GoldenEye.  For the first time in the film franchise’s history, an OMEGA watch debuted on his wrist. It was a Seamaster Diver 300M to be exact, part of the OMEGA Seamaster Professional lineup. This close relationship between James Bond and OMEGA has been going on strong for over 20 years now. However, most of Bond’s OMEGA watches are Seamaster Professionals.

While validation from the world’s most famous super-spy is certainly significant, the OMEGA Seamaster Professional model has already enjoyed a rich history.

OMEGA Seamaster Professional History

To celebrate OMEGA’s 100th anniversary in 1948, the brand introduced the Seamaster. With its dressy appeal and slight resistance to water, it was a timepiece for the elegant and active man. As OMEGA’s oldest collection still in production today, the Seamaster has enjoyed countless iterations over the course of its history. The “Professional” series joined the Seamaster line in 1957 with the first Seamaster 300.

As OMEGA dedicated its resources to creating solid professional dive watches, the Seamaster became the go-to timepiece for professional scuba divers including Jacques Cousteau, the British military, and COMEX teams.

OMEGA Seamaster Professional Models

Today, celebrities and public figures like Steve Carrell, Ron Howard, Gordon Ramsey, Joe Biden, and Prince William all sport an OMEGA Seamaster Professional.

The Seamaster Professional label graces several models including the Diver 300M, the Planet Ocean 600M, and the Ploprof 1200M. As the name suggests, Seamaster Professional timepieces are built for use by professional divers. These watches construction can withstand deep marine environments. Many models also feature a Helium Escape Valve (HEV). This allows the watch to automatically release built-up gasses in order to prevent interior damage.

As the modern equivalent of the first Seamaster Professional, the Diver 300M is the most affordable and most popular among the professional lineup. Exclusively constructed in stainless steel, the Diver 300M is only available with either a black dial and black bezel or blue dial and blue bezel. OMEGA offers chronograph and GMT editions of the Diver 300M as well as smaller 28mm quartz versions for ladies.

The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M is not only more robust, but also more luxurious. And with a wide choice of metals, complications, bracelet materials, and dial and bezel colors, it’s also the most versatile of the Seamaster Professional collection.

In 2009, OMEGA reintroduced the vintage Ploprof in an updated version. The original Ploprof came out in 1970 as an extreme dive watch that could plunge to 600 meters (2,000 feet). Today’s version can dive down to an incredible 1,200 meters (4,000 feet). The current edition of the Ploprof retains the distinct look of the original watch. It has the winding crown and accompanying protector on the left.

 

With patrons such as the Royal Navy, Jacques Cousteau, and 007, the OMEGA Seamaster Professional has more than proven its worth as a solid diving watch.