The Omega Seamaster is a wristwatch that has been in production since 1948. The Omega Seamaster Swiss wristwatch has been produced in many different variations and styles over the years. These variations include a number of different dials, case sizes, and movement configurations. In this blog post, we will take a look at the different models of the Seamaster watch over the years. We will also take a look at Omega Seamaster’s History.
The Seamaster was introduced in 1948 by Omega Watch Co as a response to the popularity of the British Submariner watch. Rolex had made a similar offering with the Sea-Dweller in 1954; however, the Seamaster was significantly more affordable than the Rolex Submariner. This was a big selling point for the Omega watches and helped to secure the brand as a mainstream watch.
Thanks to how established the brand is, Omega watches do hold their value. If you are looking to invest in an Omega Seamaster watch it is important to check your Omega watch authenticity.
Omega Seamaster History
The history of the Omega Seamaster is a rich one due to the fact that the Seamaster has been the longest-running product that is still being produced by the brand Omega.
The first Omega Seamaster watch was created in 1948 and was designed around the British Military at the end of the Second World War. The key feature of the vintage Omega Seamaster was its iconic O-ring gasket that is used to provide the watch’s waterproof seal. This original design had been developed during World War II for use in submarines, as they needed to be designed to withstand temperature and pressure changes which is where watches before the Seamaster were vulnerable and fell short due to their lead and shellac gasket design.
The classic Seamaster also made a diving record in 1955 in which the diver Gordon McLean achieved a 62.5-meter depth in the coasts of Australia, thanks to the waterproof watch model. Thanks to Gordon McLean, the Seamaster then became the ideal diving watch.
James Bond
In 1995, Pierce Brosnan became the world’s next James Bond and in doing so the iconic figure of James Bond would then be tied to the Omega brand and specifically the Seamaster watch collection. In the movie GoldenEye, James Bond wore an Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Quartz. In the films after, James Bond wore the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronometer.
Prior to the association between the watch brand and the successful franchise, Bond had worn a Rolex Submariner. The decision to change the watch was brought about by the head of wardrobe Lindy Hemming, who wanted to give the fictional spy a more sophisticated and ‘European’ look. The association between the Omega Seamaster and the British Military is what solidified her decision in the switch of watch brands.
The brand awareness really picked up when Daniel Craig playing James Bond (From Casino Royale to No Time To Die) wore the Seamaster Planet Ocean and Seamaster Diver 300M in Casino Royale, and mentioned the watch by name in the film. The watch has been casually referred to as ‘the James Bond watch’, thanks to the popularity and timelessness of James Bond.
Thanks to the popularity of the Bond franchise, Omega had released editions of the Seamaster with Bond-relevant designs on.
Omega Seamaster Models By Year
Omega Seamaster 1940s Models
One of the original Seamaster watches was the Seamaster 18k gold. This vintage Seamaster came in a chronometer version and due to the era of its launch, very few watch brands were able to compete due to the production value and quality of this watch which followed so prominently after World War ii.
Omega Seamaster 1950s Models
The end of the 50s is when Omega debuted the Speedmaster and the Speedmaster 300. The elegant design of the brushed stainless steel casing and the tropical style dial made it highly water resistant. Omega Seamaster is a highly sought after brand due to its waterproof watches.
Omega Seamaster 1960s Models
The Seamaster Chronograph is more of a dress watch compared to the traditional Diver watch. The watch actually inspired the Alaska III project on the Space shuttle NASA created in the 80s.
Omega Seamaster 1970s Models
1970 gave birth to the Seamaster PloProf 600m which was the Seamaster watch that was created to withstand intense and crushing water pressure. It is a diving watch that doesn’t have a helium release valve and due to the design, it is more of a functional diving watch than a dress watch.
Omega Seamaster 1980s Models
Juxtaposing the Seamaster PloProf, the Seamaster 120m Quartz is iconic for its thinness and was actually worn by actor Jean-Marc in the film The Big Blue (1988). Thanks to the association between the film and the brand, this model was very successful.
Omega Seamaster 1990s Models
Previously mentioned in the history of the Omega Seamaster, the Seamster Professional Diver 300m is a distinctive titanium chronograph and features underwater operational pusher buttons.
Omega Seamaster 2000s Models
A more modern update on the Seamaster watch would be the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m which is known as one of the great diving watches thanks to its 600m water resistance. chronometer certification, and helium-escape valve.
Omega Seamaster 2010s Models
To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Omega released a revamp of the Professional Diver 300m in 2018.
