New Products Bulletin - December 3 2007

The highly successful and sporty Seamaster Planet Ocean originally introduced in 2005 takes an elegant turn with the arrival of a new, Red Gold Collection. The use of this warm hue of gold in the 2007 Planet Ocean adds refinement to the long list of characteristics of this professional divers’ watch. Conceived as an evolution of the 1957 Seamaster 300 model, this version of the Planet Ocean Co-Axial is the first to be made in red gold.

The 2005 Seamaster Planet Ocean Co-Axial first caught the watch world’s attention with the option of distinctive bold orange details on the dial and the bezel. The following year, its popularity was such that OMEGA introduced a second collection of column-wheel chronographs. Today, the family has grown to include a Red Gold Collection.

The Seamaster family is a core range of OMEGA’s watch making heritage and its sportiest member. Associated with the seas for over 50 years and a favourite of outstanding sportsmen and women such as Michael Phelps and Ellen MacArthur, the Seamaster is a watch fit to match the most demanding maritime challenge. Characteristic details include a robust, waterproof case and a uni-directional bezel. We are reminded of the Planet Ocean’s design origins by the Seamaster’s traditional Seahorse medallion stamped on the screw-in 18-carat red gold case back, the uni-directional bezel, smooth link bracelet and easy to read dial.

The automatic version is available in a 42mm or 45.5mm case while the more complex automatic chronograph model is presented in a 45.5mm case. Both versions offer characteristics well beyond the requisites of a professional divers’ watch and are water resistant to 600 metres/2000 feet. Other features that distinguish these professional divers’ instruments are the screw-in crown and screw-in case back, the Helium Escape Valve, the fluted uni-directional rotating bezel and the highly visible hands.

Positioned at 10 o’clock and embossed with the chemical symbol for helium “He”, the red gold helium escape valve allows any trapped atoms of this gas that might damage the watch to escape when expansion occurs during decompression in a diving bell. The chronograph push buttons, made of red gold and decorated with a black aluminium ring, are functional to 600 metres/2000 feet while the domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal has received an anti-reflective treatment on both sides for optimum clarity.

Previously only available with a sporty matte dial, the Red Gold Collection is offered with a new elegant and glamourous semi-matte black dial enhanced by a red gold Omega logo. The applied red gold luminous hour markers are combined with Arabic numerals placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The date window is positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock on the chronograph’s dial while on the other models it is found at 3 o’clock. To complement the red gold facetted arrowhead hour, minute and seconds hands, white Super-LumiNova replaces the more common green material.

In the case of the chronograph, the sub dials for small seconds, 12 hours and thirty minute totalizers are placed at nine, six and three o’clock respectively and feature applied golden surrounds. The black aluminium 60 minute track ring on the uni-directional rotating bezel also features red gold details.

The chronograph version is fitted with the caliber 3313, a self-winding mechanical movement with a power reserve of 52 hours. The column-wheel mechanism serves to perfect the chronograph’s performance. It ensures a smooth start to the sweep of the seconds hand when the chronograph is activated and provides precision stop and reset functions that do not interfere with the main timekeeping of the watch.

The non-chronograph versions are fitted with the caliber 2500 and all the Planet Ocean Red Gold Collection features the Co-Axial escapement, proprietary OMEGA technology, that considerably reduces friction in the heart of the watch mechanism and offers improved long-term reliability and accuracy. Both calibres are COSC-certified chronometers and further improved by a free-sprung balance. Although the new models have a solid case back, the rhodium-plated movements have been given a luxurious finish: the bridges are decorated with attractive circular graining, Geneva waves and gold-plated engravings. The final flourish is a Seahorse medallion that decorates the screw-in case back.

All three variants (45.5mm automatic chronograph and automatic, and the 42 mm automatic) are available on a comfortable brushed red gold OMEGA patented “screw and pin” bracelet with polished sides or a handsome integrated black alligator strap that sits seamlessly alongside the case offering increased comfort and aesthetics. The foldover safety clasp is fastened onto the wrist with an easy to use release mechanism.