OMEGA Seamaster Watches

About OMEGA Seamaster Watches

The history of the OMEGA Seamaster begins in 1948. That year, the brand celebrated its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, they debuted the Seamaster. OMEGA created the initial design with sailors in mind. It drew inspiration from the brand’s other dive watches, like the Marine, which was OMEGA's first water resistant timepiece. However, OMEGA wanted the Seamaster to be more than just a dive watch. They strived to create a timepiece that was more versatile. The brand wanted it to appeal to those who could appreciate its functionality and who needed a dress watch for everyday use.

Over the next two decades, sport watches began to increase in popularity. As a result, OMEGA faced competition from other popular models, like the Rolex Submariner. To help set the Seamaster apart, they decided to focus their attention on developing its capabilities, namely its water resistance. The result was the creation of two subcategories of the Seamaster: the sportier Seamaster Professional and dressier Seamaster Aqua Terra.

Although there are many different iterations of the Seamaster, a few common features characterize the model. Most variations of the Seamaster showcase luminescent hands and hour markers for optimal visibility at night or under water. The Seamaster watches typically feature in a stainless steel case construction with a sapphire crystal. Most models also come equipped with a helium release valve, which allows the watch to decompress during a dive.

The Seamaster gained widespread popularity in the 1990s, when it became the official watch of 007 agent James Bond. In 1995, actor Pierce Brosnan took over the role of James Bond in the iconic film series. He notably sported a Seamaster Quartz Professional in the movie GoldenEye. Since then, you can find the Seamaster in every major Bond film. However, throughout the series, James Bond sports a number of different variations of the model. In more recent films, 007 is typically wearing the Seamaster 300. This has since become the most recognizable James Bond version of the iconic model.

The ties between the Seamaster and the movie franchise have even prompted OMEGA to create an exclusive, commemorative watch in celebration of the 007 agent. In 2002, the James Bond series celebrated its 40th anniversary. In conjunction, OMEGA released a limited edition version of the Seamaster inscribed with the 007 logo. Just a few years later in 2006, the brand debuted another James Bond limited edition version of the model: the Seamaster Planet Ocean.

The Seamaster may have solidified its place in pop-culture for its affiliation with the James Bond movies. However, this model has also proven to be one of the most capable tool watches in the OMEGA family. For instance, in June 2019, the brand unveiled an all-new variation called the Seamaster Ultra Deep Professional at the British Museum in London. As the name suggests, this unique model offers an impressive depth rating of up to 15,000 meters. With nearly seventy years of continuous production, the Seamaster is one of the oldest and most robust dive watches around.