In the early hours of the morning, OMEGA released a string of new products. Among them is a vintage-inspired Seamaster that pays homage to the brand’s first dive replica watches from the 1950s and 1960s.
This is the new OMEGA Seamaster 300. It has the same old-school charm, with the same blue and black dial variant, only closer in spirit and aesthetics to the original.
This is not the first time Omega has created a pseudo-retrospective Seamaster. In fact, the model it replaces is just that. This new version of the watch is, well, more retro. The upcoming model combines the look of the Seamaster from the 1950s with 21st-century features. For starters, it features the Master Co-Axial Chronometer stamped on the bottom of the dial and an ultra-modern ceramic bezel.
This new Seamaster 300 is a true tribute in many ways, forgoing some of the modern stylings of its predecessor in order to be more faithful to the original 1957 model. But it is not a 1:1 replica. As a matter of fact, this new watch in many ways appears older than the first Seamaster.
The dial construction is one of the main differences between the old and the new. According to OMEGA, the dial is made up of two plates. The first plate has blue luminous Super-LumiNova applied, while the top plate has cutouts for indications and numerals. This is effectively a sandwich-style dial, but it doesn’t end there. The markers are recessed and filled with a healthy dose of luminescent material. OMEGA replica had used “open Arabic” numerals on the Seamaster 300 in the 1960s.
Arguably the biggest change here is the simplicity of the dial design. Gone is the dial text of the reference movement. In its place is the classic text “Seamaster 300”. The actual dial size is larger, with an opening of 30.4 mm, compared to 29.5 mm before. The fake watch is also thinner than the outgoing model.
The bezel should be familiar, as it is actually identical – in appearance – to the outgoing model. According to OMEGA, the anodizing process used makes the surface much harder and more scratch-resistant than the standard aluminum insert. The watch maintains its 41 mm size. The lugs are 21 mm wide and the bracelet tapers to 16 mm at the clasp. OMEGA has also made a slight adjustment to the bracelet design. Instead of polishing the center link, it has been brushed – the outer links have been polished.