04 Jul, 2023

OMEGA SUMMER BLUE: THE NEW SEAMASTER COLLECTION CELEBRATING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

With the arrival of summer, Omega has launched a new collection to celebrate the anniversary and pay tribute to the family created 75 years ago: Omega Seamaster. Considered the quintessential watch for those who love the sea, since its introduction in 1948, the Omega Seamaster collection has been recognised as one of the icons of watchmaking and ocean navigation, it is one of the watches one immediately thinks of not only when asked about diving watches, but also about watches in general.

The history of the Seamaster is closely linked to the underwater expedition, accompanying numerous professional divers and explorers on their expeditions, due to its water-resistance and watertightness.

The 11-piece collection, called: Seamaster Summer Blue, is associated with the world of diving and marine exploration. Composed of seven iconic models, it is a versatile collection ranging from elegance to state-of-the-art diving technology: from the Aqua Terra, representing the sun-drenched surface, to the Ultra Deep, the dark abyss.

OMEGA SEAMASTER ORIGINS: 1948

The Omega Seamaster, commonly known as the "James Bond watch", was introduced in 1948 as a men's watch for the brand's 100th anniversary. Inspired by models Omega had supplied to the British armed forces during the Second World War, it was an immediate success and was positioned in advertisements as a watch capable of withstanding the harshest conditions thanks to a waterproofing system Omega had developed.

From this, the Omega Seamaster was destined to become a mainstay of the brand. It was introduced as a dress watch, a watch designed for "city, sea and country", not as a diver's watch.

Previously, water-resistant watches relied on seals made of shellac or lead, materials that were affected by the temperature changes a diver might experience at various depths. Omega devised a technology to seal the crown and case against leakage, based on a rubber O-ring that improved their water resistance and moved away from the previous materials. This, together with diver Gordan McLean's record dive to 62.5 metres off the Australian coast in 1955, set the Seamaster on the path to becoming the quintessential diver's watch we know today, with a collection that has spanned over seven decades with numerous models now joined by the new Summer Blue.

OMEGA SUMMER BLUE

The distinctive feature of this new collection is the characteristic colour shared by all 11 pieces, the blue colour "Summer Blue". The particularity of this colour is that it varies gradually from the lightest to the darkest, the dials of the watches darkening according to their water resistance, creating a palette of eight shades based on sunlight crossing the ocean.

The Aqua Terra, rated to 150 metres, has a light blue dial with a subtle gradient effect, but once you descend to the depths of the Ploprof and Ultra Deep, the dials darken with a more pronounced gradient.

Another distinctive feature is an engraving on the back of the case, designed by Jean-Pierre Borle in 1950, depicting Poseidon with a trident accompanied by two seahorses.

Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue

This model launched in 2002 features three new models with a sun-brushed dial varnished in Summer Blue with a gradient representing the water resistance of the Aqua Terra: 150m. It features rhodium-plated hands and sailboat hull-shaped hour-markers filled with a unique light blue Super-LumiNova. It is complemented by a polished stainless steel case and bracelet.

Available in one 38mm and two 41mm models, with a choice of steel bracelet or blue rubber strap.

Seamaster Aqua Terra Worldtimer 150M Summer Blue

The 43mm Aqua Terra Worldtimer, with matching steel bracelet or blue rubber strap, features a colourful view of the earth surrounded by a circle with different world destinations engraved in a silver color.

The outer and inner dials are joined and the hesalite crystal allows a 24-hour readout with light blue for day and dark blue for night. We observe the earth in relief on a blue ocean obtained by the technique of laser ablation of texture and colour on a grade 5 titanium plate.

Powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8938, the Worldtimer is equipped to indicate the time in a water world at 150 metres.

Seamaster Diver 300M Summer Blue

Launched in 1993, the Diver 300m combines the elegance and technology of diving to make it the quintessential OMEGA diver's watch. Its Summer Blue ceramic dial is varnished with a gradient finish to reflect its water resistance. It features a blue ceramic bezel with the novelty of a Summer Blue (Grand feu) enamel diving scale.

It is 42mm in stainless steel and comes with a matching bracelet or blue rubber strap.

Seamaster 300 Summer Blue

Launched in 1957 as part of the "Professional" trilogy, it featured an easy-to-read dial and high water-resistance. Following in the same vein is the 41 mm Seamaster 300 Summer Blue, with its symmetrical brushed and polished stainless steel case, matching bracelet and powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8912, certified to the highest industry standards by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Summer Blue

Designed for deep diving, the 39.5mm OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M delivers brilliant performance at a depth of 600 metres and includes the essential helium escape valve. Beneath the dial is the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8900. With a stainless steel case and bracelet and a blue ceramic bezel with a light blue diving scale.

Seamaster Ploprof 1200M Summer Blue

One of the stars of the collection is the new Ploprof 1200m, inspired by the original OMEGA model launched in 1971 and named after the french term Plongeur Professionel (professional diver). The Seamaster Ploprof is considered one of the most robust and innovative diver's wristwatches ever created. Manufactured in O-MEGASTEEL steel, it features a transparent sapphire crystal bezel, varnished blue on the back. It features the screw-down crown from the 1970s model and the characteristic safety push-piece, which in this edition, in keeping with the blue colour scheme, has a blue ceramic ring.

Seamaster Planet Ocean 6000m Ultra Deep

Finally, as we head into the depths we find the Seamaster Planet Ocean 6000m. The first Ultra Deep watches made history on the Five Deeps expedition in 2019 by reaching the deepest place on Earth: the Mariana Trench. Following this, Omega developed a collection of 6000m watches for the more adventurous: Ultra Deep. A watch tested in real ocean conditions during its development, water-resistant to 6000 metres (20 000 feet), and compliant with ISO 6425:2018 for saturation diving watches.

Its dial pays homage to an accurate representation of the Challenger Chasm, mapped by the Five Deeps team, and features a UVA light revealing the phrase: Omega was here, marking the world record dive of 10,935 metres (35,876 feet) and showing the three separate pits called the Western, Central and Eastern Pools.

This 45.5 mm model has a solid O-MEGASTEEL case and bracelet.