The oceans: For some, they’re a playground; for others, they’re a workplace. If you spend time on the water and exploring the mysteries that lie just beneath its surface, then Omega’s Planet Ocean watch may be the ideal match for your lifestyle.
Swiss luxury watch maker Omega SA was founded in 1848 under the name La Generale Watch Co. In 1903, it incorporated its founder’s name as well as the name Omega, becoming Louis Brandt et Frere – Omega Watch & Co. 1982 saw the company’s moniker change again, this time to Omega SA, the brand name with which we’re familiar today.
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Almost since its founding, the Omega name has been associated with adventure. Britain’s Royal Flying Corps enlisted Omega watches as their official brand in 1917, and the U.S. Army followed suit in 1918. The Olympic Games chose the brand as the official timekeeping device in 1932 and NASA chose Omega watches for the first-ever moon expedition in 1969.
In 2019, a trio of experimental Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional watches successfully survived a dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Affixed to the Limiting Factor self-propelled deep-sea submersible, they reached an astonishing 10,928 meters and emerged unscathed. This new world record established the Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional as the deepest dive watch ever produced.
The Omega Planet Ocean is part of the Omega Seamaster family, which includes the Ploprof, Bullhead, Aqua Terra, and Seamaster Bond. The Seamaster itself was introduced in 1948, with a design that was loosely based on designs produced for Britain’s Royal Navy during the final years of the second World War. The Seamaster Planet Ocean is a far newer design, having been in production since 2005.
Omega Planet Ocean watches offer water resistance to a depth of 600 meters (1969 feet or 60 bar) – almost twice the depth of the deepest dive on record, an astounding 1082 feet (332 meters) depth achieved in South Sinai by Egyptian scientist and diver Ahmed Gabr in 2014. A helium release valve (HEV) and a chronometer certification are two features that contribute to its popularity as one of the most reliable dive watches ever produced.
The first Planet Ocean watches were introduced in 2005 as an upgrade to the Omega Seamaster 300, which first entered production in 1960. Through the years, Omega Planet Ocean models have been produced in 38mm, 42mm, and 45.5mm diameters, with a variety of different bezel and numeral options, and in both chronograph and non-chronograph (GMT) versions. A number of bracelet and strap options have come and gone through the years as well. Many designs include at least a touch of orange color and all are equipped with luminous hands which distinguish themselves by appearing incredibly brilliant in the dark.
Almost all Omega Planet Ocean models have some things in common, beginning with an analog display that features luminescent hands. The bezel rotates unidirectionally, and the caseback is a screw-in type that, with the exception of some limited-edition models, is almost always engraved with the famous Omega hippocampus logo. The helium escape valve is a unique feature that allows divers to release helium during decompression, preventing built-up pressure from popping the crystal off the case. It is positioned slightly above the center of the ten o’clock position.
Original 2005 non-chronograph Omega Planet Ocean watches were equipped with Omega’s calibre 2500. In 2011, the movement was upgraded to calibre 8500.
During the 2011 Planet Ocean update, the company’s designers made a few other changes. Opaque casebacks were swapped for transparent ones and bezels were upgraded from aluminum to ceramic. The coaxial escapement organ received a 13 percent increase in size, and the winding rotor was redesigned to achieve bi-directional winding even with the slightest motion of the wrist. Size differences remained the same and quite a few limited editions were offered including the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600 M ‘Skyfall’ James Bond watch, famously worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond in the movie Skyfall.
2016 saw Omega Planet Ocean watches receive more aesthetic updates to the cases, faces, and bracelets. In addition, Planet Ocean watches produced from 2016 onward are equipped with Master Co-Axial calibre, which maintains chronometer certification while offering the added advantage of resistance to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. The Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) awarded the Planet Ocean watch its highly coveted Master Chronometer certification, making this model the first watch ever to provide this level of magnetic field resistance alongside a 600 meter depth rating.
As you might imagine, the Omega Planet Ocean has quite a few famous wearers. In addition to Daniel Craig, notable owners include actors George Clooney and Tom Hanks, along with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.
As the official watch of James Bond, the Omega Planet Ocean received plenty of screen time, with various models including the Casino Royale limited edition and the Quantum of Solace limited edition appearing in every 007 movie produced between Casino Royale and Spectre, in which Bond’s watch was updated to the Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition.
An Omega Planet Ocean watch exudes quality, making it fairly easy to spot poorly manufactured counterfeits. The bad news is that counterfeiters have access to better tools than ever, making it easier to produce convincing reproductions which are foisted upon unsuspecting buyers who want to find a great deal on a used Omega Planet Ocean.
Since this is a functioning dive watch, proper authentication is an absolute must. We recommend purchasing certified models only. In the event that you’re tempted by a watch that appears to be the real deal, there are a few ways to distinguish a fake Omega Planet Ocean from the real thing.
It’s worth noting that there are many different Omega Planet Ocean models available, each with unique features that can help you distinguish the real thing from a counterfeit. Familiarize yourself with the model you’re searching for so that this process is easier.
Unfortunately, high-tech counterfeit watches are highly lucrative for unscrupulous manufacturers who know that it’s possible to trick unsuspecting buyers into believing that their replicas are authentic. Since many platforms expressly state that they are not accountable when counterfeit goods are sold to consumers, the best way to avoid a fake Omega Planet Ocean is to purchase your watch directly from Omega.
The current retail (MSRP) price of an Omega Planet Ocean watch ranges from $6,450 to $103,000. Most models fall between the $6,450 and $13,000 mark with a few higher-priced outliers.
Pre-owned Omega Planet Ocean watches often retain value, typically selling for at least a few thousand dollars when in excellent condition. As with all previously owned luxury watches, value is determined on a case by case basis, with a number of contributing factors including age, rarity, condition, the current market value, and more in mind. Omega Planet Ocean watches offered with original paperwork and/or presentation boxes are typically worth more than those without.
If you own an Omega Planet Ocean watch and want to sell your watch for the best price possible, Worthy can help by eliminating guesswork and targeting interested, prequalified buyers who are actively looking for pre-owned Omega Planet Ocean models like yours.
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