- Omega has just revealed its all-new fourth-generation Seamaster Planet Ocean collection.
- In line with the 20th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean collection, the new range features a thinner, more angular case and no helium escape valve.
- The new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean collection is currently available, with prices starting from $13,575 for a black or blue model on a rubber strap.
Itโs a big day for Omega fans, with the brand revealing an all-new fourth-generation Seamaster Planet Ocean collection that addresses many of the complaints collectors have had about the range over the years. Itโs aggressively angular, slimmer, and ditches the helium escape valve, making it an overall exciting new lineup from the Biel-based watchmaker.
The main story here is the updated design of the case, which ditches the sweeping lyre lugs of the previous generation for a significantly more angular form and, on both the bracelet and rubber strap versions, meets the similarly sharp lines of the endlinks.
Beyond its fresh shape, the case is also significantly slimmer than the 16.1mm profile of previous generations, now measuring 13.79mm thick and a pretty wearable 42mm in diameter.
Two other significant design updates include the removal of the helium escape valve (likely the change that allowed for a thinner case profile) and the date window on the dial. Weโd already seen the elimination of both of these features on the Ultra Deep collection from 2022, but they were well and truly present in the 2016 third-generation Seamaster Planet Ocean, and without them, it makes for a significantly cleaner, more streamlined visual impression.
In total, there are three different colours on offer, including black, dark blue, and the bright orange that has become a signature of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection, with all three colours available on either a steel bracelet or a rubber strap (the orange version is available with either a black or orange rubber strap).
Powering the new lineup is a movement weโve seen before in Planet Ocean versions โ the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8912 that boasts 60 hours of power reserve and a Silicon โSi14โ balance spring. While the cases of all seven new references are stainless steel, their casebacks are crafted from solid titanium to ensure the full 600m of water resistance.
Thereโs no doubt that some collectors will be torn if they like this new design language for the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean collection, but I, for one, am a big fan. Not only because Omega has ditched the date window and the helium escape valve, as well as making the case almost 2.5mm thinner, but because its new design echoes one of the best Omega dive watch designs from history โ the Seamaster 120 166.0251 โBaby Proplofโ โ a watch that oozed 70s charm.
The entire fourth-generation Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean is currently available from Omega boutiques and online, with the black and blue versions arriving with an RRP of $14,575 on the steel bracelet and $13,575 on the rubber strap. The signature orange versions are slightly pricer, with an RRP of $15,000 on the steel bracelet and $13,975 on both black and orange rubber straps.
