Omega Seamaster Diver 300m “Vancouver 2010” Limited Edition

While some have hinted at parsimony when referring to the meagre Omega offerings for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics (particularly compared with the treasure trove of models released during the Beijing extravaganza), this may well be a bonus for serious collectors. A run of 2010 pieces for each of the 41mm and 36.25mm versions points to genuine future collectibility. It’s a watch to pass on to the next generation, so if you purchase one do make sure you keep the boxes and papers!

The Seamaster Vancouver is a thoughtfully designed collectors' piece that is quintessentially Canadian in its colour palette and evocative of the Winter Olympics program. Its colours are taken from the Canadian national flag: a snow white lacquer dial with a red embossed Seamaster logo, black Omega symbol and lettering set against an anodised red bezel with silver index and numbers. The bezel sits strikingly within the classic scalloped case rim and signature Seamaster beveled lugs.

The hands are also part of the Seamaster Professional livery, skeletonised and coated with super LumiNova. The centre sweep is nothing short of dinky, featuring coloured Olympic Rings as a counterweight to the red-tipped “business side” of the sweep. Simple round hour indices coated with Super LumiNova mark each hour.

One or two commentators have questioned the choice of a Seamaster as a commemorative Olympic watch, hinting that a chronograph of some sort is more proper. To me, it’s refreshing to see a configuration with a simple date window do the honours, and aren’t we getting a tad weary of all those big tool watches, the functions of which people rarely ever use, commanding all the attention? In my opinion, the uncluttered snow white dial is infinitely more suggestive of the conditions in which this Olympic competition will be held.

The Seamaster Vancouver case houses a chronometer certified Omega coaxial calibre 2500, reviews of which appear in other posts below. It’s a proven workhorse that matches up to any Rolex calibre you care to mention. The caseback design continues the Canadian theme, showing the Winter Games logo and “Ilanaak”, an abstract sculpture that denotes “friend”.

This Seamaster carries all the fruit of the Seamaster Professional series and retails at around the USD $3800.00 mark, probably a few hundred less after a bit of spirited bargaining. As a collectors piece, particularly for Canadians wishing to commemorate the games, it represents good value. For me, an eminently collectible one of two thousand and ten (for each case size) that screams “out of the ordinary”.

Omega Planet Ocean Diamond Bezel Collection

It had to happen – a Seamaster that not only glows in the dark but glitters in the light!

The Seamaster Planet Ocean Bling and Planet Ocean Chronograph Bling collection are either a group of multi-purpose time-keepers or a family of glittering wetsuit wannabes. Designed for men (and women who have a penchant for big watches), It’s doubtful that these watches will ever grace the wrists of those who enjoy recreational diving on sunken hulks: they could however be an attractive accessory for the heiress or daddy’s little princess who fixes her sights on diving on the odd sulken hunk after having consumed one too many gin slings!

And while the only thing brand ambassador Nicole Kidman is ever likely to dive into is a cocktail frock, she was reported to have not wanted to take her Seamaster Planet Ocean Bling off after a feature photo shoot. It is not known whether her motives were based on avarice or aesthetics, but there are enough diamonds on the bezel of the Seamaster PO Bling to excite the attention of many a Hollywood diva.

In the flesh, the PO looks striking and not at all over-the-top. The uncompromisingly masculine styling of both Planet Ocean models are somewhat softened by their glittering bezels, making these watches equally at home in the boardroom as they are in the lap pool. The uni-directional rotating bezel features a Super-LumiNova dot on black triangular ground at 12 o’clock.

The Planet Ocean chronometer is powered by the coaxial calibre 2500, a proven performer in the Omega stable and comes in case sizes of 45.5mm and 42mm, the latter with 45 slightly smaller diamonds totalling 1.73 carats. The lacquered black dial sets off the diamond polished applied Arabic numerals. Diamond polished rhodium-plated hands are coated with white Super-LumiNova. The stainless steel screw-in case back is stamped with the recognisable Seahorse medallion and the integrated black alligator strap is clasped by a stainless steel fold over.

The chronograph model, also shown above, at 45.5 mm, sports 45 sizeable diamonds totalling 2.65 carats. It has a small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute recorder at 3 and a 12-hour recorder at 6, with a small date window at 4:30.

While these watches are not for everyone, they certainly fit the bill for the man or woman who likes to show off a tad with an aggressively styled jewellery watch….or two

Click here for a picture review of these and other Planet Ocean models