Omega has a history of groundbreaking achievements, from introducing the Co-Axial escapement to being ahead of the curve in crafting colored ceramics. They even went on to create the METAS certification and the remarkable Spirate technology, which regulates a watch with astonishing precision, allowing for a deviation of just 0 to +2 seconds per day. Today, we delve into their latest creation – the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey. It’s a watch that not only flaunts a new silicon nitride ceramic case, but also boasts a lighter and more robust design, thanks to the use of cutting-edge materials.
Omega’s new creation maintains the dimensions seen in previous Planet Ocean 600m GMT watches. It sports a 45.5mm diameter, 17.4mm thickness, and 51.5mm lug-to-lug length. What sets it apart is the meticulous choice of materials. The crown, helium escape valve, and bezel ring are expertly crafted in grade 5 titanium, creating a stunning contrast with the dark grey ceramic case.
The real star here is the silicon nitride ceramic case, a material that’s twice as light as conventional ceramic. When combined with the external titanium elements and a sandblasted grade 5 titanium dial, this watch achieves its primary objective: being as lightweight and robust as possible.
Internally, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey is equally dedicated to its mission. It houses a new variant of the renowned METAS-certified 8906 Co-Axial movement, known as the 8906 Ti. This movement is a true work of art, with its black ceramised grade 5 titanium finish, which forgoes traditional decorative elements in favor of a contemporary, grained-matte texture with machined bevels. This sleek and stealthy look perfectly complements the watch’s overall design, and it’s a testament to Omega’s commitment to innovation. The in-house automatic calibre delivers 60 hours of power reserve, METAS Master Chronometer certification, and the convenience of date and GMT functionality.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room – the price. The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey comes with a retail price tag of US$22,200, which might raise a few eyebrows.
For comparison, there’s the Deep Black Planet Ocean, which shares the same dimensions and movement functionality. The key differences lie in the color, type of ceramic, dial material, buckle material on its rubber strap, and the 8906 movement variant used. The Deep Black opts for a conventional black ceramic case, black ceramic dial, standard 8906 movement, and a black ceramic folding clasp. On the other hand, the new Dark Grey flaunts the innovative Si3N4 ceramic case, a sandblasted grade 5 titanium dial, a new 8906 Ti movement with black ceramised grade 5 titanium mainplate and bridges, and a grade 5 titanium buckle. All this innovation results in a weight difference of 31 grams, with the Deep Black weighing in at 138 grams and the new Dark Grey at 107 grams. However, the price disparity is far more significant, with the Deep Black being nearly half the cost at US$12,300.
While we can’t yet provide a firsthand account of how the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey feels on the wrist, it’s clear that Omega has shifted some of the R&D costs of the Si3N4 material onto consumers. The real question is whether the Omega fanbase will embrace this lighter and more robust ceramic innovation at this price point.
Either way, these are available now and will be part of Omega’s permanent collection.
