True Summer Blues: The Gorgeous New 75th Anniversary Seamasters from Omega (Part 1)

Encompassing and touching every single aspect of the Seamaster family in seven new timepieces (well, 11, if you include a new recycled fishing net plastic strap options available on some models), the new 75th-anniversary Seamaster models from Omega were pretty breathtaking, especially when lined up next to each other on a pristine Mykonos beach.

“The many tributes paid to Seamaster here in Greece offer proof of its versatility,” said Omega President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann during the proceedings. “As well as being a watch stylish enough to turn heads, it can hold its own in extreme environments. The name says it all! The Seamaster is a legend: 75 years and still going strong.”

While it’s true that the spirit Raynald Aeschlimann describes unifies all Seamaster models, these 75th-anniversary editions boast two additional themes that also tie the new line together. The first theme is that they all share the same scintillating color that the brand calls “Summer Blue.” And the second is that each 75th-anniversary Seamaster model has a unique, gorgeously etched (or outlined in the case of the very deep-rated models) steel caseback depicting Poseidon riding two seahorses on the crest of the waves.
 

One last thing to note before we get into each of the 75th-anniversary models: Since this new stable of Seamasters also touches on every specific type of dive watch’s individual strengths and gravitas, Watchonista is splitting its coverage into two parts. Today, we are discussing the new Planet Ocean and Ploprof models; tomorrow, we will discuss the new Seamaster 300, Diver 300m, and Aqua Terra models.

On hand in Mykonos was Victor Vescovo, Omega’s partner in extreme ocean exploration. And while there, Vescovo talked about taking his Ultra Deep as far down as 6,000 meters (about 20,000 feet) into the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on the planet, when he set a new submersible world record in 2019.

However, if delving into the depths of the Mariana Trench is not enough testing for you, the new 45.5mm Planet Ocean 6000m Co-Axial Master Chronometer Ultra Deep has also been certified by the independent Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) as meeting the ISO 6245:2018 standards for a saturation dive watch.
 

First released in the same year that Vescovo made his record-setting dive, 2019, the 2023 commercial version of the Planet Ocean Ultra Deep clocks in at a 45.5mm case size, 18mm of thickness, and a tough three-link bracelet made from battle-proven O-MEGASTEEL. Plus, it includes the rugged Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibre 8912 movement.
 

Of course, the “Summer Blue” color theme graces the Ultra Deep’s dial; however, the dial includes an additional special detail: As captured by Vescovo’s team from almost 1 million depth points, the exact sonically measured contours of the Challenger Deep portion of the Mariana Trench (which is almost 11,000 meters below the ocean surface) are gorgeously reproduced using a shimmering lacquer finish.
 

Here’s one final Easter Egg: If you shine a UV light on the new Planet Ocean 6000m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 45.5mm Ultra Deep ($13,000), the dial reveals the message “Omega Was Here” on the Western, Central, and Eastern Pools of the Challenger Deep reproduction.
 

Like the new Planet Ocean 6000m Ultra Deep described above, the 75th-anniversary Ploprof 1200m Co-Axial Master Chronometer is powered by the Co-Axial Master Chronometer 8912 movement and rendered in O-MEGASTEEL (previously reserved just for the Ultra Deep). But that’s where the similarities end because, from a design perspective, the Ploprof is a whole other deep-sea animal.

The “Plonguer “Professional, which means “professional diver” in French, gave serious undersea explorers like Jacques Cousteau and others an alternative to needing a helium escape valve back in the day to release damaging compressed gases under the crystal and prevent cracking and damage.
 

The new Ploprof can go down 1,200 meters but looks pretty menacing while doing so because, although Omega has trimmed down this year’s model (reducing the size of its bold signature triangular crown guard and hefty push-button bezel-lock assembly), it still presents as unique and over-the-top as the first Ploprof that debuted back in 1971. It will make an even more profound statement on the dock, to be sure.
 

Additionally, a simple sunray execution of the “Summer Blue” theme also helps sell the new Ploprof’s more sober nature. Gone are the colorful techy dial details, leaving the chunky case embellishments to tell the story on either side of the highly legible dial.
 

Lastly, presented on a beefy perforated blue rubber strap to mimic the original Ploprof, the new 2023 75th-anniversary edition of this rarely seen monster is the most wearable (and possibly most enviable) Ploprof ever. Expect to pay $14,300 even on a perforated rubber strap for this bit of 1970s reference badass wrist presence.

While purchasing the new line of 75th Anniversary Seamaster models via the brand’s website was not yet possible at press time, you can add your name to the “wish list” via the website. However, you will soon be able to find them at select brand retailers as the line’s roll-out continues. To learn more, visit the Omega website.

Come back tomorrow to read True Summer Blues: The Stunning New 75th Anniversary Seamasters from Omega (Part 2)!

(Images © OMEGA)