Introducing the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black

Cat burglars and grown-up goth kids rejoice, Omega’s new Seamaster is fully blacked out, and ready to disappear into the night, like so much clove cigarette smoke. Whenever I see a blacked out sports watch like this, be it a custom job or something released officially from a big watch brand, my first thought is always, “Who is this for, really?” My second thought, though, is usually something more along the lines of “Yeah, you know what, I can pull this one off,” and on rare occasions that thought translates into action. It’s hard to describe the appeal of a blacked out watch – I’ve come to believe they tap into something in our reptilian brains with their apparent tactical qualities. Maybe it’s as simple as anything that makes you feel like a secret agent is desirable to the part of you that always hoped you’d be roped into the plot of a Tom Clancy novel. 

In any case, what we have in the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black (yes, that’s the watch’s official Omega designated name) is a watch that exhibits some of Omega’s prowess with materials, even if it’s not, at the end of the day, all that practical as a dive watch (consult your high school physics text book for a refresher on what happens to visible light when underwater). Just about everything on the exterior of the watch, save the strap, has been crafted from black ZrO2. That includes the case, dial, and the buckle on the rubber strap. The hour markers and hands have been given a black PVD treatment to match the rest of the hardware. 

Omega hasn’t completely forsaken legibility, though, at least according to the press materials provided (we haven’t seen this watch in person yet to evaluate it). In an effort to bring contrast to the dial elements, Omega has used a laser-ablating process on the dial to create a sense of depth on the minute track. The same technique was used on diving bezel, which features the minute indications etched in positive relief. While in photos it might seem like the entire watch is a big black mass, it’s important to consider the role of light-play when it comes to the legibility of any watch, and a variety of finishing techniques that might not be easily discernible in photos could contribute to this watch being surprisingly easy to read, at least in certain lighting conditions (and probably not at any significant depth if you’re actually diving with it). 

In terms of specs, this Seamaster appears modeled closely after the ceramic Seamaster 300M released last year (that one featured a titanium bezel and caseback, and did not have the fully blacked out dial treatment). The case measures 43.5mm, so a bit larger than the standard stainless steel 300M, and the movement used here is the dateless Calibre 8806. Naturally, that movement has been METAS certified to Omega’s stringent specifications, and features anti-magnetic materials, a free sprung balance, and a co-axial escapement.

The retail price on the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black is $8,650. Contact your local Omega authorized dealer or boutique for more information on living out your secret agent dreams, or just embracing your inner Cure fan. Availability is expected in July. Omega