Even though 45.5mm wide is big, and the watch is quite thick at 17.18mm, the sharply sloping lugs make the watch fit well on most wrist sizes. I am not saying that the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black wears small, but it sort of adapts to various wrist sizes nicely given the case design with the stocky lugs. With a richly sloped, domed AR-coated sapphire crystal, the case is also water-resistant to 600 meters. Note that this is a 600-meter-water-resistant watch with a caseback exhibition window as well. Speaking of the caseback, note the new “Naiad Lock” system which is basically Omega’s name for a screw-down ceramic caseback. You also have the collection’s distinctive manually operated helium release valve at 10 o’clock that you’ll never use, but it looks cool to have as part of the total package.
I’ve not actually seen the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black models with the more polished surfaces, but I have seen the polished ceramic dial on other models and feel that those “shinier” Deep Black models fit in more traditionally with the larger Planet Ocean family. It is these uncommon matte-finished blue and red-accented models which are the most unique.
Omega even went so far as to include as much ceramic as possible in the matching matte black folding deployant clasp. The rubber and fabric strap is fun, comfortable, high-end-feeling, and not at all pretentious – a good thing. Speaking of comfort, let’s jump back to the case, as it wears very well in terms of comfort on most wrist sizes. Again, this is a large watch, but given the strap integration and overall snug fit on the wrist, this one of those watches you can easily forget is there.
The rotating bezel is ceramic with a ceramic inlay that further uses Omega’s Liquidmetal technology… mixed with vulcanized rubber. This is perhaps one of the most complicated bezels to produce out there. Liquidmetal fills cut-out sections with metal so that you have permanent markers on the bezel that will never fade away (like painted numbers). Then you have the red-accented area on the rotating timing bezel which uses a similar filling technology but with rubber versus metal. The rubber is able to achieve colors which are brighter than can be achieved in any stable way using red or blue ceramic. The Liquidmetal or rubber is totally flush with the bezel and should make for a good look years into the the future. Of course, there is a lume-pip at the 60-minute indicator as part of being a true dive watch. I have to say that I personally really like this more dive-focused execution of a dive watch GMT product.
Let me finish by talking about the movement inside of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black which is Omega’s new in-house-made caliber 8906 “Master Co-Axial” automatic movement. This is one of Omega’s new “Master Chronometer” watches which basically means in-house-made + co-axial escapement + anti-magnetic movement + COSC Chronometer certification + METAS chronometer and performance certification. This is up there with the very best Omega has to offer and, in my opinion, is only matched by the performance you’ll see in some other very performance-oriented watches such as Rolex and perhaps Patek Philippe (to an extent). The caliber 8906 movement operates at 3.5Hz (25,200bph) – an uncommon frequency but one that all Co-Axial escapement watches from Omega share. The movement further has 60 hours of power reserve and features the time, date, and second time zone GMT hand.
Omega’s in-house movements are still stunning in their view through the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback showing the full glory of hte movement and its detailed finishing. The decoration on the metal is clearly industrial for higher production numbers than all-hand-finishing can support, but a real pinnacle of machine polishing. Overall, with really competent modern mechanical movements and an ultra-contemporary sports watch design, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black is just sexy enough to be Swiss and still be a very serious tool watch – a perfect combo for many collectors and enthusiasts. But it, unfortunately, isn’t what you’d say is a bargain.
If you look at the article we linked to above when we launched the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black GMT, you’ll see the other versions which total the four-piece launch collection. The ritziest is a two-tone reference 215.63.46.22.01.001 model with 18k Sedna gold on the bezel and crowns which goes for 13,400 Swiss francs. The monochromatic black reference 215.92.46.22.01.001 Deep Black has some polished surfaces and is the same price as the all-matte-finished references 215.92.46.22.01.002 (blue accents) and reference 215.92.46.22.01.003 (red accents) watches at 10,400 Swiss francs. omegawatches.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Omega
>Model: Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black
>Price: 10,400 Swiss francs
>Size: 45.5mm wide and 17.18mm thick
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Dive watch lover seeking something high-end but not pretentious that gets extra points for having an out-of-the-way GMT hand.
>Best characteristic of watch: Black ceramic once again translates well into an iconic Omega case design. The matte finishing on the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT Deep Black is surprisingly flattering when put together in this version of Omega’s new high-tech, and high-end lifestyle diver.
>Worst characteristic of watch: GMT lovers might reasonably claim that the GMT hand and scale aren’t as legible as the hour and minute hands. For some, this will actually be a positive thing. Time has not yet proven how the vulcanized rubber will age in the bezels, even though Omega has claimed very promising results in artificial aging tests. A cool combination of elements in a luxury watch, but arguably very niche in its appeal given what most consumers are looking for.
