In-Depth Review: Omega Seamaster Diver 300 Professional

Today I am reviewing a watch that should be a staple in any watch collection – the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Professional. I would go so far as to say if you could only buy one luxury watch – this might be it. Hailed as one of the quintessential timepieces of the 20th and 21st century, it’s easy to see why even James Bond wears this watch – Omega has perfected the dive watch and done it in a way that is still incredibly elegant, unique and practical. Many commentators and collectors laude the Seamaster’s incredible specs and timeless design – a combination that is difficult to execute in today’s modern world of homages and increasingly complex watch designs.

Omega’s first Seamaster hit stores in 1948 as a dress-watch variant, but was quickly updated in 1957 to a more dive-oriented Seamaster Diver “Professional 200” (with water resistant up to 200m) that the current generation draws inspiration from. The modern version of the Seamaster Professional Diver was developed in the early 90’s and included many of the design cues used in the current version: a helium escape valve “tumor”, a scallop-edged unidirectional diver’s bezel, skeletonized hands for legibility, an engraved wave-patterned dial and a 5-link bracelet. First worn by Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye, the Seamaster Professional Diver became synonymous with both luxury and practicality – a feat that not many other watches have achieved.

Most watches fit a specific niche. Dress watches have clean dials and simple designs, while tool watches have more rugged designs and easily-readable dials. Some watches get even more specific like the Rolex YachtMaster 2’s regatta timing function or Breitling’s Navitimer which is really just a fancy analog calculator. The Omega Seamaster Diver is one of the few watches (other than the classic Rolex Submariner) that can easily transition from a diving session to a formal occasion. I can say this confidently because I have actually worn this watch the entire day on the beach and then put a suit on for an evening wedding ceremony, and I didn’t take the watch off once (and yes, that even includes in the shower).

But what makes the Omega Seamaster Diver Professional one of the best watches on the market? Is it the sweet-spot of less $6,000, often with further discounts (and the fact that you can walk into an authorized dealer and not get laughed out of the store requesting this watch)? Or the 300m of water resistance that lets you comfortably use this watch in any aquatic adventure you might find yourself in? Perhaps it is the flawless ceramic bezel and reflective wave-patterned dial that catches light at all angles? Or does the in-house METAS-certified Co-Axial Caliber 8800 movement that is highly anti-magnetic pique your interest?

For me, the combination of the watch’s timeless design, serious tool-watch specifications and impressive materials (such as the polished ceramic elements and the highly-decorated in-house movement) are united to form a watch that demands to be worn more often in your rotation than any other watch.

Now, to get to the scoring aspect of this review, after carefully considering all aspects of this watch, I gave the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Professional an overall score of 89.5 points out of 100 points. Breaking that down further, I scored the design of the watch 23 points, 21.5 points for its construction, 23 points for the movement and lastly 22 points for various additional factors. For less than $6,000, you are getting a well-rounded watch that you can wear on the beach or with a business suit. The Omega Seamaster Professional Diver is worn by divers, recreational swimmers, business professionals and James Bond for a reason – it is the ultimate all-around watch with serious specs for the price. If you don’t already have one of these in your collection, what exactly are you waiting for?

Overall Score: 89.5/100