What Olympic Games, organized by Omega, could proceed without themed Olympic watches? As the official timekeeper of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, an honor Omega has received 29 times since 1932, the brand released five Seamasters in honor of the games. However, some of you might remember that in 2018, long before the dreaded coronavirus appeared, Omega released a quintet of Speedmasters, available only in Japan. Three years and countless obstacles later, Tokyo is finally celebrating the 2020 Olympics. The family chosen to represent the Swiss brand's Olympic presence is the Seamaster.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VERSATILE SEAMASTER WATCH
The Seamaster model resulted from Omega's experience delivering watches for the Royal Air Force during World War II. Using technology developed under extreme wartime conditions, Omega created reliable waterproof, anti-magnetic watches for pilots, naval officers, and infantrymen, clearly ready for duty. The foundations of the Seamaster were laid during the war, but in civilian form, the watches appeared in 1948 and have since undergone countless developments. The early models of the 1950s had robust technical specifications and a hidden rubber gasket, yet they conformed to the prevailing style of dress watches at the time.
It wasn't until 1957, when Omega released a trilogy of professional watches (Speedmaster, Railmaster, and Seamaster), that the Seamaster 300 (CK2913) showed itself as a diving watch (see our detailed videos on the Seamaster Chronicle, part 1, part 2, and part 3, for a real understanding of the impressive specifications and versatility of these watches). From deep-sea diving models like the PloProf, developed in cooperation with Comex in the late 1960s, to the Seamaster Professional 300M worn by James Bond in the movie "GoldenEye" (1995), the Seamaster has many stories to tell.
One of the remarkable qualities of the Seamaster watches has always been their versatility. For example, Seamaster Divers are professional underwater watches with all the necessary elements you expect to see onboard a deep-sea companion. However, the Aqua Terra line also belongs to the Seamaster family and represents a more dressy model with slightly less water resistance but with all the durability and accuracy guaranteed by Omega's Master Chronometer certified co-axial movements. To satisfy diverse tastes, Omega introduced five Seamaster models in honor of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
SEAMASTER DIVER 300M TOKYO 2020
These watches will delight Bond fans. They are based on the classic 42mm Seamaster 300M model, which we discussed here. First introduced in 1993, the Seamaster Professional 300M gained worldwide fame on the wrist of Pierce Brosnan in 1995. Although a quartz version was worn in "GoldenEye," subsequent Bond films featured an automatic chronometer version. In 2018, after extensive refinements and the removal of some iconic elements, including the wave pattern, Omega updated the model from head to toe, creating the newest Seamaster Diver 300M Master Chronometer. With a more stringent aesthetic, enlarged 42mm case, innovative materials, the return of the wave dial, and a powerful in-house movement, the latest Seamaster Diver 300M was reinterpreted for the Tokyo Olympics in a special color scheme.
The 42mm stainless steel case with a 12-sided bezel is now adorned with a blue ceramic insert with a white enamel diving scale. On the white ceramic dial with blued indices and hands filled with white Super-LumiNova, the signature wave pattern is laser-engraved. There is no mention of the Olympics on the dial and case, but the NAIAD lock sapphire crystal case back is inscribed with “Tokyo 2020.” One marketing trick Omega missed is mentioning that the white wave pattern with blue details crossing the dial might evoke thoughts of Hokusai's powerful painting "The Great Wave off Kanagawa."
Under the hood is the automatic caliber 8800 with a co-axial escapement. As a certified master chronometer, it is resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. The caliber is equipped with a free-sprung balance and silicon balance spring, finished with rhodium-plated bridges and Geneva waves in arabesque. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020 comes with a bracelet of brushed and polished stainless steel with precise clasp adjustments. The watch is delivered in a special presentation box dedicated to the Olympics. The watch is not limited and retails for 5,500 euros.
Key specifications: 42mm diameter x 13.5mm height – stainless steel, polished and brushed – unidirectional rotating bezel with blue ceramic insert with white enamel diving scale – screw-down crown and helium escape valve – water resistance 300m – white ceramic dial with laser-engraved waves – applied indices and blue hands with Super-LumiNova – Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8800 – 25,200 vph – power reserve 55h – stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp – Ref. 522.30.42.20.04.001 – non-limited series – 5,500 euros
SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN 600M “TOKYO 2020” LIMITED EDITION
The watch that best captures the spirit of the 2020 Olympics is the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, executed in the red and white colors of the Japanese flag. Using the 39.5mm Planet Ocean 600M model as a base, the Tokyo 2020 series is almost entirely white with two red accents: the number 20 on the bezel filled with red liquid ceramic, and the red-tipped lollipop on the central seconds hand.
Thanks to its 39.5mm diameter, the Planet Ocean 600M is truly a unisex watch. The steel case features a rotating bezel with a white polished ceramic insert with a silver Liquidmetal® diving scale and a beautiful polished white ceramic dial. Waterproof to 600 meters, the robust steel case with polished surfaces and matte sides has a helium escape valve at 9 o'clock. Applied indices and hour and minute hands with arrowheads are coated with white Super-LumiNova, and a date window is at 3 o'clock. Like the Seamaster 300M model, the dial is protected by a scratch-resistant domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The transparent case back features the Tokyo 2020 logo in blue. Under the sapphire glass, you can see the caliber 8800 Master Chronometer with the same technical characteristics as the Seamaster 300M.
The Planet Ocean 600M “Tokyo 2020” is limited to 2,020 pieces and comes on a white leather strap in a presentation box with an additional stainless steel bracelet and a light gray NATO strap. The watch retails for 7,400 euros.
Key facts: 39.5mm diameter – stainless steel case, matte and polished – sapphire glass front and back – screw-down crown and helium escape valve – water resistance 600m – polished white ceramic dial with central seconds hand with red tip – white ceramic bezel with Liquidmetal diving scale and number 20 filled with red liquid ceramic – applied indices and hands with Super-LumiNova – Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8800 – 25,200 vph – power reserve 55h – white leather strap, stainless steel bracelet, and gray NATO strap in a special presentation box – Ref. 522.33.40.20.04.001 – limited to 2,020 pieces – 7,400 euros
SEAMASTER AQUA TERRA 150M IN 41MM AND 38MM CASES
As I previously mentioned in the review, the Seamaster is a versatile animal. The Aqua Terra model belongs to the Seamaster dynasty, Omega's longest-running product line, launched in 1948, and its name hints at its flexibility on land (terra) and sea (aqua). The Seamaster Aqua Terra appeared in 2002, and while it still provided reliable water resistance (150m), its appearance was modeled after the dressier Seamaster models of the 1950s and 1960s, some of which were decorated with horizontal striped lines (decking) characteristic of this family. Smart and sporty, sturdy and attractive, the three-hand Aqua Terra watches offer the best of both worlds and are Omega's answer to everyday use.
In honor of Omega's role at the Tokyo Olympics, the lineup includes three Aqua Terra models: two men's models in 41mm cases and a more compact 38mm model, labeled as "women's watches," but certainly conforms to unisex requirements. Two Aqua Terra models (41 and 38mm) are crafted from yellow gold, and the third 41mm model is made of stainless steel. Curiously, the 41mm steel model is released in a limited series of just 2,020 pieces.
New to all three models and a first for Aqua Terra is the blue polished ceramic dial, laser-engraved with the Tokyo 2020 emblem. Designed by Asao Tokolo, the Tokyo 2020 emblems consist of three different rectangular shapes representing various countries and cultures. The checkered patterns, known as ichimatsu moyo, have been popular in Japan since the Edo period (1603-1867) and are usually depicted in the traditional Japanese indigo color – blue.
Applied to the attractive geometric background of dark blue and light blue, the triangular indices, as well as the three central hour, minute, and second hands, are illuminated with Super-LumiNova. The gold models have faceted and applied gold indices and hands, also treated with white Super-LumiNova.
The 41mm "Tokyo 2020" Limited Edition steel model is equipped with the latest generation Omega Master Chronometer caliber 8900 with a co-axial escapement, silicon balance spring, automatic winding, and two barrels mounted in series, providing a power reserve of 60 hours. The gold models are equipped with the Master Chronometer caliber 8901 (for the 41mm model) and caliber 8801 (38mm) with a Sedna™ gold balance bridge and rotor.
The 41mm steel "Tokyo 2020" limited edition comes on a structured blue rubber strap with links of polished stainless steel; inside the presentation box is an additional stainless steel bracelet. The retail price is 6,200 euros. The 41mm yellow gold model comes with an integrated blue alligator leather strap and an 18k yellow gold folding clasp and retails for 18,200 euros. Meanwhile, the smallest 38mm yellow gold model also features a blue alligator leather strap and a gold folding clasp and is priced at 17,500 euros.
Key facts: 41mm in steel or yellow gold, 38mm in yellow gold – sapphire glass front and back – water resistance 150m – blue ceramic dial with Tokyo 2020 pattern – applied indices and hands with white Super-LumiNova coating – date window at 6 o'clock – ref. 522.12.41.21.03.001 41mm, stainless steel, caliber 8900, blue rubber strap, limited to 2,020 pieces, 6,200 euros – ref. 522.53.41.21.03.001 41mm yellow gold with Master Chronometer caliber 8901, blue leather strap, 18,200 euros – ref 522.53.38.20.03.001 38mm yellow gold with Master Chronometer caliber 8801, blue leather strap, 17,500 euros.
For more information, please visit the official Omega website for pricing in your region.