Subexplorer
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Evolution: The 4th Generation Seamaster 600 Planet Ocean
The 4th Generation Seamaster 600 Planet Ocean ref. 217.30.42.21.01.002
Hello dear friends!
After having spent three weeks wearing this watch since its arrival to my collection I would like to share my first impressions.
This is a wonderful watch, and though Omega declares a 42 mm case size I find it wearing bigger than my First Generation SM600 PO (42 mm case). I feel it wears approximately like my 40 mm case ref 114060 Submariner Ceramic bezel.
The new SM600 PO has abandoned the “tool watch” niche as it happens with most modern diving watches which more than a tool of a trade they presently are luxury watches with a lot of bling for the tipology.
Of course, nowadays nobody buys a diving watch with the intention of wearing it for diving. Diving watches have been replaced by the excellent diving computers since long ago and only old school divers keep wearing their watches for nostalgic reasons (or back up) and rely on their computers to control all information around their dives.
Nowadays diving watches are bought for a whim, a trend, an snobism. Never as the essential instrument it was in the past for a diver.
As a matter of fact, many owners of modern diving watches do not take them to the sea, to the beach or the pool afraid of risking their shiny timepeices to scratches and they wouldn´t even think about swimming in a pool with their watches on their wrists! What a shame!
Now… back to the new Omega watch: its case looks much modern and far from the traditional design of previous generations. The traditional “Lire” lugs are definitively gone.
The case has several angles and surfaces some highly and beautifuly polished and contrasting with other surfaces which are satin finished. The polished surfaces of the case and bracelet play with light producing a lot of reflexes specially under open sunlight.
Definitively it is not a discreet watch!
The clasp is beautifully shaped and a bit bulky for my taste and I feel that its highly polished surface will be subjected to scratches very son. This clasp offers a very nice and practical micro adjustment system which I like so much.
Overall this new 4th Generation Omega is a beautiful watch, with an excelent finish, with a much modern and angular design than the previous generations. I like it so much and I only regret that on its case back Omega has decided to abandon the use of the traditional Sea Monster symbol in high relief of previous watches and adopted a plane engraved rendition for these watches.
The watch is offered in three different ceramic bezel colors: Orange, Blue and Black. Accordingly, the numerals on the matt black dial are: Orange for the first option, White for the blue bezel and high polish white gold for the black bezel versión.
When I ordered the watch just after its Omega anouncement I had decided to buy the black bezel version thinking it was the most low-key of the three.
The Orange bezel (though it is the most spectacular looking of the three) was discarded because I already own a First generation SM600 PO in that color.
I wished the new watch to be as most inconspicuous as posible and thought the black dial and black bezel would be the answer as the blue bezel though beautiful looked too flashy in the pictures.
When the watches arrived to the Boutique and I visited to pick up my watch viewing the timepieces in the metal things changed: To decide between the black and the blue variants was not easy for me. It never happened this before: I spent about 45 minutes trying in my wrist both versions several times doubting which one I would take home.
Both look so shiny and eye catching that the matter of black or blue bezel wouldn´t make a difference. Whichever the color they would never be inconspiuous/discreet watches on my wrist! Thus the blue bezel became a more strong option.
In the metal the blue bezel is so beautiful and more subdued than in the photographs. And a little detail finally helped me to decide: The white numbers against the black dial of this variant were easier for me to read than the highly polished gold numbers of the black bezel version.
That´s a very personal choice of course but it helped me to make the final choice. So, if I am asked about which bezel color is best I will suggest to visit a Boutique and view the three watches in the metal and on your own wrist to decide.
I have been wearing this watch during the last three weeks with much pleasure and I´m very happy with my color choice. Of course the accuracy is tops as expected from the Brand and the movement inside this watch (Caliber 8912 automatic, power reserve 60 hours). I feel it is a great new watch.
Best cordial regards, Abel
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Evolution: The 4th Generation Seamaster 600 Planet Ocean
The 4th Generation Seamaster 600 Planet Ocean ref. 217.30.42.21.01.002 Hello dear friends! After having spent three weeks wearing this watch since its arrival to my collection I would like to share my first impressions. This is a wonderful watch, and thou...
Thank you so much, dear Abel,
for sharing your thoughts and experience in such a detailed way. Your Omega divers collection is impressive and this blue bezel Planet Ocean really is a perfect addition. Congratulations and thank you again. Best, Emmanuel
Thank you so much my dear friend Emmanuel for your …
… kind comments on my post. It is my pleasure to share these shots and feelings on this recent addition to my collection. I’m glad you like the new SM and the vintage cousins! Please receive my best cordial regards Abel
Congratulations on the arrival of your new 4th Generation Seamaster it really is beautiful.
It seems you really have a thing for Seamasters and your older generation watches look amazing. I also think the blue bezel looks stunning on your new watch, wear and enjoy it in good health. Marc
Thank you so much Marc for your kind comments and greetings!
Yes I love diving watches both modern and vintage and SM and Submariners in special. Glad to know you like my new SM. Thank you for your kind good wishes! Best cordial regards Abel
Ha ha ha!! My diving watches go to water my dear Nicolas!
Except for the vintage ones. Several of them I have worn to scuba dive. They were meant for that!! And when going to beach or sea holiday places a diving watch is my favorite choice. Glad you liked my post my dear friend! Abrazos fuertes! Abel
Hello Abel, my dear friend !.. Thx a lot for your superb “in the real” review ..
.. and your personal successful journey to that wonderful SM-PO ‼️ - What a great watch !- And BTW, my personal fav would also have been the blue bezel, elegant yet refreshing, a bit flamboyant, yet with style - Simply great and big congrats to you for th...
Thank you so much my dear friend HS for your so kind comment as usual!!
I’m happy to know you also like the blue bezel version and that you also miss the relief engraving Sea Horse of previous models. Thank you again for your kind greetings and good wishes my dear friend! Best cordial regards Abel You are right… its a minor f...
Thank you so much dear Salman for your kind …
… greetings and good wishes! I’m glad you liked my review and watches shown. Agree this is a very attractive watch. Best cordial regards. Abel
Super write up and the case you make for the blue bezel is strong 💪
Particularly the point about white contrast on the black dial against the blue bezel, the same combo that makes the BLNR a standout 🔵⚪️⚫️
Thanks a lot dear oyster case for your kind message!
I’m glad you liked my review. Agree with your mention of another great watch from Rolex!! Cheers! Abel
Excellent review my friend!
Thank you! The more I look at this model, the more I am liking it. I hated it at first and over time am growing to appreciate it…the blue bezel is my favorite!
Thank you so much dear Greg for your kind comments!
Glad you are liking it and specially the blue bezel variant. My pleasure to share my thoughts here. You should try it on your own wrist to definitively fall in love with it ! 😉 Best cordial regards Abel
Thanks Abel for your comprehensive report.
Strangely enough, the new Planet Ocean (I saw them in the store displays a couple of times this year) reminds me more the old Seamaster 300 (what amazing specimens you own my friend!) than the current divers. Thanks for sharing your experience. Simone
Hello dear Simone! My big pleasure to share my personal experience with this watch.
Appreciate so much your kind compliments on my collection. Agree it has a connection with the vintage SM in spite of its angular case. The DNA is there! Best cordial regards Abel
Thanks so much for this detailed review, Abel 👍🏻🙏🏻
Lots of very good points raised. I guess the relief Seahorse omission was a cost cutting measure, unfortunately 🤷🏻♂️ I was personally hoping for - and those hopes were fired up by some early reporting - that Omega decided to make the watch a tad slimmer ...
Hello my dear friend KM! Thank you for your kind message!
Always my big pleasure to share my watches and thoughts here. Absolutely agree with you that the caseback relief image omission was a cost reducing decision. A minor flaw but a very nice feature of previous variant which is lost! The watch is big but a bi...
Hello dear Reuven: Thank you for your kind comments. I didn´t know about these technical problems. Well, it is possible as titanium is not an easy metal to machine.
May be this is the reason Omega decided to engrave the image. Best cordial regards, Abel
My Breitling Aerospace from 2000 or so didn’t have an issue with machining a relief case back 😉
I do agree that the old style case back might have added 0,1mm to the thickness but then Omega still had plenty of room to play with, as the watch in spite of its WR is anything but slender 😉 Don’t get me wrong - I understand that watch brands need to loo...
Still confident in saying this is not about cost cutting.
Their last Generation of PO had a high end version, the Ultra Deep to be precise. This version was without the relief as well. This version is obiously not about cost cutting, it is the only of the recent versions with the Omega Steel for example. The les...
I guess we watch owners will never know…
… the true reasons of Omega. It is true that Breitling showed the high relief could be made about 25 years ago and our friend’s KM watch proves it. And also it is true as Reuven tells that Omega did abandon the high relief case backs in their Ultra Deep w...
Dear Abel, thank you for this review. The family shots are particularly impressive
You said you do like the bracelet and mentioned the extension. Dont you think the clasp looks odd with the extension in use? Would really value your opinion because this was the reason i didnt bought it before christmas.
ello again dear Reuven. Appreciate your kind compliments on my shots. Yes, I did mention the extension feature of the clasp as this is a feature I welcome in spite of the fact...
... it makes it a bit thick and big for my taste. But I appreciate the possibility of extending a bracelet whithout having to add or take off a link. When the extension is used all clasps (in all brands) with this feature won´t look nice if its extended t...
Dear Abel, thank you very much!
I wouldnt care about the size of the clasp, but that look when the extension is out... but well, your comment helps a lot! I have to agree! Looking forward to more shots from you in the future! All the best, Reuven
Thank you so much again dear Reuven!
I’m happy to try to help with my personal view. But as I always say the prospecting buyer has the last word following his personal taste and view of these details. I will be always happy to participate and post here and appreciate so much your kind feedba...
Thank you so much…
As I have mentioned on a few other threads, the fact that omega has made this step is more important than the specific first release… I applaud them for shaking things up and further iterations will I think bear are very interesting fruit. As things stand...
Hello dear Myles. Thank you so much for your kind comments. Agree with you that this new Generation is a very important step from Omega. A complete renovation of a traditional model and design.
I´m sure that Omega will surprise us with different variations around this basic design which now is limited to three different bezel colors and some changes in the basic black dial. I also suspect that the new James Bond film not only will bring a new st...
Great overview & walk through of your thoughts during the buying process
Very much agree with your sentiments around going & trying the watch on! Also with you on the caseback - shame that it's not in high relief. Enjoy your new watch & thanks for sharing your thoughts on it! Cheers JML
Thank you so much dear JML for your kind comments!
It is my big pleasure to share my thoughts and pictures here. I’m glad to know that you share my feelings about the need to try the watch and about the case back high relief image. Best cordial regards Abel