It seems the trend for making watches lighter is here to stay. However instead of choosing the option of simply rendering their case from titanium, Omega have introduced a brand-new case material for the launch of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Dark Grey. The material in question is silicon nitride ceramic or “Si3N4” for the chemists out there.
It’s a material that’s been used before in the Planet Ocean collection and specifically on the bezel of the Planet Ocean 600m Chronograph, however here it’s utilised in the case body to create a lightweight, yet strong dive/travel watch hybrid. Just how lightweight it is, we won’t be sure until we get hands on.
The case itself is large, a little disappointingly so, measuring 45.5 x 17.4mm with a 51.5mm lug-to-lug. Though again we will reserve our judgement until we get it on the wrist. To hammer home the lightweight brief Omega have also used lashings of grade 5 titanium across the rest of the watch, with the bezel body, folding clasp, sand-blasted dial and even the movement using the aeronautical material.
The movement in the Planet Ocean Dark Grey is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8906 which is forged from titanium and adds a GMT function. The view through the open case back is pretty in an industrial way with a sandblasted finish contrasting with purple jewels.
On the dial the the watch continues to live up to its “Dark Grey” name, with anthracite indexes and hands, a grey ceramic bezel and a rubber strap adding to the monochromatic feel, which is only broken up by red accents on the dial text, GMT and seconds’ hand.
Overall, I really love the look of this watch, however I expect the Omega faithful, like myself, would have liked it in 44mm or under. That, and for it to not cost £21,000. Innovation does however come at a price.
Price and Specs:
More details at Omega.
