Dive time
A diver’s watch that’s really for divers
SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 1970, OMEGA’S SEAMASTER 600 DIVER’S WATCH has attracted respect from submariners and admiration from well-dressed landlubbers. Over the past 15 years it has been the watch of choice for James Bond – you saw it first on Pierce Brosnan’s wrist in GoldenEye – and has attracted a rash of flattering imitations from manufacturers across the chronographic spectrum.
Perhaps this is why Omega puts so much clear blue water between itself and shallower pretenders with the new Seamaster Ploprof 1200M. This strikingly angular model can go to double the depth the original Seamaster could withstand, its lockable bezel ensures the timing function is foolproof, and the helium escape valve guarantees the watch’s integrity under pressure.
The new Seamaster is secured with either a brushed mesh ‘sharkproof’ bracelet or with a rubber strap, both adjustable to fit over the bulkiest of wetsuits or the slimmest of wrists. Its Ploprof suffix is an abbreviation of plongeurs professionnels, which only serves to emphasise its no-nonsense, pro-divers only market position. Yet we can see this cropping up on well-heeled wrists quite a few metres above sea level too. Alex Rayner
£4,680, www.omega.ch
