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The Seamaster Planet Ocean from Omega delivers exceptional performance and great style, both above water and below. The solid steel case frames a black dial with luminous hands and markers for excellent visibility, even in low light conditions, a red-tipped luminous seconds hand and seconds indexes, and a date display. The dial is capped with a virtually scratch-proof sapphire crystal and framed by a unidirectional rotating steel bezel, in black, with minute markings and fluted edges for grip. A handsome and durable steel link bracelet completes the look. This Omega watch features self-winding Swiss automatic movement enhanced by Omega's breakthrough co-axial escapement, a technology that ensures high precision and stable accuracy over long periods of use. It is rated water resistant to a full 600 meters (or 2000 feet). The Omega Story The Omega watch story begins in 1848, when founder Louis Brandt began hand assembling key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen in his principality La Chaux-de-Fonds, in the northwest corner of Switzerland. However, the Omega name didn't appear until 1894, after Louis Brandt had passed away and his watchmaking traditions were taken over by his sons, Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt. Omega watches have long been associated with glamorous screen and sports stars--the Omega Seamaster is famous for being the watch of choice for James Bond--with current ambassadors including Pierce Brosnan, Nicole Kidman, tennis player Anna Kournikova, and swimmers Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe. But Omega is more than just a fashionable watch. In 1965, the Omega Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions" as the only wristwatch to have withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests, including passing grades for extreme shocks, vibrations, and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius. The greatest moment in the Speedmaster's history was undoubtedly 20 July 1969 at 02:56 GMT, when it recorded man's first steps on the Moon's surface as part of the Apollo 11 mission. Today, Omega is known for its rigorous testing of new movements, cases, and bands. Each new Omega movement is tested on the wrist in existing Omega models, while various laboratory tests are conducted to determine temperature-resistance, shock-resistance and vibration-resistance.
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Class ..
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| Review Date: March 4, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Lawn, UK |
This is my fourth Swiss timepiece and it has to be said, my favourite. I have also owned an Ikepod, Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow and a Tag F1, the latter of which I still own as it is just such a fun watch.
I basically swapped my Broad Arrow (BA) for the Planet Ocean XL (PO XL) and I'm glad I did (the XL is the one to go for not the baby brother version). The BA is a fantastic watch but I started to find it just a little too dressy for my taste. The PO XL on the other hand is a fantastic, great looking, chunky sports watch which grabs peoples attention without being too flash. It can be worn as an everyday watch but it still has the class and will look great on that special occasion. The PO is beautifully made and a pleasure to wear. I looked at the Tags (Aquaracer and Link) Breitling (colt) and some others in the price range and they just didn't come close to this one in my opinion. I have had it 6 months now and timekeeping is spot on as you would expect. I tend to get bored with my watches and sell them on and replace them after a few years. But I can honestly say that I might just settle down with my Planet Ocean.
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Watchmakers Advice
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| Review Date: December 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Claude H. Suddreth, Phoenix, AZ USA |
I am rather opinionated when it comes to luxury watches. This comes from spending 2 years in watchmaking school, studying directly under the guidance of a certified master swiss watchmaker who came here from Europe. Watches, especially mid to high grade swiss watches, are a passion of mine. I am not loyal to a brand or a style or anything else. I judge them for what they are, in terms of quality, function, construction, and style. A watchmakers point of view.
This said I will tell you that this particular watch is what I consider to be a "best kept secret" sort of watch. This is an AUTOMATIC watch (read: Mechanical - NOT Quartz), and of CHRONOMETER grade function. Chronometer as used here is a measure of accurate timekeeping, not quality - a point often misunderstood - and is used mostly from a marketing point of view by companies such as Rolex. HOWEVER. This movement in THIS watch is actually EXCELLENT in terms of quality, time keeping ability, and construction - easily comparable to other Swiss made movements from other famous manufacturers costing several times as much. This watch, properly serviced, will provide a lifetime of use - and probably more. Absolutely the sort of watch you pass down to the next generation.
All in all - and EXCELLENT choice - especially for those seeking their first QUALITY Swiss watch purchase.
Definitely recommended! |
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