Omega Reworks Seamaster 300 and Reinvents the Bronze Watch

Omega has completely overhauled the design of its vintage-inspired Seamaster 300 dive watch, while also introducing a new bronze alloy which treads a fine line between functional and precious.

The Seamaster 300, based on the 1957 Seamaster 300, has been completely reworked with a plethora of subtle design tweaks that completely transform the watch.

The first, not so subtle, change is the dial, produced in a completely new sandwich configuration of numerous layers of luminous material and stencil-style cut outs for Arabic numerals and hour markers. The dial also appears bigger with the opening in the case having been increased, the addition of a thinner bezel and the bare minimum of text appearing on the dial.

Omega has also worked to make the watch appear slimmer by introducing a domed sapphire crystal at the front, the depth of which accommodates the hands and allows the 41mm case’s thickness to be reduced in depth.

The Seamaster 300 is available with black or blue dials in stainless steel on either leather straps or a new three-link tapered stainless steel bracelet with alternating satin-brushed and polished finishes.

But Omega, a company known for producing a number of proprietary alloys, has developed a third option in the family, Bronze Gold, a mix consisting of 50% copper and 37.5% gold, with the remainder made up of silver and palladium. The addition of gold stabilises the bronze, meaning the metal will only develop a subtle patina with age, the methodology taken from Corinthian Bronze used in Ancient Greece.

Given the proportion of gold in the mix, the watch is not only considered bronze but also hallmarked as 9kt gold, an interesting development as luxury watch brands have avoided using anything other than 18kt gold in recent years.

The watch’s dial is made of a more traditional bronze alloy, pre-aged to a dark brown tone and sealed from the elements within the case. Inside is Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8912 with 60-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic rating to 15,000 gauss.

For now the watch is presented on a leather strap but, with the Bronze Gold alloy being non-reactive and already in contact with the skin via the caseback, a Bronze Gold bracelet must surely be in the works.

Omega is taking enquiries for the stainless steel Seamaster 300 models via a waiting list now, priced $6,500 USD, with the Bronze Gold Seamaster 300 dropping in June, priced $11,600.

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