THE FOOD was scrumptious at a recent dinner hosted by Swatch Group Trading (Thailand) country manager Tipanat Lenbury, but the star of the evening was the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean “Deep Black”, the first diving watch made entirely of ceramic.
Unveiling the wristwatch for the first time in Asia, Tipanat, who is also brand manager for Swiss luxury watchmaker Omega, set up test bars brought in from Switzerland for the guests to gauge their watches.
There was a Diving Test Bar, a Magnetic Demonstration Test Bar and a New Technologies Test Bar. Magnetism has no effect on Omega watches, since they’re certified for |precision and performance at the industry’s highest level established by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology.
Omega’s more than 168 years of expertise in horology becomes clear in the Seamaster Planet Ocean “Deep Black”, which takes its design cues from the bond between the Earth and its moon and the magnificent natural phenomena that ensue.
Evolving from the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon released in 2013, Omega’s expertise in the use of ceramics has resulted in the first all-ceramic diving watch, which can withstand deep-sea pressure to a depth of 600 metres.
The remarkable 45.5mm case is crafted from a single block of ceramic. Inside is the Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8906, certified at the highest standard by METAS in Switzerland as well as earning the traditional COSC certification.
A GMT ring is fixed to the dial, which features Arabic numerals and a diving scale on the unidirectional ceramic bezel, formed in Liquidmetal or Omega Ceragold. The hands and indices are 18K white gold or 18K Sedna gold and coated in white Super-LumiNova.
Another first is the patented ceramic Naiad Lock caseback, which ensures that the engraved wording sits perfectly in position.
For added uniqueness, the “alveoli” design features an aesthetic wave pattern on the back.
There are four models. On the Blue and Red models the dials are brushed for a matt effect, and for the first time injected rubber has been blended with ceramic, covering the first quarter hour on the dial bezel, GMT hands and indices for better visibility underwater. The colours change the deeper you dive. The helium escape valve and Omega crown are also coloured using rubber injection.
The Black model is polished to a gloss and Liquidmetal is used on the “He” symbol marking the helium valve and Omega logo on the crown.
These three models come with a Kevlar-pattern black rubber strap that looks like fabric, with anti-bacterial rubber underneath. Each costs Bt391,000.
The 18K Sedna gold model featuring bezel, helium valve and crown of Ceragold uses a unique gold-injection technique to ensure the colour’s longevity. The case is glossy and the strap is water-resistant black alligator leather with the same anti-bacterial rubber underside. The price is Bt522,000.
This source first appeared on The Nation Life.