2011 Seamaster Planet Ocean 42.00 mm

New Seamaster Planet Ocean. Omega has officially released its new collection of Seamaster Planet Ocean watches, which we will be taking a look at over the next few days. Our personal favorite is the new Seamaster Planet Ocean 42.00 mm divers’ watch

Seamaster Planet Ocean 42.00 mm. The Planet Ocean 42.00 mm is available with a several different, bezels including matt orange aluminium, black ceramic, or white ceramic. 

Inside is a Omega Co-Axial calibre 8500 movement, which is built in-house by Omega. The Omega Co-Axial calibre 8500 was first released to the public in 2007 in the Omega De Ville Hour Vision. It is a self-winding movement manufactured by Omega completely in-house. The calibre 8500 has a long 60 hour power reserve and produces 25,200 vibrations per hour.

Co-Axial escapements. The escapement is the heart of a mechanical watch. It generates the impulses that makes the entire mechanism move. The metal to metal contact of the parts in a mechanical watch eventually results in wear and tear which requires maintenance and in the long term, results in a depredation of the accuracy of the wrist watch.

To reduce wear and tear on the watch mechanism, Dr. George Daniel invented the double Co-Axial escapement. The Co-Axial system reduces sliding friction compared with the lever escapement and thus ensures greater accuracy over time. This means that the escapement requires virtually no lubrication and a drastic reduction in the wear and tear of the watches mechanism.

Deep Sea Diver. Planet Oceans are rated a 600 meters water resistance, and consistent with a watch designed for such depths, they  come with a Helium Release valve (the second crown at the 10' oc'clock). When deep sea divers operate at great depths, they spend prolonged hours in diving bells under pressure breathing a gas mix that contains helium. Helium molecules are the second smallest found in nature an thus available to work its way inside even water resistant watches. When a diver resurfaces, the helium which built up inside the watch starts to expand quicker than it can escape, leading to an increase in pressure inside the watch. This can cause great damage to the watch. The valve allows for these gases to be release.

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.