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(More customer reviews)If you are like me, then you enjoy researching big ticket items as much as the purchase. I can't say that it eliminates buyer's regret but the hangover doesn't last nearly as long. I purchased the Omega Planet Ocean 6 months ago with some trepidation because of the price and a bad experience that I once had with a Rolex. I was concerned about the price because it cost considerably more than the Omega Seamaster. The Seamaster is also a diver's watch and has a proven track record. In fact, the watch that James Bond* wore in Casino Royale was a special edition quartz Seamaster. In this review, I will attempt to answer the following questions:
Is it worth paying more money for a Planet Ocean, than for it's predecessor, the Seamaster?
How does the Planet Ocean stack up to more expensive competitor, Rolex Sea Dweller?
*Note: James Bond wore the Planet Ocean in a Quantum of Solace.
While conducting this review, I'll also try to educate the novice on the basic components of a watch: bezel, movement, band, crystal, case, and the face (dial, marker, hands). Without understanding each of these components, you cannot accurately compare watches. Of course, there are other factors as well as intangibles to be taken into consideration (warranty, prestige, price, etc.).
1. The crystal is the transparent cover that allows one to view the time while protecting the face of the watch from damage. The difference in quality and price varies according to the scratch resistance (hardness) of the crystal and the anti-reflective coating that have become standard on high end diver's watches. Any watch costing more than $150 will generally have one of three crystals: Mineral, Sapphire, and Ceramic. All Rolex and Omega watches come with Sapphire or Ceramic. Ceramic (yttrium-stabilized zirconia) is the newest and most technologically advanced material. For the sake of concision, the minor advantages of a ceramic bezel aren't worth the premium price at this time.
The Planet Ocean and all of the competing diving watches in this class come with sapphire crystal. Sapphire crystal is aptly named because it's literally a lab produced corundum. For those of you who are not gemologists, sapphires and rubies are fancy names for red and blue corundum! Corundum has a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale (diamond = 10). Ergo, nothing below 9 on the Mohs hardness scale should easily scratch it. I'm very hard on watches but still haven't managed to scratch the P.O.'s sapphire crystal. The harder a substance, the more brittle it is, therefore, you're be just as likely to shatter a sapphire crystal than scratch it. If the crystal is raised (i.e. Sea Dweller), the exposed edge is also susceptible to being chipped. Fortunately, this is not a problem with the Planet Ocean since the sapphire crystal sits flush with the stainless steel bezel (replaceable).
Besides the way the sapphire crystals are mounted, the chief differences between diving watches involve the anti-reflective coating, or lack thereof. The Omega Seamaster and the Rolex Sea Dweller both put the anti-reflective coating on the inside of the crystal while the Planet Ocean has translucent blue tinted anti-reflective coating on both the outside and inside of the crystal. Note: You can only see the 'blue tint' by tilting the watch at an angle. Before purchasing this watch, I read an amateur review from a Sea Dweller owner who stated that Omega made a mistake because the exterior anti-reflective coating leaves noticeable marks when scratched. I've found that criticism to be highly exaggerated. In fact, I wear this watch daily and have put some scratches on the band but cannot find any marks on the coating. If you are actually going to use this watch for it's intended purpose (scuba diving), then you will absolutely want to have this exterior coating because it works much better than the interior coating alone! IMHO, I love the crystal's signature bluish hue because it's the simplest way to distinguish an authentic P.O. from a cheap forgery.
2. Movement is the 'motor' of the watch that keeps the time, date, etc. Each separate mechanical function of a watch is called a 'complication'. With premium watches, you generally have three choices when it comes to movement: Quartz, winding, and automatic. Quartz watches are more accurate and less expensive, but require batteries. Question: Why would anyone with half a brain want an automatic watch then? Answer: Multiple reasons! While automatic and winding movements are less practical and generally require more maintenance over the long haul, the difference is the artistry, ingenuity, and elegance of a mechanical movement. This is where the Omega Planet Ocean surpasses virtually every other watch out there including the Rolex Sea Dweller. The Caliber 2500 movement is based on an ETA 2892-2 (ETA is owned by the same company, Swatch group that owns Omega). Several innovations make this 27 jewel movement extraordinary. Due to the 'Co-Axial Displacement' the self winding (automatic) movement has managed to substantially reduce friction, thus requires much less lubrication than any other automatic movements manufactured today! What that means to you, my friend is that your new Planet Ocean watch will not require expensive servicing for 10 YEARS! FYI, that's twice as long as any Rolex. The drastically reduced friction within the movement also doubles the lifespan of the watch! Additionally, Caliber 2500 movement has been equipped with a 'free sprung balance' that's a 'state of the art' simplified regulating system which greatly improves the COSC timing precision. In other words, this watch keeps exceptionally accurate time for a mechanical watch. In my experience, this watch has kept almost perfect time +/- 1 second a day and under 2 seconds a week. FYI: All mechanical watches tend to run fast by a few seconds per week during the first 6 to 18 months because of the initial factory lubrication. As the lubrication thins and spreads, high end mechanical watches generally become more accurate. Since the P.O. doesn't need as much lubrication, the accuracy out of the box is amazing. It's the only mechanical watch that I've owned that's lived up to it's billing when it comes to keeping time.
3. Case: The Omega Planet Ocean's case is beautiful, rugged, and well designed with twice the water resistance rating of the Seamaster at 600m/1200ft. While that's half of the water resistance of the Rolex Sea Dweller, it's a moot point since the diving depth record with a breathing apparatus is only 313m! To give you a reference point, the most advanced atomic submarine (US Sea Wolf class) has a maximum diving depth of 500 meters. Omega invented the helium release value that made watches better suited for longer deeper dives. Without it, the pressure change upon returning to the surface would pop out the crystal. On the Planet Ocean, the release value is manual and looks like another winding clasp but is inscribed 'He' (the scientific symbol for helium). FYI- the safety value doesn't need to be deployed for normal swimming and diving.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention the beautiful depiction of the Omega sea monster [hippokampoi] is on the case back. Not only is it attractive, but it's the easiest way to determine if the watch is a genuine Planet Ocean. While counterfeit watches don't seem to have trouble imitating the Rolex green hologram sticker, I've searched the internet and have never seen a convincing forgery of the Omega sea monster on the back case. If you don't believe me, then go to the fake watch sites on the internet and do a comparison. The counterfeiters know that most people who purchase counterfeit watches are only interested in fooling passive onlookers.
4. On the Planet Ocean, the bezel is the black or orange 'coin edged' unidirectional rotating stainless steel ring that surrounds the crystal. The Omega Planet Ocean's 'easy grip' bezel has 120 clicks (stopping points) stopping precisely on the markers. FYI: If you are diving with this watch, then the bezel is one of the most important features. For others who simply enjoy the styling and durability of a diving watch, the bezel provides a quick way to determine the quality, precision, and attention to detail that was put into the watch.
5. The band is the least important feature of a watch as far as I'm concerned. The band can be changed and will probably be replaced long before the watch dies of natural causes. Nevertheless, an expensive watch should come with a solid clasped high grade stainless steel, gold, or titanium band (I abhor leather and plastic). The Omega Planet Ocean's band is first rate. I found the it to be very comfortable and secure with no sharp edges. The clasping mechanism works flawlessly. Being that it is a diving watch, the clasp has a clever mechanism that painlessly extends the band to allow it to fit over a diving suit (or jacket sleeve). Fortunately, the band is brushed stainless steel so it doesn't show scratches like the polished case.
6. Face (dial, marker, hands)- The Planet Ocean's hands and makers are coated with Superluminova resin. That means that when you turn out the lights, you do not have trouble making out the time for 30 minutes or so. The arrow tipped hands distinguish the Planet Ocean from the Sea Master and the Ocean Dweller. Another cool feature is that you can distinguish the hands from one another even at 12:00! The date does not require magnification. I've always felt that magnified dates aka cyclops interferes with the elegance of a watch. While this is a matter of personal preference, many people must agree since Rolex does not include the cyclops on the Sea Dweller.
Finally, I must mention the size. The Planet Ocean is a...Read more›
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Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet. Unidirectional rotating black ion-plated bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and stick hour markers. Red Arabic numerals mark the 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions. Minute markers around the outer rim. Date displays at the 3 o'clock position. Automatic movement. Scratch resistant double face anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Screw in crown. Case diameter: 42mm. Case thickness: 14.5mm. Push button deployment clasp. Water resistant at 600 meters / 2000 feet. Additional Info: co-axial/ helium escape valve. Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Steel XL Mens Watch 2201.51.
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