Replica OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M

Is there such a thing as the end of your horological journey? I used to believe that there wasn’t. But after wearing the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronograph in Sedna Gold, now I am tempted to think that there is. This started out as a story about my favorite model from the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M range. But it turned into an experience of answering questions and ticking boxes with regards to my personal journey with watches. Let me explain why this Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Chronograph in 18K Sedna Gold stole my heart.

This story actually starts out pretty randomly. One afternoon not too long ago, Robert-Jan and I were discussing our favorite models of the Seamaster Diver 300M. We share the love for quite a few of Omega‘s professional dive watches. One of them is the Seamaster No Time To Die. While I am not a fan of most of the special-edition Bond watches, Omega knocked it out of the park with that one. And whereas the integration of the Bond world had felt quite gimmicky in the past, the Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre showed for the first time that it didn’t have to. As a result, it is the best and most popular out of all the Bond editions.
After spending time on multiple occasions with its follow-up, the Seamaster No Time To Die, I was truly impressed by the design and the execution. It does have a few more Bond elements than the Spectre edition, but in my opinion, they’ve been done very well. The combination of the materials, colors, and execution make it one of the stand-out Seamasters of the range. But there is one production model that is, by nature, even more Bond than the Seamaster No Time To Die. The regular 42mm steel and Sedna Gold model on a black rubber strap is one of the most versatile watches currently available. This makes it the perfect Bond watch. It fits pretty much any situation, from sporting to relaxing and from casual to chic. It would be my pick for my favorite current Seamaster.
But there was one more Seamaster that always stood out to me — the 44mm Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph in Sedna Gold on a black rubber strap. Overall, there is something striking about the combination of rose gold and black. It oozes class while still offering plenty of contrast to create something spectacular. But there is more than just the color combination of rose gold and black. The combination of contrasting materials makes it even more exciting. There is something attractive about seeing a precious metal watch on a sporty rubber strap. It’s also why I like the 40mm Everose gold Rolex Yacht-Master on the Oysterflex bracelet. It’s another perfect example of why that combination works really well.
So as we talked about some of the other models, I told Robert-Jan that there was one more Seamaster that I love based on its stunning presence. I showed him the Sedna Gold version of the Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph, and we agreed that the combination of materials together with the design and the dominating presence make the model stand out from the collection. It is bold, but at the same time, a lot more elegant than some of the other Seamaster Chronographs. It’s exactly this juxtaposition that makes such an intriguing piece. It was built to be the perfect practical tool watch, but the materials, design, and execution make it a majestic symbol of luxury.
Despite its great presence, the Sedna Gold Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph hardly ever comes up in conversations about Seamasters, let alone broader discussions about luxury divers. The reasons are fairly simple. A 44mm Sedna Gold watch is not a watch for the faint-hearted. Its commanding presence asks for a wrist and overall posture that can pull it off because you are putting a serious slab of gold on your wrist. The second reason is its hefty price tag! At €28,400, this is the most expensive Seamaster Diver 300M in the collection. As such, it doesn’t represent the essence of what most people (including myself) appreciate so much about the Seamaster Diver 300M models.
As I mentioned earlier, my pick for a Seamaster would be the steel and Sedna Gold Seamaster Diver 300M on a rubber strap. For a gold and steel watch, it’s relatively affordable at €7,200. I say “relatively” because it’s still a lot of money. But as I explained, that watch represents the great versatility of the Seamaster, and its price keeps it obtainable. But as much as I love that watch, I was curious to find out more about its bigger chronograph brother in solid Sedna Gold.
Was it really going to be too big and chunky? A rubber strap with a thick slab of Sedna Gold? How will that work out? Would it really be the classy statement that I thought it would be? Would I be able to say with a straight face that I would pay almost €30K for a Seamaster? There were so many questions that needed answering. That was when RJ and I decided that we wanted to find out more. And I can already reveal that my experience was not just about these practical questions. As it turns out, the Sedna Gold Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph has much greater powers.
If you are a frequent reader of Fratello, you might have noticed that Robert-Jan reviewed the watch on camera. In the review, he goes into deeper the history, specs, and details of the Seamaster 300M and this Sedna Gold version specifically. If you haven’t watched the video, I highly recommend that you do. I will try to focus on the experience of using the watch as a daily wearer. But when it arrived at HQ, before even putting it on the wrist, I just explored the watch to see all the intricate details that make it such a detailed and impressive piece.
Straight out of the box, the first thing that stands out is the big Seamaster case. At 44mm in diameter and 17mm thick, it’s a big boy. Add the Sedna Gold material and it’s not just a big boy, but a heavy big boy at 189 grams. This is an obvious quick first impression, and so far, there are no surprises. But if you take a closer look at the watch, all kinds of wonderful details reveal themselves. To make sure the watch is not one big piece of bling, the case has a predominantly satin finished. In combination with the textured black ceramic bezel and the matte black dial, it has a relatively modest presence for such a big gold watch. Only the top of the lugs have a polished finish, but it’s a touch that accentuates the case shape perfectly.
The matte black dial has the famous laser-etched wave pattern and depending on the light, it gives off different impressions. The waves can either take center stage and reflect the light, or take a nice backseat and become a deep black. This allows room for the other elements to stand out. The logo and text are a mixture of white and gold that contrasts nicely with the black dial. The sub-dials are also executed in matte black and feature a very fine circular pattern. The 18K Sedna Gold hands and applied indices are executed in familiar Seamaster 300M style and are filled with white Super-LumiNova. At 6 o’clock, Omega placed a date window with a black date disc with white printing. It is integrated very well into dial, and never once did it stand out in a negative way. It’s there if you need it and it doesn’t attract attention if not. It’s the best you could ask for.
The most fascinating elements of the dial for me are the three 18K Sedna Gold rings. There are two for the sub-dials and a large one for the minute track. These three simple elements define the look of the watch. So much so that it sets the watch apart from all the other Seamaster models. Omega usually uses rings in the same color as the dial, but the contrast these create with the black background gives the dial a different presence from the rest of its peers. There is one other Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph in the collection that uses rings in a different color than the dial. It comes in steel with a gray dial and contrasting blue rings. But the effect is less dramatic because you simply can’t beat the Sedna Gold and black combination. It propels the Sedna Gold model into a class of its own.
As my eyes further moved along the case, the chronograph pushers also caught my attention. Executed in polished black ceramic, they offer great shiny detail in predominantly satin-finished surroundings. Seeing them actually brought a smile to my face, as they are such a great changeup from the other elements. There is the Seamaster-characteristic HEV at 10 o’clock. While it’s a nuisance to some, it’s an element that maintains a great visual balance if you ask me. Another brilliant detail is the Sedna Gold bezel with a laser-ablated black ceramic insert and a polished diving scale. Seeing the different textures up close is simply spectacular. It shows that Omega went all out in creating a watch that combines big gestures with incredible levels of detail.
Are you still with me? Because at this point, I hadn’t even put the watch on my wrist. The first impressions continue if you turn the watch over where the in-house-developed Omega Caliber 9901 reveals itself in all its glory. The movement is technically equal to Caliber 9900 that powers the other Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph models. The differences that make it Caliber 9901 are the Sedna Gold oscillating weight and balance bridge. Both are finished with arabesque Geneva waves. The self-winding movement operates at 28,800vph and has 54 jewels and a 60-hour power reserve. It is equipped with a column-wheel mechanism and co-axial escapement and is resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss. As with most Omega movements, it is a METAS-certified Master Chronometer.
Before I put the watch on my wrist I was a little anxious about how the 21mm rubber strap would hold up. At first, it seems a bit flimsy. With some serious weight to balance out, the rubber strap plays a pivotal part in the wearing experience. As it turns out, the rubber strap is perfectly capable of bringing great comfort and balancing out the weight. I was honestly surprised and amazed that it did. I was able to choose from two different holes in the strap to fit the watch on my wrist as they are close to each other. It allows you to get a tight fit if you want to have your watch placed rock-solid on your wrist. I preferred to give it some room to move, making sure it could work with whatever clothing I had on.
Once on the wrist, the Omega Seamaster 300M Chronograph is very easy to use. If there is one thing you don’t have to worry about, it’s operating the chronograph. As the case is so heavy, giving the pushers a firm click doesn’t result in a lot of impact. The feel of the pushers is crisp, making the chronograph a joy to use. I had it running for most of the time I had the watch on my wrist, occasionally resetting it to interact with the movement. As I’m sure you can guess, this is not a watch that hides under your cuff. Both you and the people around you will notice you’re wearing such a big watch.
Having said that, the Sedna Gold Omega Seamaster 300M Chronograph does not attract a lot of attention. I wore the watch for a little over a week, and not once did I have the feeling that I was wearing a big gold watch. And neither did my friends and family, for that matter. On the wrist, the only thing I had to get used to was the weight. After a couple of hours, I was accustomed to the serious slab of gold on my wrist, and it was a week full of sheer joy that followed.
As I explained, the presence is what drew me to the watch in the first place. The watch wears very well in a variety of situations and it combines seamlessly with a mixture of styles. Some of you will know, I have a thing for black, be it clothing, shoes, watches, or otherwise. It’s an attraction that comes naturally to me. It’s also a big part of why this review has come to life. With a fully black outfit, the watch takes center stage in a distinguished way. It’s also how I loved wearing the watch for the most part. But add a bit more color to your outfit and the watch immediately blends in, and it doesn’t have the same commanding presence. That versatility is what I absolutely love about this model.
While I definitely feel comfortable wearing gold watches, it’s the combination of Sedna Gold and black that makes the watch much more interesting. To me, it beats a “simple” gold watch anyday. On top of that, it’s the crux of what makes this not just an impressive watch, but a stunning watch that impressed me more than I could have imagined. Oftentimes, exceptional gold timepieces seem incredible, but only until you bring them into your world. Like so many of us, I don’t live a glamorous life. Once a luxury timepiece enters my world, it tends to lose quite a bit of its impact. Or rather, while it may not necessarily lose its visual impact, it loses aspirational value in an everyday situations.
That’s where this Sedna Gold Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph stands out for me. While I was curious to find out how the watch would hold up in a series of practical situations, I found myself being most impressed by its great aspirational qualities. Whereas other expensive watches often lose their aspirational value, this specific Seamaster brought a world full of aspirations that really surprised me, and maybe even caught me off guard. It started out as a big watch with a great overall style and an impressive in-house movement. But it turned into a personal story that connects Omega’s watchmaking excellence to my love for the ever-inspiring world of James Bond, my personal style, and the story of my father’s Seamaster De Ville that he bought from the money that he made with his first paycheck in 1966.
In a way, this Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph in Sedna Gold has allowed my personal Omega story to come full circle. While I always thought it would have been the Speedmaster that would do that, in the end, it was this Seamaster that had that ultimate power. How could it not be a Seamaster? I was incredibly naive in thinking that it would be a Speedmaster. With such a big part of my personal story with watches coming from my father’s Omega Seamaster De Ville, I realize now that I should have known better.