The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Dark Grey GMT

The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M dive watch collection, introduced nearly two decades ago, has established itself as a symbol of robust case construction, impeccable water resistance, and high-performance movements. Seamlessly marrying the functionality of a tool watch with the style of a luxury timepiece, the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M series has become a standout in the realm of modern dive watches. In 2015, Omega expanded this collection by introducing the Planet Ocean 600M Deep Black GMT, featuring a black ceramic case and a traveller’s complication. Now, pushing it further, the new Dark Grey GMT version elevates the experience with monochromatic elegance, a novel case material, and titanium-crafted movement components. Our hands-on time with this beauty of the beast provides some insights, and here’s our report.

A Lightweight Case

The Dark Grey iteration maintains the distinctive design of the Planet Ocean GMT, echoing the dimensions of the black ceramic version at a substantial 45.5mm in diameter and 17.4mm in height – not to mention a sizable L2L measure at over 51mm. However, it introduces a fresh blend of materials. It features a dark grey composite case crafted from silicon nitride ceramic – denoted as [Si3N4], visibly marked on the back of the upper left lug – and incorporates several titanium elements. Grade 5 titanium is employed for the crown, helium escape valve (a part more symbolic than useful today), and the uni-directional bezel body. The watch showcases a captivating combination of brushed and mirror-polished finishes with polished flanks, accentuating its contours. The convex sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment allows slight distortion only.

The bezel, adorned with a grey silicon nitride ceramic insert, has a 60-minute scale with a distinct 15-minute sector and a lume-filled triangle at the top. The watch defies its size on the wrist, falling into large timepieces but feeling surprisingly manageable – the great integration of the strap is surely of great help here. The combination of short lyre lugs and lightweight materials contributes to the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Dark Grey GMT’s unexpectedly wrist-friendly presence, weighing about 107 grams, notably lighter than the Deep Black version at 138 grams. And about half the weight of a PO600 GMT on a steel bracelet. 

Titanium Dial

The lightweight concept extends its influence on the dial, where the entire disc is crafted from grade 5 titanium with a sandblasted finish. Upon close inspection, the dial showcases impeccable execution, featuring refined and precise detailing. The anthracite-coated “broad arrow” style hour and minute hands and three-dimensional indices generously coated with white Super-LumiNova command attention. Dark numerals at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock exude a stealthy, no-nonsense appearance against the contrasting surface. An inner bezel dedicated to tracking hours in the second time zone mirrors the dark grey of the bezel insert. Vibrant orange accents on the central seconds and GMT hands inject a lively character, skillfully merging the tool watch attributes with a lifestyle twist. The date aperture at 3 o’clock, featuring a white disc, balances the opposite index, and as customary within the series, lume graces the seconds and GMT hands. 

The Other Side

Turning the watch over reveals the screw-down silicon nitride ceramic case back, incorporating the patented Naiad locking system, a consistent feature across other Planet Ocean models. This system ensures the alignment of decorative and informative elements – like the water resistance of 600 m/2,000 ft, with both the vertical and horizontal axes of the case. The sapphire crystal window on the case back offers a view of the high-tech, antimagnetic (up to 15,000 Gauss), METAS-certified Master Chronometer calibre 8906 Ti – a dark grey variant of the co-axial calibre 8906, with a 60-hour power reserve, two barrels (signed Barrel One and Barrel Two), and a silicon balance spring, operating at 25,200 vibrations/hour. 

The “Ti” denotes titanium, with the main plate and bridges in sandblasted titanium, reducing the weight significantly and enhancing the overall aesthetic of a technologically advanced mechanical watch. This isn’t a first for Omega to use titanium in the movement, but it remains a very rare sight that was reserved for the exclusive, almost prototype Aqua Terra Ultra Light. 

Final Thoughts

The New Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Dark Grey GMT emerges as a true traveller’s watch, allowing independent setting of the hour hand in one-hour increments via the crown, and an impressive tech sheet supports its special rank. The watch is eminently wearable thanks to its case design, use of materials, and the integrated rubber strap with a grey textile inlay (closed with a lightweight grade 5 titanium folding clasp), despite its sheer size. It is a big watch, no doubt about that, but it’s not frightening.

This almost entirely monochrome addition to the Planet Ocean 600M series makes a bold visual statement, though its price tag of EUR 24,500 – considerably higher than the black Deep Black edition at EUR 13,700 – may raise eyebrows. Perhaps the premium is justified by distinguishing technical features, such as the composite of silicon nitride and ceramic in the case, offering superior physical properties compared to regular ceramic and the titanium movement components. Yet, beyond the technicalities, the Dark Grey version’s attractive and sophisticated aesthetics steal the spotlight, surpassing its specs and deep-diving capabilities. If there are any reservations, they might lie in the watch’s size, particularly its thickness. However, it is this bold and substantial nature that defines the Dark Grey and other Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M references.

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