Introducing the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT with Master Chronometer movement – Live photos, specs and price

In 2013 Omega introduced the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT and that was the first Seamaster Planet Ocean with a second time zone. That’s eight years after the introduction of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection. This could well be your perfect traveller watch as is has the additional function of the second time zone; something that comes in handy while travelling. Today Omega introduces the Master Co-Axial movement with is stellar anti-magnetic properties into this watch, and too highlight this the design got a nice “monochrome” touch! Here’s the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT.

When we reviewed the Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT (back than named Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT) we just loved it and considered it to be a perfect travel / dive watch. The Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT comes in a different size (43.5 mm) than the two ‘normal’ Planet Ocean models (42 mm or 45.5 mm) and this new edition with Co-Axial movement sports the same 43.5 mm case. The case’s thickness has been reduced from 17.25 mm on the old Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m GMT, to 17.04 mm on the new model – reduced but still a hefty watch and not one that easily fits under the cuff of a nice shirt.

A World’s first!

This Planet Ocean GMT features a black and white bezel (day and night for the GMT hand) that is made in polished bi-ceramic. This is a world’s first, since “the other” 2-tone ceramic bezel (from Rolex) is actually made in one colour and treated afterwards to get the two colours! This black & white bezel features numerals and scaling in contrasting colours. Not just the bezel has been made in ceramic ZrO2, also the dial is made in a polished ceramic (which is discretely printed on the dial.)

Now the other big novelty about the new Seamster Planet Ocean GMT is not cosmetic, but inside. That’s where Omega’s Master Co-Axial movement ticks at a rather unusual pace. Let me explain… Most modern movement run at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, some have a higher speed of 36,000 and some at lower speed of 18,000 or sometimes 21,600 vibrations per hour. The Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8906 runs at a frequency of 25’200 vph (3.5Hz) and that’s according to Omega the best speed for the co-axial escapement that they use. If you’re wondering what a “co-axial escapement” actually is, there’s a short video (here), which we showed you several years ago, that very clearly explains how the co-axial escapement actually works.

This escapement is used in the Master Co-Axial movements that were first introduced early 2013 (see here) and slowly found their way into the collection in 2014 (see here). These movements are completely anti-magnetic and they are all tested and Chronometer certified in-house, according to the METAS procedures (as we explained here). Last year we visited the new testing facilities and we published a 2-part report; part 1 is here and part 2 is here.

In our review we already explained in depth how easy the Seamaster Planet Ocean can be set and adjusted, something that is extremely convenient when traveling. Pull the crown and in the first position you can adjust the hour hand with one-hour increments, without compromising the time-keeping; in other words the movement keeps running while adjusting the hour hand to another timezone while traveling.

The watch comes on a steel bracelet or a black leather strap with rubber lining. While just this info might sound kind of generic there’s actually much more to it. The bracelet for instance has been changed on some accounts a the biggest improvement is that the first link, which is attached to the case, is now in a U-shape instead of a T-shape. That actually means that the bracelet is easier to fit on a smaller wrist, which we think is very good, whether you have small or big wrists. The leather strap with rubber lining has also been improved. Because of a special treatment to the leather it is less sensitive to water and you can easily take a plunge with the Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT on the leather strap on the wrist. How cool is that?

Specifications Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT

• Case: stainless steel, 43.5 mm x 17.04 mm, water proof to 600m, the world’s first bi-ceramic bezel  (in black & white), helium escape valve
• Movement: Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8906, self-winding, 25,200 vph, 60 hour power reserve, anti magnetic to 15,000 Gauss, Co-Axial escapement with Si14 silicon balance spring, GMT function
• Dial: Polished black ceramic dial, applied rhodium plated indexes, dial engraved with [ZrO2] just under the centre axis of the hands, no more mentioning of “Professional” on the dial
• Strap/bracelet: new end-links for the bracelet, folding clasp with diver’s extension / black leather with rubber lining

The price will be added once we get it from Omega.