« In the Depths of the Ocean »
For more than half a century, Omega has been a fixture in the dive watch segment. From the first watches suitable for diving in the 1950s, through milestones such as the "Ploprof", available since 1970, all the way to the models in the current collection, the Swiss manufacture has repeatedly enriched the market with watches that impress as much with their technical qualities as with their aesthetics. The latter is especially true of the Omega Planet Ocean Deep Black collection. We take a look at these exceptional watches, whose sporty yet elegant appearance wins over far more than just divers.
Black, Blacker, Deep Black!
At first glance, it may seem doubtful whether the darkest color there is can be taken any further. It becomes even more doubtful when you consider that black is not actually a color in the physical sense at all, but rather the perception of color and brightness that occurs when all visual stimulus is absent and the retina registers no light waves in the visible spectrum, or only extremely faint ones. A body is considered black if, when illuminated with light of every possible frequency, it reflects no light, or at least almost none. And you can't get less than nothing – or can you?
Anyone who compares other black objects with a watch from Omega's Seamaster Planet Ocean "Deep Black" collection may well answer yes. That's because the color of these watches is no ordinary black, but an especially intense one. This is due above all to the material: the case of the "Deep Black" is made from a single piece of black ceramic. Across the various versions within the collection, this deep, rich black is sometimes showcased entirely on its own and sometimes combined with other colors.
Different Color Combinations and Finishes
Depending on the color combination, the ceramic surfaces of the bezel, case, and dial are finished differently. On the all-black models and those featuring the subtly reddish 18k Sedna gold, they are high-polished, whereas on the versions with red or blue accents the black ceramic surfaces are brushed. As a result, they look matte and perhaps a little less spectacular than with a high polish. In return, they are easier to read underwater. For the red or blue markings on the bezels, Omega combines the jet-black ceramic with colored rubber.
Incidentally, the choice of red and blue is no coincidence. Omega's designers deliberately opted for these two colors, as they are the first and the last visible colors as diving depth increases. As you descend, red is the first color to "disappear": at a depth of just five meters it is no longer visible and visually blends into the surrounding tones. Blue, on the other hand, is the last color still visible at a depth of 275 meters, before complete darkness seems to set in at 300 meters.
The Deep Black's name alludes to this complete blackness in the depths of the oceans. If you were down there, the only things still visible on the Omega Planet Ocean Deep Black would be the luminous hands and indices coated with Super-LumiNova.
Technical Challenges, Perfectly Solved
As is well known, building a dive watch means overcoming particular challenges. After all, it must not only be reliably protected against water ingress and the stresses of water pressure, but should also remain easy to read in poor lighting conditions.
In addition, it must be possible to set time intervals using the bezel in such a way that accidental rotation, which could have fatal consequences for the diver, is ruled out with certainty. This is achieved by making the bezel rotate in one direction only – unlike, for example, watches on which it serves as a slide rule or as a 24-hour scale for an additional time zone. During the development of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black, water resistance proved to be a particularly demanding issue.
Unlike with stainless steel Planet Ocean watches, conventional threads simply don't work in the ceramic material used here. The answer of Omega's watchmakers and engineers to this problem is the "Naiad Lock", an especially sturdy and tight caseback system named after the Naiads – the water nymphs of Greek mythology – that works much like a bayonet mount.
In addition to the impressive dive watch's relatively large 45.5-millimeter case, its caseback, and its bezel, the crown is also made of ceramic.
The folding clasp, by contrast, which also appears to be made of ceramic, actually has a titanium core that has merely been given a ceramic coating.
High-Quality In-House Caliber with Co-Axial Escapement and Second Time Zone
The Planet Ocean Deep Black is powered by Omega's in-house Caliber 8906, which, in addition to the hour, minute, and seconds hands and the date display at 3 o'clock, also drives a fourth hand that can be used to show the time in a second time zone. On the Omega Planet Ocean Deep Black, the corresponding 24-hour scale has been placed on the flange. The COSC-certified chronometer movement features automatic winding and two barrels; the power reserve lasts up to 60 hours.
Thanks to Omega's Co-Axial escapement and the free-sprung silicon balance spring, the Planet Ocean Deep Black achieves particularly high precision. The use of components made from non-magnetic materials provides protection against interference from magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss.
Deep Black models are worn on water-resistant rubber straps with a textile look and – depending on the version – in some cases contrasting colored stitching. For the version with rose gold details, a water-resistant leather strap is available.
Omega has since expanded the Planet Ocean Deep Black collection with a chronograph. It features orange accents and has a date window at 6 o'clock. The two subdials for the chronograph function are located at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.
