Omega Seamaster Owner Review : Adventurous, indispensable and robust

This Omega Seamaster 300 is my very first mechanical watch and I acquired it in 2002 to mark a turning point in my professional career. A fan of James Bond at the time, I discovered the Seamaster on Pearce Brosnan's wrist in the film Golden Eyes. It must be said that the marketing did its job well, this watch is well highlighted and it makes me wonder about this watch that I find beautiful and that I did not know. I am a good customer, it embodies through Bond's stunts, the idea that I had of the adventurer's watch: readable, robust, waterproof, precise... and beautiful in a tuxedo of course. At the time there were very few ways to find out about the collections, we did however have the possibility of ordering online, or of picking up in store, the brands' catalogs. The Omega catalog contained little technical data on the models but good quality photos. I quickly identified a version of the Seamaster 300 that was much more attractive to me than Bond's... the black dial version named Sir Peter Blake... magnificent! Determined to find out more about this watch, I searched the internet and came across the blog of the TicTac addict who had posted a superb review of this model, the ref. 2254.50.00. I was doomed, and after several visits to ADs, testing the watch and a lot of time spent dreaming about it, I ended up buying it in a store. It would not leave my wrist for almost 20 years. I wore it every day, in all circumstances, in the water, in the sand, while I was tinkering or playing sports... but also in a suit... I never had any problems with it, a service at Omega every 7/8 years and it was good to go. What I particularly like about this watch, and which I have never tired of, is its dial. Very dark matte gray textured with discreet matte black wavelets and with beautiful oversized uncircled and very luminescent indexes. Their size and shape are reminiscent of those of some vintage Seamasters like the ref. 165.024. The enormous triangle at 12 o'clock gives it a unique look and recalls that of the ref. 565.007. The date window is very well integrated, with white numbers on a black background. The "lance" type hands are very large and very luminescent as well, a shape that was found among others on the ref. 165.024 in any case for the hour hand. In short, a watch that I would describe as well inspired by the iconic Seamaster models but with its own personality. I should point out that at the time of purchase, I had no idea of the history of the Seamaster and had never seen any vintage models. It was only recently that I found these family ties in the indexes and hands. The finishes of the case are top-notch for a watch of this price, significantly lower than that of a Sub at the time. There is brushed on the sides of the case, sandblasted and polished on the lyre lugs. The screwed back is engraved with a beautiful logo and wavelets that are supposed to make the watch less slippery on the arm once in the water... and that is indeed the effect felt. The watch is relatively thin at 12 mm and sits perfectly on the wrist. Its size is reasonable with a diameter close to 40 mm excluding the crown and a lug to lug of 48 mm. A size that I find very acceptable for a so-called diving watch. The metal bracelet is however well dated 2000s with a folding clasp of good quality but too wide for my taste which has become thinner over time. I have therefore played around with the bracelets quite a bit and for several months I have only worn it on a black leather one from ABP which, in my opinion, suits it perfectly. This configuration has rekindled my passion for this watch and I like to wear it regularly, observing the marks of time on its case which has only been polished once, during its first revision. I particularly like to admire its dial and be amazed by the precision it still demonstrates after so many years.