In writing an Omega Planet Ocean review I’m really quite conscious of the fact that this is one of Omega’s most loved watches, though it does also elicit strong feelings in the other direction. First a question of naming. Strictly speaking this watch is an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, but most people find that name a bit long and have dropped the Seamaster bit. Still, I’d get tons of e-mails pointing out my “error” if I didn’t clarify.

So why is this watch both so loved and hated. I’d say the reason is not least this is because it is now closely associated with James Bond.

This watch wasn’t the original bond watch. In most of the early films, Commander Bond wore a Rolex Submariner. But since 1995 Omega has been associated with James Bond after 007 ditched his traditional Rolex for an Omega. In the movie Golden Eye Pierce Brosnan appeared on the screen wearing an Omega Seamaster professional, a watch that has since been replaced on the arm of Daniel Craig, who wears a Seamaster Planet Ocean. But as great as this product placement has been for the brand, there are some fans who think it goes a bit too far down the road of “merchandising”, especially after Omega introduced a limited 007 edition with a 007 gun logo.

For the purposes of this Planet Ocean Review I’m just going to talk about the standard (and not limited) editions.

An Overview of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean

The Seamaster Planet Ocean is a rugged dive-style watch that has good looks and brawn. The watch is actually designed to do all of the things that professional dive watches need to do. It has a screw-in crown to provide extra-water resistance. It goes beyond just that, however, in that it adds a helium escape valve. Unless you are doing deep diving (breathing special air mixtures and allowing the gases to saturate your bloodstream) you don’t need this feature. If you don’t understand what I’ve just said, then you really don’t need this feature. But it is nice to know that this is a genuine professionals’ divers watch and not just one that has a big bezel just to look tough.

The crystal is genuine scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, not some cheap glass pretending to be crystal. Proving that this is the real deal, it is certified down to 600 meters of water pressure (2000 feet). The crystal is really nice looking and anti-reflective coatings make it more readable and help preserve its good looks.

Its movement is a self-winding Omega 2500 caliber. Thisi is one of the better movements on the market, but not the very best. It keeps time well and has a good reputation for accuracy. The only downside is that it is not a bespoke movement. It is made by ETA, which is a mass-producer of watch movements that is owned by Swatch (which also owns Omega). The newest versions now feature a home-built movement (more on that later)

Those who own the watch generally love it.

The Planet Ocean Titanium Liquidmetal also receives a substantial upgrade in the movement department. Historically the Planet Ocean models have been equipped with the ETA 2892 based Omega Caliber 2500. However, the Planet Ocean Titanium Liquidmetal is the first model in the Planet Ocean line to receive the in-house Omega Caliber 8500 (launched in 2007). The Omega Caliber 8500 is a self-winding 39 jewel mechanical movement with a power reserve (coming from 2 serial mounted barrels) of 60 hours, and a freely sprung balance which vibrates at a speed of 25,200 vibrations per hour (VPH). The Omega Caliber 8500 is an Officially Certified COSC chronometer and like most modern Omega calibers, is fitted with the George Daniel’s Co-Axial Escapement. Additionally the Caliber 8500 features a balance spring constructed entirely of silicon for improved resistance to shock and magnetism.

The dial gets a score of 5 from me.It looks fantastic, and it is VERY easy to read in day or night. Only the Omega symbol is metal that is applied. Also the hour markers are applied with metal surroundings. The dial is both functional and yet elegant somehow. Omega did a VERY good job on this aspect.

If you’d like to see a few more pictures as well as a great write-up by a blogger who attended a recent launch of the Omega Planet Ocean then check this out.

An Omega display advertisement from 1996 showing the Omega Seamaster worn by James Bond in Goldeneye

The Omega Planet Ocean Review

The Swiss Watch industry is always a bit of a cyclical one. It is also one that is often very difficult to get real data on. Trying to figure out which sells more watches, Rolex vs Omega, for instance, can be especially tricky.

So I was especially pleased when someone popped something into my inbox. It is a piece of research from analysts at Credit Suisse, a Swiss bank, on trends in the Swiss Watch Industry.

The basically went around for a couple of months doing a survey of luxury retailers, asking them a bunch of questions around which watches are selling well. The results are pretty impressive for the biggest names in Swiss watches. Rolex is doing incredibly well, Omega is also on a roll. So are Cartier and Tissot.

Here’s the result of one of their surveys on which brands are selling well:

The chart clearly shows how brands such as Dior and Ebel are not performing at all well in the market.

They also looked at which price segment of watches is performing best and found that without any doubt, the best performing segment is for high end watches, which it categorises as costing more than $5000 each.

The results would seem to be good news for the biggest groups. They say that the investment implications are that these trends favour Swatch Group and Richemont. They say:

Swatch Group remains our preferred idea in the hard luxury space thanks to best-in-class supply chain capabilities, diversification across price points and strong momentum for Omega, Longines and Tissot. Richemont’s main brands are also performing well – we will hear from the company (i.e. interim results) on November 11.

Please bear in mind that this report is a few months old (so don’t go and start buying shares just because this blog had a post on how great the industry is). Also note that I’m here to provide news and interesting facts on the industry, not investment advice. With that little disclaimer out the way, I thought I’d also share another piece of outdated stockbroker research that someone has given me. This time it is from Nomura, a Japanese bank. In a report titled: Watches: why we like telling the time (August 31, 2011), they say:

We continue to be bullish on the watch industry long term due to: 1) regulatory changes: that should help alleviate longer term bottlenecks and increase capacity utilisation rates; 2) China potential: still just scratching the surface; 3) US: premiumise the category and increase distribution control, which should help increase transparency of stock levels in the channels and elevate pricing power.

Luxury Swiss Watch Brands Are Performing Best: Credit Suisse Says

There is one watch that has gone beyond this earth in terms of its fame and reliability and that is the Omega Speedmaster Professional, the original Nasa moonwatch that has gone to space and to the moon.

This is the watch that Buzz Aldrin wore on the surface of the moon in July 1969(although Neil Armstrong was the mission commander and first man on the moon, he wasn’t wearing his watch on his first walk on the surface because the lunar module’s internal clock had broken down, and Armstrong left his watch behind). Unfortunately this watch has gone missing and is probably the most prized collector’s watch anywhere in the world. Buzz Aldrin wrote in his autobiography that he was required to hand over the watch along with some other personal effects to Nasa. He boxed these all up and they were sent to the Smithsonian museum, but when the box arrived it was discovered that someone had taken the watch.

The history of the Omega Speedmaster Professional

The most amazing thing of all about this amazing watch is that it was never designed to be worn in space.  It was originally designed for racing-car drivers and was thought of as a poor-man’s version of the more famous and more expensive Rolex Daytona. Yet some of the features that made it useful for racing drivers (including a prominent chronometer) also made it useful for space exploration.

Apparently Nasa had not given much thought to what watch its astronauts would be wearing until quite late in the space programme. A hurried shopping trip was undertaken and Nasa employees chose a few watches for testing from a local jeweller in Houston (although there is some dispute about this version of events). The watches were subjected to various tests including heat, pressure and shock to see if they could survive the rigours of space. The Omega Speedmaster was then chosen after passing the tests with flying colours.

In 1965 this watch was worn on a “space walk” strapped to the outside of a space suit by Ed White. It was then also worn on the moon by Aldrin.

The rescue of Apollo 13

Although the Omega Speedmaster won wide acclaim for its association with space and astronauts, it wasn’t an essential tool of space missions until it was credited with helping to save the stricken Apollo 13 spaceship and crew.

Apollo 13 was meant to be the third mission to land on the moon. But after blastoff an oxygen tank burst, causing great damage to the ship.

The ship was stricken with its navigation systems and computers knocked out. Luckily Nasa had figured out a way of navigating the ship using the earth’s terminator (the line between day and night on the planet, as seen from space). Having figured out exactly where the space ship was, there was still the difficulty of firing its rockets without a navigation computer or flight control system. In the end Nasa calculated how long the rocket-burn would have to be to get the ship back on a re-entry trajectory. Part of the credit for this goes to the use of an Omega Speedmaster Professional, which was accurate enough to time the rocket burn needed to get the ship on course.

An advertisement for the Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow watch from 2001

The Omega Speedmaster also kept its association with racing drivers, even though it is now seen as closely linked with space. An example of this is its advertising in the 1990s when it used Michael Schumacher as a brand ambassador (though I’m not sure it used the term then) when it quoted him saying “trust your judgement, trust your Omega” when pictured with an Omega Speedmaster Automatic.

An advertisement from 1996 showing Michael Schumacher wearing an Omega Speedmaster Automatic watch

The Omega Speedmaster Professional: The Original Nasa Moonwatch

Examples of this extraordinary Swatch Collection Source: Phillips de Pury & Company

This is probably a once in a lifetime event as a huge Swatch collection with more than 4,300 watches including incredibly rare models and prototypes that have never before been on sale will be sold on auction by  Phillips de Pury & Company in Hong Kong.

The collection, which has gone on a world tour to New York, Shanghai and London, includes a number of watches dating back to the early 1980s before the launch of the now iconic Swiss watch brand.

The collection was assembled by the late Peter Blum, a Swiss businessman and watch collector of note, and his wife Linda. This is probably the greatest collection of Swatch watches ever assembled. You can read more about it on the official Swatch website.

The Auction house said the following about the Swatch Collection:

“When the Swatch was introduced in 1983 it was a revolutionary concept and an instant success. Today, 28 years since its introduction, Swatch continues to be a vibrant, cool, fun watch and fashion accessory and is an important part of the cultural history of our times. Despite its numerous fans around the world, nobody, including Swatch, had succeeded in amassing the ultimate, most comprehensive collection of Swatches including all special editions and countless prototypes than the late Mr. Peter Blum. Phillips de Pury & Company prides itself on being entirely focused on contemporary culture and lending support to Swatch in disposing this historic collection fits right into that remit.” Simon de Pury, Chairman Phillips de Pury & Company.

Amazing Swatch Collection on Auction

Since their first watch was made in 1853, Tissot watches have been synonymous with quality and style. Featuring high quality Swiss movements housed in beautifully designed cases, it is no wonder that Tissot has been around for over 150 years. While the company has long made its home in the mountain town of La Locle in Switzerland, it has grown exponentially over the years and can now be found in many cities all around the world. Since 1983, they have been a member of the Swatch Group, which is the largest watch distributor and producer in the world. For a while they seemed to be losing their edge and looking a bit dated, especially in comparison with watches such as Tag Heuer, but their newer collections are every bit as cool as anything else on the market.

Tissot Watch Models

Tissot makes watches for women and men in a number of models and styles. They are known for their subtle coloring and bold design. Sleek, streamlined shapes put an emphasis on the line of the watch. While most Tissot watches are made of cool stainless steel, they are often accented by tasteful splashes of warm color. While many Tissot watch models have classic link bracelets, others feature leather bands that add texture as well as color to the watch’s overall appearance. Over the years, the company has made innovation their policy and has been the first to introduce a number of materials previously unheard of in timepiece design. They were responsible for the first watches made of plastic, stone, wood and even mother of pearl.

Touch Collection

The Sea-Touch Diving watch

The Touch Collection is a line designed primarily for men, although there are several styles for women and women are encouraged to wear all styles available. In fact, actress Angelina Jolie has been seen wearing T-Touch watches in two of her movies. Aside from their characteristically bold Tissot design, Touch watches have garnered much attention in recent years due to their innovative, tactile technology. This technology allows wearers to control the watch by touching the special sapphire crystal. Features that can be controlled include a thermometer, a compass, a barometer and an altimeter.

T-Sport Collection

While perhaps not as famous as the T-Touch line, the T-Sport collection is one of the most popular lines Tissot has to offer. The men’s Race model features brighter color options than many of Tissot’s lines and all models in this collection feature bold, round faces. They have numerous features that are geared to the active wearer, such as water resistance, T-Touch technology and durability. While the women’s line tends toward more subtle colors, the bold design and high quality is as apparent as it is in all Tissot watches.

Tissot Watches: A Brief Introduction

Source: http://www.luminox.com/watches?fam=SEA

If you read the advertising hype you would think that among the world’s foremost military watches is the line produced by Luminox. None is more famous than the Luminox Navy Seal watch, a timepiece that is worn by the members of one of the world’s most elite fighting forces.

Luminox came to fame 20 years ago when it developed the technology to embed light sources into the hands and hour markers on watches. Now you may think that your watch already has luminious hands, but that is like saying your house is lit by a small candle in the living room.

The big difference with this illumination is that the hands actually light up using tiny canisters filled with Tritium,  a radioactive form of hydrogen, and phospors, the stuff that used to be used to make old-fashioned television tubes. In essence tiny bits of radiation (so little that it is no risk to you – it can’t even get throuhg your skin) is beamed from the gas into the phosphors that then light up. What you have then is what they call self-powered lighting, which is very different from the normal luminous paint that goes on most watches and that has to be “charged” by being exposed to light and that then get dimmer with every passing minute.

This is the same form of lighting that is used in the night-sights of some military weapons including the British Army’s standard rifle. In short, it works.

Luminox Men's 3951 EVO Navy SEAL Watch Average Rating: 20 total customer reviews...

Luminox Men's 3001 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch Average Rating: 84 total customer reviews...

Luminox Men's 3901 Original Navy SEAL Dive Watch Average Rating: 22 total customer reviews...

Luminox Blackout

One of the most popular lines in this is the Luminox Blackout watch. This is a lower profile watch than many of the others in the Luminox line. The big difference is that it has a much dimmer set of tritium tubes that light up to a subdued blue colour rather than the bright, almost luminous green glow of the others. It has a very light reinforced polymer case and a soft rubber case.

Unfortunately there are less impressive things to say about the watches themselves. Although the company presents them as really tough and rugged, there are numerous complaints on the web and bad reviews on sites such as Amazon.com about these watches falling apart after a year or two and breaking when they get wet.

It seems that in fact most Navy seals and other special forces operators wear watches that are a lot less fancy. Some of the most popular watches that are worn by Seals include various forms of Casio G-Shock such as the GW5600 classic G-Shock or the Casio Pathfinder watch.

I also believe that a popular navy seal watch is the Suunto X-Lander. Waht you will note about many of these watches is that they are pure function with useful sensors such as a compass and altimeter. When Seals and other SF guys go on operations they dress for action, not to look good.

Update on the Luminox Navy Seal Watch

I’ve just done a bit more reading and finished a great book called Seal Team Six by Howard Wasdin. If you want an insight into the BUDS training and hell week that Navy Seals go through as well as an idea of some of the missions this elite force has participated in then I highly recommend this book. But there is a line in it where he talks about getting kitted out to go on a mission. What was his watch? A Casio. Sorry guys, but it seems elite warriors don’t spend a lot of time thinking about fancy watches with titanium bezels. All they want is something that tells the time, isn’t too expensive and won’t get bust the moment the shooting starts.

The Luminox Navy Seal Watch

Pocket watches have gone out of favor in the last 100 years or so. When I see one I think of Sherlock Holmes or some character out of a Charles Dickens novel. Yet they are making a comeback in modern form thanks to the Swiss company Wenger, which has introduced a range of really cool Swiss Army Pocket Watches that have all the features you would expect on a modern watch with some of the charm of an old classic.

The most popular Wenger pocket watch is a travel alarm with an analogue face and a nifty clip. It has a dual time setting, which makes it really great for travellers and, obviously, it has an alarm. Now this is not your classic sliver watch on a chain but is a stylish and modern looking piece.

It is also pretty rugged as it has a rubber cover to protect it from drops and scratches and it comes with luminous hands so you can see it at night without a back light.

It is useful not just for travel but for any activity such as rock climbing or any job such as working with machinery where a normal wristwatch might get in the way.

The one complaint people make is that the alarm is not as loud as you might hope. Think of the volume of a normal wristwatch alarm and you get the picture, rather than one of those typical little fold-able bedside alarms.

Online you should be able to find one for about $170 or so and if you buy one in a store you would probably look to pay about twice as much.

Wenger 73015 Traveler Alarm Black Dial Pocket Watch Average Rating: 9 total customer reviews...

Stuhrling Original Men's 142A.EU.PK6 Lifestyle Collection Monarch Moon Quartz Pocket Watch Average Rating: 9 total customer reviews...

Wenger 16999 Giant Swiss Army Knife Average Rating: 71 total customer reviews...

The Swiss Army Pocket Watch: A modern take on an old classic

Victorinox has three basic lines of Swiss Army watches: Professional, Classic and Active. Each line has its own look and features multiple models and styles. Furthermore, each style comes in a range of colors and details and many styles have stories that go with them.

The airboss, a great Swiss army watch

Watches in the Professional collection are each inspired by a different profession. For example, the Air Boss watch features details inspired by aviation. On an aircraft carrier, it is the air boss’ job to sit in the command tower and calculate when it is safe for planes to land or leave the ship. They must be incredibly accurate in order to avoid accidents, and this same focus on precision is put into Victorinox’s Air Boss watch. Other features of the watch are also perfect for an aviator, including its scratch-resistant triple coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal, its luminescent hands and hour markers and its chronograph functions. The rotating inner bezel even contains an internal bidirectional flange, which marks the countdown of aircraft take-off and landing.

Unsurprisingly, the Classic series features classic Victorinox Swiss Army watch design, with elements such as Swiss made movement, stainless steel case and scratch-resistant triple coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The Classic collection features a wider variety of models than any other collection, with a range of colors, strap materials and details, but each is a showcase of classic or vintage style. One of the most popular and versatile is the Chrono Classic XLS. With an elegant steel case and interlocking band, this watch can be worn casually or with formal attire. With Victorinox’s knowledge of steel manufacturing and a Swiss made mechanism, the Chrono Classic ranks at the top of the quality ladder with brands such as Tag Heur and Omega, but it is considerably more affordable.

The Active collection contains Swiss military watches that are perfect for an active lifestyle. They feature sleek, sporty design, and are built to be exceptionally durable. The Convoy Chronograph, for example, features a rubber strap, a shock-resistant hardened mineral crystal and is water resistant up to 330 feet. It also has added crown protection and chronograph features.

The Infantry Vintage Chrono

Aside from their main collections, Victorinox Swiss Army Watches also come in an array of limited edition watches. Some limited editions, such as the Infantry Vintage Jubilee watch, are variations on regular series watches. Others are specialized watches that do not fit into any other category. The Travel Alarm 1884 Limited Edition is one such watch. Featuring the same Swiss made movement and quality stainless steel case as their traditional watches; this fold-up alarm clock is perfect to slip into a suitcase or travel bag. With only 1884 units available worldwide, this is a particularly limited edition.

Victorinox Swiss Army watches can be bought from a number of retailers online such as Amazon.com and eBay.com. They are also available from select jewelers, department stores such as Macy’s and Neiman Marcus, and anywhere that sells high quality watches.

Victorinox Swiss Army Men's 241316 Chrono Classic Chronograph Black Dial Watch Average Rating: 7 total customer reviews...

The Victorinox Swiss Army Watch: A New Classic

Wenger makes a variety of wrist watches for women.  These watches are stylish and are well made.  They are designed to last for many years, and they are fashionable enough to last as well.  These watches are from the manufacturer of the Swiss Army Knife, a company that is trusted for the quality of its products. They are also one of the most popular Swiss watch brands, so you can’t go too far wrong with them.

The Wenger Women’s 70609 Standard Issue Swiss Watch is good choice when it comes to Wenger ladies watches.  The band is made of stainless steel, and it is two-toned.  The main part of the band is silver, but it also has two 18 karat gold plated stripes that go around it.  This watch was designed using Swiss technology.  Its Swiss quartz construction makes the watch a very precise time keeper.  It has a date display, is water resistant up to 330 feet (or 100 meters), and has a face that is made from scratch resistant crystal.  Customers who have bought this watch report that it stands up well under the test of time.  It even does well when regularly exposed to water.
Another Wenger ladies watch to consider is the Wenger Swiss Military Women’s 72980 Field Military Watch.  It has a black leather band, hands and numbers that glow in the dark, and a mineral crystal face that is designed for durability.  It is also water resistant up to 330 feet.  Customers who bought this watch said that they liked its classy look.  One downside of this product, according to a customer, is that it is hard to see the watch hands in dim light, but they are easier to see when it is really dark.
The Wenger Women’s Sport Diamond Watch is another well designed Wenger watch.  It has a mother-of-pearl dial and a stainless steel band.  It also has 10 diamond markers on the face.  The hands of this watch glow in the dark, and like the others, it is water resistant up to 330 feet.  Because of the diamonds, this particular watch is considerably more expensive than many other options, but the diamonds also give it a very regal appearance.  Even with its impressive look, it does not compromise functionality and durability.
One of the best qualities of a wenger watches is that the brand name is trusted for its high quality, durable products.  Swiss Army Knives were first manufactured in Switzerland in 1893, and in 1997, Wenger started making watches.  These watches are now sold worldwide in 80 different countries.  Because of Wenger’s long standing record of excellence, Wenger ladies watches are some of the best watches out there for women.

Popular Wenger Ladies Watches

Most people swim but there are certain types of people who cannot be satisfied with merely skimming the surface of the water. Diving is an activity that requires a physicality that is different from swimming. Diving also requires more than the usual equipment that is used for swimming. The right kind of equipment is crucial to safe diving and those who like to take risks should at least know what the risks are.

Most people might not know it, but a dive watch is a very important diving tool. Timing is key, and while this may sound like a marketing cliche, it does actually apply to diving. A single miscalculation can result in a fatal error and when one is several hundred feet in the water, mistakes can mean death. Dive watches are used to time the diver’s stay in the water as well as to time the descent and ascent from one level to another. Being under water and being under all that pressure, a simple plastic watch is not going to be able to handle it, which is why a dive watch is essential.

There are several types of dive watch but the most stylish ones are the Swiss Divers Watches. These watches are known for their excellent quality as well as their price tag. Collectors in particular just love the Tag Heur Dive Watch. Barack Obama has been spotted wearing a Tag Heur, specifically the Series 1500 Two-Tone Diver watch. This Swiss Diving Watch has sparked lively discussions on this political figure’s watch habits and his purchases and while it could mean something or nothing at all, every one agrees that the president does have great taste in watches.

Another popular dive watch is the Swiss Army Divers Watch. Nothing says accurate and fully functional like the Swiss Army. These watches are built to survive a lot of pressure. The watch is water resistant for up to five hundred meters and will not break under pressure. For a diver to stay calm and collected, only a dependable watch can help to keep the mind focused on the task at hand and not leave any space for worrying about a sudden malfunction. The watch straps come in rubber and the classic dial bracelet and they are guaranteed not to come undone at an inopportune moment. They are comfortable to wear and flexible enough to be worn both in and out of the water

Popular Swiss Divers Watches