Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph

The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph made its debut in 2005 as part of the then brand-new Planet Ocean collection. Like the three-hand models in the line, the 45.5-mm chronograph is water-resistant to 600 m (60 bar, 1,969 ft) and fitted with a helium escape valve. The latter comes in the form of a screw-down crown at 10 o'clock. The right side of the case is reserved for the two chronograph push-pieces at 2 and 4 o'clock, and the winding crown at 3.

The dial and hand design are typical of Seamaster Planet Ocean editions: wide, lume-filled bar indices and arrow-shaped hands. As you would expect of a diving watch, the hands also glow in the dark. The dial unifies the standard chronograph subdials. But whereas older Planet Ocean Chronographs have three subdials, Omega changed the dial design a few years ago in favor of a bicompax layout with just two subdials. The watch also has a date display.

The watch is powered by an automatic, certified chronometer caliber with Omega's patented co-axial escapement. Since 2016, this movement also comes with Master Chronometer certification from the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS), which means this timepiece is not only especially accurate but also anti-magnetic to 15,000 Gauss.

The Planet Ocean Chronograph is available in stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, or Omega's rose gold alloy, Sedna gold, as well two-tone variants in stainless steel and Sedna gold.

The most affordable Planet Ocean Chronograph is the tricompax variant with a black dial and bezel, which you can purchase on Chrono24 for as little as 4,200 USD. The same variant with an orange bezel inlay sells for about 5,300 USD.

If you'd prefer a bicompax dial, look for a second-generation Planet Ocean Chronograph. These models come with a ceramic bezel and the in-house caliber 9300 and change hands for between 5,200 and 5,600 USD, depending on the watch.

Prices for current models with the Master Chronometer caliber 9900 range from 6,900 USD for an edition in stainless steel to 24,000 USD for a timepiece in gold. Watches in titanium, ceramic, or two-tone cases cost between 8,700 and 14,000 USD.

The first generation of Planet Ocean Chronographs appeared in 2005 in two different editions. Both models measure 45.5 mm in diameter and come in stainless steel cases and with a sapphire crystal. Inside these watches is the certified chronometer caliber 3313, which is based on the Piguet 1285 and features Omega's own co-axial escapement and a 52-hour power reserve. The movement equips these watches with a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, stop hours at 6, small seconds at 9, and a date window at 4:30.

The difference between the first two variants of the Planet Ocean Chronograph is the color design: while the ref. 2210.50.00 comes with a black dial and diving bezel, the ref. 2218.50.00 comes with an orange bezel inlay. These colors are also echoed in the chronograph push-pieces and the applied numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock.

A quick look at the prices suggests the orange model is the more popular of the two: in September 2022, the 2218.50.00 changed hands on Chrono24 for approximately 5,300 USD, while the black-bezel reference cost around 4,300 USD.

In 2011, Omega introduced an updated version of the Planet Ocean Chronograph. As with the previous generation, this release featured two identical models with dissimilar but definitely Omega brand color schemes in black (ref. 232.32.46.51.01.003) and orange (ref. 232.30.46.51.01.002). The size and materials were also the same.

The most immediate novelty in this new generation is the inlay on the unidirectional bezel, which is made of ceramic. The caliber was also updated: these chronographs are powered by the in-house caliber 9300, which is equipped with a silicon balance spring and 60 hours of reserve power. The dial layout is also new and features just two subdials, a combined minute and hour counter at 3 o'clock and small seconds at 9, and a date display at 6.

If you're in the market for a second-generation Planet Ocean Chronograph, expect to pay around 5,200 USD for a black bezel version and 5,600 USD for the orange.

Omega released the next and newest generation of the Planet Ocean Chronograph in 2016. While the underlying design remained unchanged this time around – a 45.5-mm case, water resistance to 600 m (60 bar, 1,969 ft), and helium escape valve at 10 o'clock – the new watch is powered by the caliber 9900, a direct descendant of caliber 9300. The most significant difference here is that the new caliber 9900 has Master Chronometer certification from the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS), which means it's both especially precise (-0/+5 seconds of deviation per day) and anti-magnetic to 15,000 Gauss.

This new generation of Planet Ocean Chronographs also brought with it a broad array of new materials in comparison with the previous generation. Along with stainless steel, the current collection is also available in titanium, Sedna gold, ceramic, and a two-tone edition in stainless steel and Sedna gold.

In addition to the standard black variant, the third-gen stainless steel watch also comes with a blue dial and bezel and a black-dial version on which the first 15 minutes of the diving scale on the black ceramic bezel are blended with orange rubber. This generation also features a model with an orange bezel; however, the shade of orange is markedly darker than that of its predecessor, and the dial is dark gray rather than black. Depending on the edition, prices for the latest stainless steel Planet Ocean Chronograph range from 5,500 to 7,000 USD.

The same black and orange bezel can be found on the so-called Deep Black variant, which has a black ceramic case and costs about 9,700 USD.

You'll immediately recognize the lightweight titanium Planet Ocean Chronograph by its light gray dial and matching gray ceramic bezel inlay. The latter has been jazzed up with orange rubber. Depending on whether it comes on a rubber strap or a titanium link bracelet, plan to spend between 8,200 and 8,900 USD on this watch.

The Planet Ocean Chronograph in Omega's own red-gold alloy, Sedna gold, comes with a black dial and bezel and costs around 24,000 USD. The two-tone timepiece is stainless steel and Sedna gold and has a blue dial and bezel. This watch changes hands for approximately 10,400 USD on a leather strap and 14,200 USD on a gold and stainless steel bracelet.