Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial Master Chronometer Owner Review : Symbolic, adventurous and statutory

Am I a fan of Omega or the James Bond saga during the Daniel Craig era, especially Casino Royale? Obviously both. And it may seem hard to believe, but I discovered Omega and 007 at the same time, watching the film in... 2016. Despite my lack of knowledge about watches (I only knew Swatch, Rolex, and Seiko at the time), the particularly clever product placement in the film and its effect on me aroused a real curiosity for Omega. So I explored the websites discussing Omega in Casino Royale and the other films from the Craig era. The articles were already very well documented in 2016, because since the first installment, there have been websites, forums, and videos discussing all objects related to the films. I then discovered the Omega references featured in the films: the Seamaster 300 from Spectre, the Seamaster Diver 300M, the Planet Ocean, the Aqua Terra... Being a lover of beautiful objects with a certain aesthetic sense (which my taste for clothing already betrays), I was completely blown away: I discovered the beauty of these watches, the significance of the mechanism, the complications, the finishes, the subtleties of which I tried as best I could to grasp. By discovering Omega, I now knew I wanted a prestigious watch... but which one? And how? For a first watch, I wanted it to embody everything. It must have the function of an accessory. In my opinion, an accessory is not a piece of jewelry, but an object that can reflect a certain preciousness. In a quest for aesthetics through clothing, the accessory must confirm the stylistic message, amplify it, or, failing that, contrast elegantly with it. My style, which has heritage, workwear, and military connotations, and being a fan of Japanese materials, seemed to me to lack versatility in a dress watch. The "elegant toolwatch" seemed like the best option. The finishing touches had to be perfect, sophisticated without being overly original, as this was my first watch (not a worldtimer, for example). The mechanism itself had to convey modernity, creativity, and efficiency that was pleasant for everyday use. Not wanting to be a snob, I discovered other brands in physical stores: Longines, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Rolex, Seiko, Cartier, etc. But despite a real effort to "think against myself," it was Omega that truly caught my attention and caused a deep thrill: modernity, finishing, aesthetics, mechanism... everything seemed to resonate with me. And so much the better, because I wanted a strong connection with Casino Royale, which struck me with its accuracy, its spirit of adventure and (re)birth, with which I fully identify. When I entered Omega, three models struck me: the Planet Ocean, the Seamaster 300M, and the Diver 300. I visited the boutique in 2016, and a year later, I finally purchased the Diver 300 from an authorized dealer. Why? Because it harked back to Casino Royale (the scenes in the Casino) while being a diver (adventurer) and "the least expensive." It was a gateway to the Omega universe, in a way. However, I remember feeling some frustrations: I already found the Planet Ocean to have a more modern look, even though I really liked the dial of the Seamaster Diver 300M (ref. 212.30.41.20.03.001), the one I bought. Its rather low power reserve (24 hours) proved difficult to use on a daily basis. It didn't have a transparent caseback, and its bracelet looked outdated compared to the PO's. There was already talk of a Liquidmetal bezel, and the caliber 2500 of my Diver seemed dated compared to the PO's. But the price and diameter of the latter had put me off. The Planet Ocean "bug," however, was already in me. Six years later, I sold my Diver (with a slight capital gain) for various reasons. There was a touch of regret, but fate left me no choice. I promised myself that one day, I would buy a new Omega, combining everything the first one lacked. That day will come in 2025. I know, you might be thinking, I still haven't mentioned the PO. But in reality, that's all I've talked about: this whole process makes me particularly sensitive to the choice of this watch. I'm omitting several fundamental steps, but let's move on! My aesthetic tastes haven't changed, nor the purpose a watch should fulfill. However, they are now more assertive, and my budget is a little more flexible. I want a more rugged, more masculine, more toolwatch-like watch, but with details that exude understated luxury. This time, I'm ready to buy a Planet Ocean. But which one? The classic blue or black models are sublime, but too "shiny." After testing them in 2024, I discarded them. And then, I came across a new gray Planet Ocean, which I tried on in a store: absolute love at first sight. – The modernity of the caliber 8900, the ability to see the mechanism and the anchor – The Omega seahorse on the transparent caseback, a strong aesthetic choice that preserves transparency while affirming the watch's symbolic identity – The rubber strap: exceptional. No discomfort like on the Diver 300 as soon as the heat rises. Precise fit, flexibility, comfort: a real change. – Aesthetically, this strap is very successful. Its textured appearance is sophisticated without sacrificing its sporty look. The stitching is reminiscent of vegetable-tanned leather straps, in keeping with my style. This was clearly an upgrade from the Casino Royale PO, whose strap seemed a bit cheap, too sporty, and therefore less versatile. The folding clasp reinforces this premium feel, a far cry from the pin buckle that reminds me of my high school Casios, haha. – This strap also softens the lines of the case. On steel, the PO seems a bit too angular. With the rubber, the transition is smooth and aesthetically pleasing. It also visually and physically lightens the watch, further enhancing its comfort. – No zirconium dioxide dial here, so no "ZrO2" label. The sandblasted "gunmetal" gray galvanized dial gives it a rawer, more toolwatch-like appearance. – The satin finishes offer a premium presence without the bling. Depending on the lighting, it sometimes reveals its luxury side, sometimes its rugged tool character. At certain moments, thanks to the beige indexes that catch the light, the gray of the dial takes on a sepia tint. When it reveals its toolwatch side, it has a real Casino Royale aura! It's not a copy of the one in the film, but it pays homage to it in its own way. Furthermore, despite the symbolic power of the film's PO, I find it dated, too expensive, too big with its 45.5mm dial (43.5mm is already my limit for a 17-18cm wrist), and unreliable for everyday use. – The helium escape valve, to accentuate its adventure watch DNA. – 60-hour power reserve: truly comfortable. – Its thickness: it works well on my size. I love the way the bezel "rests" on the dial. This creates a complex, rather than simplistic, visual architecture. – It matches perfectly with my workwear/heritage/military style. Just imagine it on Havana brown leather or beige canvas to see its full potential. – And this gray... much easier to integrate than blue (often too contrasting) or black (too neutral). I hope that my review, despite its length, hasn't left you wanting more, because I feel like I haven't said everything! Today, after more than a month of wearing it, I am still discovering new aesthetic facets. My passion for this watch continues to grow. When boredom or weariness creep into my daily life, I sometimes do a simple thing: watch the seconds hand turn. It is an act of meditation that brings me back to the present moment, but not only that. It reminds me of my journey since discovering Omega and Casino Royale. It also reminds me how much I have evolved since purchasing my Diver 300, both personally and professionally. This PO is the symbol of that. It reminds me of something else: I don't know if the best is yet to come, but like Craig in the film, you have to keep moving forward, adventuring, evolving and exploring... in style, if possible. :)