Ask a watch collector about the most iconic Omega watch models, and their immediate answers will be the Speedmaster and Seamaster. This would probably be followed by a pause, after which the Constellation and De Ville would perhaps enter the conversation. The Speedmaster obviously has the best watch story of all time: humankind setting foot on the Moon. And the Seamaster Professional 300M Diver is the watch associated with James Bond. But as most of you probably also know, the Seamaster collection is a lot more extensive than what’s on 007’s wrist. That’s why we want to take a look at five of the most collectible Omega watches that carry the Seamaster name. You might be in for a surprise or two.
1. Omega Seamaster Olympic Official Timekeeper Limited Edition
Omega is also the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games. With the Beijing Winter Olympics winding down, we’ve seen quite a bit from Omega. But did you know Omega created a special Seamaster Olympic Official Timekeeper? You might think the Seamaster is all about diving watches, right? Well, this is something different.
The Seamaster Official Timekeeper comes in two different editions. The first is a limited-edition box set containing five unique stainless steel Seamaster watches in the colors of the Olympic rings, with clean white dials and details on their dials and leather straps. Omega produced only 100 of these box sets in 2018. They tell the story of the Olympic Games from Los Angeles 1932 to Los Angeles 2028. A few of them are out there for sale, starting at about $30,000.
If that’s a bit steep for you, Omega also produced the same watch with a black and white dial and details and leather straps in the colors of the Olympic rings. The brand made 2,032 pieces of each color for the Official Timekeeper Limited Edition. The inspiration behind the designs of these watches comes from stopwatches used at past Olympics, most notably the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. These sporty 39.5-mm watches get their power from Omega’s caliber 8806 and look great on their leather straps. While these watches did not sell out immediately upon release, they probably will become increasingly popular over time and a perfect storyteller for Omega’s partnership with the Olympic Games.
2. Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition Ref. 233.32.41.21.01.001
The next collectible Seamaster is the Omega Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition, released in celebration of the James Bond film Spectre in 2015. Omega produced 7,007 pieces of this amazing limited edition. It is based on the vintage-inspired Omega Seamaster 300 instead of the Seamaster Professional 300M Diver that Pierce Brosnan wore as James Bond. The watch has a few unique features that make it even more attractive than the regular model.
First, the watch features a 12-hour bezel instead of the regular diving bezel. Omega also reintroduced the lollipop hand for this model – something you will also find on the current Seamaster 300. The watch comes on a special NATO strap, with “007” engraved on the strap holder. Another unique detail is that this was the first time that 007 wore a limited-edition release in the actual Bond movie itself. Before this, he wore a regular production model. The Seamaster 300 “Spectre” is a very popular, very well-executed timepiece and highly coveted among collectors. Expect to see prices of between roughly $10,000 and $13,000 on Chrono24. And these prices will probably only go up over time.
3. Omega Seamaster 300 The 1957 Trilogy Limited Edition Ref. 234.10.39.20.01.001
Let’s stay with the Omega Seamaster 300. In 2017, Omega celebrated the 60th anniversary of their famous trilogy of the Speedmaster, Seamaster, and Railmaster from 1957. To honor these historical timepieces, Omega unveiled modern reissues of the original watches, along with a special limited-edition box set. We’ll be focusing on the limited-edition Omega Seamaster 300 inspired by the original Omega Seamaster CK2913 and produced in a limited run of 3,557 pieces.
The Omega “Trilogy” Seamaster is slightly smaller at 39 mm compared to the 41 mm of the current Omega Seamaster 300. The watch also features the brilliant vintage-inspired bezel and a beautiful black “tropical” dial. Omega equips this watch with the Master Chronometer caliber 8806. It’s the perfect tribute to the original timepiece from the 1950s, combining the original design with modern technology. All of the pieces sold out quickly, so be prepared prices for them to start at about $6,000 on Chrono24, and expect them to increase further as more and more people come to appreciate the brilliance of this model.
4. Omega Seamaster Professional Ploprof 1200M Ref. 224.30.55.21.01.001
Next up is a watch that we all know as the Omega Ploprof, an instantly recognizable part of the Seamaster collection. Omega introduced the Seamaster Professional Ploprof 1200M in 2009. The original Omega Seamaster 600 Ploprof inspired this Omega watch for professional divers working at great underwater depths. “Ploprof” is an abbreviation of the French plongeur professionnel or “professional diver” in English.
When Omega re-introduced the Ploprof in 2009, the watchmaker essentially released a modern and better version of the original timepiece from the late 1960s. It features a unique case design that measures a whopping 55 mm x 48 mm x 17.5 mm and weighs nearly 280 grams. While a large watch, it’s also an amazing one if you can pull off wearing it. Along with its angular case, the watch comes on a special shark mesh bracelet that perfectly balances the timepiece on the wrist. Omega discontinued the steel version of the Ploprof two years ago, and the brand currently only offers the titanium version. For me, the steel version is the only way to go, something watch collectors have also recognized. Prices for the Omega Seamaster Professional Ploprof 1200M fall between $7,500 and $10,000. Don’t be surprised to see these prices go up as long as there is no follow-up to this masterpiece.
5. Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Ref. 2531.80.00
The final watch on our list is the famous Omega Seamaster Bond that Pierce Brosnan wore in Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. The self-winding Omega Seamaster Professional 300M ref. 2531.80.00 replaced the quartz version of Brosnan’s same watch in GoldenEye, his first Bond film. The blue Omega Seamaster Professional 300M has become an icon for the brand because of Bond. The partnership with the film franchise was a masterstroke by watch industry titan Jean-Claude Biver, who worked at Omega at the time; it continues to be a very successful partnership for the watchmaker.
The Omega Seamaster Professional 300M ref. 2531.80.00 has always been popular with Omega fans. It was not a limited edition and, thus, was produced in large numbers, making it reasonably affordable. Over time, however, we have seen a gradual rise in price for this icon. Depending on the watch’s condition, you purchase one on CHrono24 for between $3,000 and $5,000. As it has become a classic over time, expect to see more and more collectors wanting to add one to their collection, with prices rising accordingly. If you want to buy one of Omega’s most popular and iconic watches, don’t hesitate for too long with this model.
There you have it: a list of five collectible Omega Seamaster models that will probably become more and more coveted by collectors. As you can see, there’s plenty of diversity within the Seamaster line, making it easy to find something you’ll love. This leaves me nothing more to say than, “Happy hunting!”
