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The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Chronograph, $8,200

Depth Chargers

by Laurie Kahle | Manhattan magazine | December 22, 2011

Most dive watches never actually touch neoprene, but that didn’t stop Omega from outfitting its newly revamped Seamaster Planet Ocean line with unidirectional rotating bezels, helium escape valves, luminous hands and water resistance down to a bone-crushing 2,000 feet. Make no mistake: Despite all the substance, this is a style statement. “These are dive watches you can wear with a suit—it’s a connotation of a lifestyle,” explains brand president Stephen Urquhart. Of course, Omega’s engineering has a look unto itself. The company’s patented Liquidmetal treatment of the bezels on some models creates a colorful aesthetic of super-hard glossy ceramic infused with satin-finish alloy numbers and indexes. And the Planet Ocean watches flaunt their mechanical mastery via a sapphire crystal case back, which is an unusual feature on a device that can withstand the pressures of a 600-meter dive, an admittedly unlikely feat. “It’s a look,” says Urquhart. “Nobody is going to buy these watches just for diving.” Indeed, why would they?