Ever since Omega introduced the Seamaster 600 in 1970, it has been heralded as the most robust and seaworthy divers watch ever made.  So fascinated with this watch are its owners that the model even has its own fan sites and owner’s clubs.  That may explain why the latest watches in the Seamaster collection are garnering so much attention.

The Seamaster soon became known as the “Ploprof” within professional diving circles, which is based on the first three letters of the French words for professional divers – “plongeurs professionals”.  The new Co-Axial 8500 Seamaster watches are known as the Ploprof 1200M, which is water resistant up to an amazing 1200 meters, or 4000 feet.

Fans of the original Ploprof watches are familiar with the features that made the original version so memorable, including the screwed-in crown that is located below a protective buffer at 9 o’clock, and the bezel-release security pusher with its anodized aluminum ring at the 2 o’clock position.  The pusher can be pressed during a dive, which will ensure that the bezel is locked firmly.  At the 4 o’clock position, the automatic helium escape valve releases helium atoms during decompression.

Clearly the Ploprof 1200M is a prime example of why Omega watches are considered “serious diver’s watches”, and it will surely become a collector’s item that can be worn with or without a wetsuit.