Brave explorers. Meaningful partnerships. Classic, purposeful tool watches with interesting design flourishes. These were the core values that first endeared me to Omega as a brand many years ago, so Ill be the first to admit its pretty cool to see the new Seamaster Diver 300m Nekton Edition adopt a similar nostalgic ethos, despite being quite modern and dripping with all the latest Omega technologies. Its a return to form of sorts for the Biel manufacture - one thats practical, charitable, and admittedly much less flashy than last summers record-breaking Planet Ocean Ultra Deep, though no less impactful, as the Nekton organizations mission is to achieve protected status for at least 30% of the worlds oceans by 2030. For context, only 8% of the ocean is in any kind of marine-protected area, which means this is a bold vision but one that benefits directly from Omegas involvement in the project, providing funding through sales of these Seamaster watches and driving general awareness from its own platform - a noble cause, indeed.If your nostalgia bone is tingling, your instincts arent wrong - this new Seamaster looks a lot like several relief-bezel variants from Omegas catalog in the mid-90s and early aughts, most notably, the original Seamaster 300 ref. 2533.50 Americas Cup with its textured white-gold relief bezel. What made that reference, in particular, special was that it was produced in 1995 for legendary yachtsman and explorer Peter Blake, a two-time Americas Cup champion, a passionate advocate of ocean conservation, and a longtime friend of Omega. But the hat-tip to Blakes legacy of exploration (the skipper tragically perished in 2001 while on an environmental exploration trip in Brazil) in this new reference is twofold - more on that in a moment. Skipper Peter Blake on the deck of his research vessel SeamasterThe new Nekton Edition joins current 8800-series Seamaster Diver 300m stablemates that have enjoyed immense success since their release at Baselworld in 2018. Just like those references, this new stainless steel edition exhibits the Seamaster 300s maxi-sized hour markers, skeletonized sword hands, a conical helium release valve at 10 oclock, and a laser-engraved ceramic dial. Unique to this reference is its unidirectional rotating bezel, which is now rendered in grade 5 titanium and finished with a laser-ablated diving scale, lending a neat high-tech twist to the traditional engraved dive bezel that weve seen before from omega, Blancpain, Chopard, and more recently, Oris.Specifications:Brand: OmegaModel: Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton EditionDimensions: 42mmWater Resistance: 300 metersCase Material: stainless SteelCrystal/Lens: sapphireMovement: Omega Calibre 8806 (Co-Axial automatic, time-only / no-date)Frequency: 25,200 VpHPower Reserve: 55 hoursStrap/Bracelet: stainless steel bracelet or integrated rubber strapPrice Availability: $5,850 USD on strap, $6,150 USD on braceletPartnership story aside, dive watch fans ought to really appreciate this Seamaster for three key reasons: Not only is it a pared-back no-date reference (powered by Omegas Co-Axial 8806 movement), its also built around a 42mm case - a modern combination that had previously only been done in a pair of considerably more expensive references: 2018s Sedna-titanium-tantalum Limited Edition (a veritable menage trois of exotic metals), and this years No Time to Die Seamaster, a watch built for the latest Bond film, which has still sadly not yet hit theaters. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for classic Seamaster purists, this new reference has a closed caseback with a richly detailed engraving of the Seamaster 2 submersible (whose uniform orientation is preserved by the casebacks Naiad lock), a detail that to me, feels in-line with all the Seamasters of the 90s and early aughts, which usually bore the Seamasters now-iconic hippocampus engraving. But its not just any submarine on the caseback: This is the Seamaster 2 (a name paying homage to the late Peter Blakes research vessel, also called the Seamaster), a nimble, two-person research submersible manufactured by Triton Submarines - the same firm that built Victor Vescovos record-breaking Limiting Factor for last years historic stroll along the Marianas Trench. Like the Seamaster Diver watch which bears its engraving, the Seamaster 2 submersible has a maximum working depth of 300 meters and is characterized by a large front claw and its acrylic cockpit dome, granting its occupants an impressive field of view while underwater. Whats less apparent from the engraving on the caseback is the submersibles array of high-definition cameras and sensors, enabling the team to take photos, collect soil and water samples, and even livestream their expeditions straight from the ocean floor, thanks to a state-of-the-art wireless underwater optical communications system. What a time to be alive, indeed.Youve probably heard the fact before, but it bears repeating: We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about our own oceans. In fact, more than 80% of the worlds oceans are entirely unmapped and unexplored, but revolutionary new submersible designs from manufacturers like Triton are helping usher in an entirely new wave of undersea exploration and, consequently, conservation as well. Whats unique about Nektons mission is that the organization is working on behalf of oceanic nations to launch first-descent expeditions (the current expedition nation is India, and the surrounding Indian Ocean) which aim to improve the prosperity and sustainable governance of these respective oceanic zones. Throughout 2019 and 2020, each Nekton mission is developed in collaboration with respective host nations that will ultimately own, vest, and then share any findings. The more we can understand about our own oceans and the more knowledge that can be shared between nations, the more we stand a chance at preserving our planets most vital resource. After all, No blue, no green. No water, no life.?With delivery slated for Fall of this year, dive watch fans and ocean explorers, alike, wont have to wait too long for this new Seamaster Diver 300m Nekton Edition to land in-store and online. Pricing for the rubber strap variant begins at $5,850 and jumps to $6,150 for the bracelet. Learn more about all of Omegas current Seamaster offerings at omegawatches.com. [...]