Hands-On With The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold “GoldenEye”

I bought my first Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in 2000 when I was still a student (with a job). It was — and still is — a remarkable watch, and Omega didn’t use inspiration from any vintage models when designing and developing it. Omega created the Seamaster Diver 300M from scratch in the early 1990s when the watch industry was not doing well. The Seamaster Diver 300M and the Constellation ’95 were Omega’s bread-and-butter pieces for a long time.

Daniel Craig and Omega spilling the beans (again)

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M references are usually in the catalog for a long time, with no expiration date in sight. It wasn’t until 2006 that Omega updated the Seamaster Diver 300M with a new movement and slight visual changes to the dial. The next big update was in 2011 when the Omega removed the wave pattern from the dial and added a ceramic bezel insert. The current generation of Seamaster Diver 300M models debuted about seven years ago in 2018.

Last December, Omega introduced several new variations of the Diver 300M, including one with a smaller wave pattern, another with a brushed steel dial, and yet another in titanium and the brand’s proprietary Bronze Gold. Omega already spilled the beans by showing the full-gold-looking Seamaster Diver 300M on the wrist of actor Daniel Craig during the Governors Awards in Los Angeles last November. As always, nothing happens unplanned, and this marketing trick had already proven to be a massive success with the white-dial Speedmaster Moonwatch.

Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold

The titanium and Bronze Gold version from last December was my favorite of the bunch, but I also knew that the watch I am looking at today would come out soon. In the leaked pictures, it looked incredibly handsome. The color combination reminded me of my 2019 Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary limited edition in Moonshine Gold. From my experience, gold and burgundy work so well together. However, in this case, it’s not Moonshine but Bronze Gold. This means that the percentage of gold in this alloy is relatively low at 37.5% (hence, the “Au375” stamp). The other parts of Omega’s Bronze Gold consist of copper, silver, gallium, and palladium. Using gold and palladium will ensure a lasting bronze hue without the heavy discoloration you will encounter with most bronze watches.

Last week, Omega finally introduced this long-teased Seamaster Diver 300M. Meanwhile, I have had the time to spend with it for this hands-on review. It has already been nicknamed “GoldenEye,” referring to the 30th anniversary of the movie in which James Bond wears the 300M for the first time. It’s also a nod to the use of (9K) gold, of course.

It’s not the first impression that counts

My first impression is that the color resembles Sedna Gold but is a bit redder. That’s logical since the Sedna Gold alloy contains twice as much gold. But without a Sedna Gold piece as a reference, you could mistake this for rose or red gold. The faux-patina lume and Bronze Gold work so well together that I am certain white Super-LumiNova would look out of place. We received the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on the black rubber strap, which makes for a more affordable ensemble than the version on a Bronze Gold bracelet.

The Seamaster Diver 300M ref. 210.92.42.20.01.003 I have here has a retail price of €15,400 (including 21% VAT) / CHF 13,200 (excluding VAT) / US$13,900 (excluding sales tax). Omega also has an 18K Sedna Gold version of the Seamaster Diver 300M (reference 210.62.42.20.01.002) on a rubber strap for €32,500 (including 21% VAT). Jorg shared all the details of this new Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Bold in our introduction article here, so if you’re looking for a rundown of the specifications, give that one a read.

The new 300M Bronze Gold on the wrist

When I wear the Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold, I notice it weighs less than my 18K gold watches. I checked the specifications of its steel and gold counterparts, and whereas this Bronze Gold watch weighs 122 grams, the steel version comes in at 119 grams, and the 18K gold one weighs 150 grams. For clarification, there are the weights of the versions that come with a rubber strap.

While the steel models and gold models display brushed and polished finishes, this new Bronze Gold case has only brushed surfaces. Omega also gave the sword hands a vertically brushed finish. The aluminum dial is matte, and the printing is light brown to match the faux-patina lume and Bronze Gold material. The dial of this watch, including the printing and the hands, reminds me of the Seamaster Diver 300M No Time To Die edition. Side note: did you know the first Omega watch with an aluminum dial was the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday II “Ultraman”? Well, if you didn’t, now you do!

Comfort

Before receiving this watch, I told myself I needed to look at it more like a bronze watch than a gold one. To my understanding, Omega introduced its Bronze Gold alloy to ensure the longevity of the bronze color. Unlike other bronze watches, it will not turn black or green over time. The first Omega watch made out of Bronze Gold was the Seamaster 300 in 2021, and several models followed suit. However, this watch has a different hue than “regular bronze” watches.

I know there are a few complaints here and there about the thickness of the Seamaster Diver 300M, but it never bothered me. It is the 300M bracelet that I usually don’t care for, but the rubber straps are incredibly comfortable and suit the watch perfectly. I liked the combination of Bronze Gold and black rubber even better than the all-Bronze Gold option. I have not seen the Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold on the mesh bracelet in real life, but I prefer the rubber both for its aesthetic and comfort. The rubber strap comes with an Omega-signed buckle in Bronze Gold.

Caliber 8806

Omega has put a transparent case back on this watch, allowing you to admire its 8806 movement. This is the same movement you’ll find in the recently released Diver 300M models and the NTTD. As always, METAS handled the Master Chronometer certification for this watch. We have covered the 8806 movement and Master Chronometer certification process several times here on Fratello, so I will refrain from repeating it here. This testing and certification also applies to its 300m water resistance rating, which Omega guarantees. You won’t find any polished surfaces on the case back either, by the way.

Some afterthoughts

Quite frankly, I was skeptical about this new Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold. For example, I wondered whether the case would look as red in person as in the press pictures. I wasn’t the only one in the Fratello office with these reservations. However, they all disappeared like snow in the sun as soon as we unboxed the watch. There was even a small queue of colleagues who wanted to try this new Seamaster Diver 300M. In reality, the watch is not too red and has the right amount of warmth. Indeed, it’s a very handsome watch.

Based on looks, I prefer this Bronze Gold version over the Sedna Gold one, which uses white Super-LumiNova and has a ceramic dial with a (big) wave pattern. The new Seamaster Diver 300M in Bronze Gold with a black rubber strap has just become my favorite version in the collection. As mentioned, the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Bronze Gold is also available with a matching mesh bracelet, which brings the price to €31,000 (including 21% VAT) / CHF 26,500 (excluding VAT) / US$27,900 (excluding sales tax). Alternatively, you could settle for a Sedna Gold Seamaster Diver 300M on a rubber strap for this amount.

What do you think of this watch? As always, we’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments section.