Contact [email protected] for pricing and availability; Either I have it, or I can get it! Omega vs. Breitling! Today on Versus, the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 212.30.41.20.03.001 challenges the Breitling SuperOcean II A17365C9/BD67/161A to a dive watch deep-dive in order to determine who makes the ultimate sub-$5,000 Swiss sports watch for aquatic activity. No Rolex Submariners allowed, this is Omega Seamaster vs. Breitling SuperOcean

The Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M 212.30.41.20.03.001 is a 2012 upgrade of the original SMP 300M made famous as the “James Bond” Omega of the Pierce Brosnan 007 years. More than a big-screen standout, the Seamaster Diver 300M was a landmark watch that helped the entire Omega watch brand recover from the compromises and humiliation of the Quartz Crisis years.

Today’s Seamaster Diver 300M features a 41mm stainless steel case, a unidirectional diving bezel with a ceramic insert bonded to Omega Liquidmetal calibrations, and a co-axial chronometer caliber 2500D. For the 2012 SMP 300M redesign, Omega added the ceramic bezel but discontinued the well-loved “Omega wave” Seamaster dial motif that had been a signature of this dive watch family sine 1993.

Additional changes came below the surface in the form of a COSC-certified chronometer caliber with a 48-hour power reserve, automatic winding, a tough free-sprung balance, the co-axial specific 25,200 beat rate, and the tri-level co-axial escapement developed for Omega’s rugged caliber 8500 movement family. 300-meter water resistance and a helium release valve remained standard; the diving clasp continued to feature a fold-out extension.

Breitling launched the SuperOcean 2 A17365C9/BD67/161A at Baselworld 2015 after the 2011 model spurred a backlash from brand devotees. The 2015 dial reverted to printed Arabic numerals arrayed in a “military dial” fashion with all hours indicated in 12-hour format outboard of a 24-hour scale. The stainless steel case measures 42mm in diameter, and at 13.4mm, this is one of the thinnest Breitling dive watches of the modern era. Breitling fits its Professional 3 dive bracelet with deployant clasp, but this system lacks the fold-out dive suit extension of the Omega.

Inside the satin-finished stainless steel case, the Breitling SuperOcean 2 42mm employs “Breitling Caliber 17,” an ETA 2824-2 in COSC-certified chronometer specification. Features include stop seconds, a quickset date, and a 38-hour power reserve energized by automatic winding. Although the Breitling SuperOcean lacks the Omega’s helium escape valve, the Breitling boasts a superior static depth rating of 500-meters. For additional toughness Breitling employs a “captive bezel” that is fixed to the case by screws rather than the less robust Omega’s snap-on bezel system. Moreover, Breitling employs a shatter-proof black rubber bezel insert in contrast to Omega’s ceramic insert.

Join Tim Mosso for an Omega Seamaster vs. Breitling SuperOcean dive watch comparison on thiswet and wild episode of Versus!