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Why are there so many Seamaster dissimilar watches

Seabreeze
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I am starting to really appreciate this brand, but one thing I don't get is why there are so many models called Seamaster. I get slightly different variations, but a dress watch on a strap and a tool dive watch in the same years period? Not to mention the sub categories. would love to know abit more.
 
gbesq
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Like they say, variety is the spice of life. The Seamaster line is very broad and the vintage offerings even more so.
 
Donn Chambers
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Seabreeze Seabreeze
I am starting to really appreciate this brand, but one thing I don't get is why there are so many models called Seamaster. I get slightly different variations, but a dress watch on a strap and a tool dive watch in the same years period? Not to mention the sub categories. would love to know abit more.

Consider Rolex, then. Most of their models are in the “Oyster Perpetual” line: you’ve got the “Oyster Perpetual Submariner”, Oyster Perpetual Explorer, etc. people tend to drop the “Oyster Perpetual” in lieu of the secondary name, but that doesn’t mean they don’t all belong to the main Oyster Perpetual line.

Is Omega really that different having multiple Seamaster models?
 
Annapolis
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I do know what you mean—and the Oyster Perpetual analog is a good way to think of it, IMO.

I wouldn’t think of “Seamaster” as a particular model or line: more as an emphasis that governs several subordinate lines. Models under the Seamaster label are going to emphasize water resistance. That was true of those early dressy models; it’s true now. (And it’s the same concept with the Oyster case at Rolex; Oyster means a water resistant case, perpetual just means it’s an automatic.)

This is how I think about it, anyway. Not sure if it follows Omega orthodoxy. It helps to explain what a 300m diver has to do with an Aqua Terra, or a Bullhead, or a 1965 135.011…
 
STANDY
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Don't forget “tool watch Seamaster” was a new thing in the Seamaster line.

Seamaster dress watch (what we call them now) were actually a water resistant everyday watch for people in the past.

If you get into the history of dive watches rabbit hole it was a explosion of tool watches after the mid 50s that were made famous by the likes of Jacques-Yves Cousteau
 
Tekashi_145.022
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Donn Chambers Donn Chambers
Consider Rolex, then. Most of their models are in the “Oyster Perpetual” line: you’ve got the “Oyster Perpetual Submariner”, Oyster Perpetual Explorer, etc. people tend to drop the “Oyster Perpetual” in lieu of the secondary name, but that doesn’t mean they don’t all belong to the main Oyster Perpetual line.

Is Omega really that different having multiple Seamaster models?

I share the same perspective, but I do wish Omega had sub-models for the Seamaster model. For instance, the Seamaster 300 and Seamaster 300M are completely different watches - but each has a storied history spanning generations of distinctive references.

Compare that to Rolex: in the dive watch category alone, Rolex has the Oyster Perpetual Submariner, the Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller, the Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Sea-Dweller… then there’s the Oyster Perpetual Explorer, Oyster Perpetual Explorer II, etc. Although it’s not a perfect taxonomy and not without its inconsistencies, I think Rolex’s effort in this respect helps tell its brand’s innovations and story by making its designs easy to talk about and reference.
 
DenisChalandier
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With time, the name Seamaster becamed a sub brand. It's not a particular watch for a long time now. When you say Seamaster you don't even have to say Omega first.

No one really says OP Sub. But Rolex is pretty much selling the same watches for 70 years now. It can't be compared. They don't need sub brands, they have real new watches every 50 years or so. A strenght in a way.
 
Dan S
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I think Oyster perpetual is different than Seamaster. Seamaster is basically just a model name, that has been expanded over the years to encompass a large range of models, not for any good reason but because it’s popular and it sells. Yes it had to do with water resistance originally but not any particular technology.

in contrast, oyster perpetual has a more specific meaning and the words are providing information about the nature of the case sealing technology and the type of movement.
 
PandaSPUR
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Consider each line as a category.

Seamaster = Dive watches
Speedmaster = Chronograph sport watches
De Ville = Dress watches
Constellation = Sport watches

There are overlaps (like Seamaster chronos or Seamasters that can be dressy) but the above list is what I see as the primary focus of each line.
 
jjen
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I don’t think Omega is as consistent as Rolex. But originally Seamaster was like “Oyster perpetual” but later became “dive watch or something along those lines.” I believe the OG was more water resistant than its contemporaries based on WWII military watch tech and specs. Constellation meant chronometer but now they’re all mostly chronometers and so on
 
Fish70
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Seabreeze Seabreeze
I am starting to really appreciate this brand, but one thing I don't get is why there are so many models called Seamaster. I get slightly different variations, but a dress watch on a strap and a tool dive watch in the same years period? Not to mention the sub categories. would love to know abit more.

Wait until you find out the Speedmaster is a Seamaster!

20240123_131959.jpg 20220123_131227.jpg
 
josiahg52
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SM300 - look like SM divers of the past

SMP - a capable diver for all professional diving pursuits but prettier now

SMPPO or SMPO - capable pro diver that is larger, goes deeper, and is different than the SMP

SMAT - hearkens back to the OG SMs

SMPPOUD or SMUD - capable pro diver, similar to the PO but even larger and can go deeper
 
M
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I somewhat agree with you, but I also think Omega has done a great job in the last 5-ish years to streamline its catalogue into the four main categories. Approx. 10 years ago, there were so many different categories, model variations, etc. that their website was extremely confusing and difficult to navigate.

I think the biggest problem right now is the similarity of the "Seamaster 300" and "Seamaster Diver 300m" names. At least the website sorts them into different categories now though.
 
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