Birthday is meaningful to everyone. And watch brands love them as much as anyone – an excuse to celebrate, a hook for a fresh collection. The Omega replica have marked the 25th anniversary of the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M with a revamp. It was the SMP that kicked off the replica Omega’s relationship with the Bond franchise, becoming something of a late-1990s icon as Pierce Brosnan wore a series of tricked-out, which is the weapon of versions of the watch over the course of four movies.
The luxury Omega’s revamp of the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M, with 14 new variations – six in stainless steel and eight in steel-gold combos, three dial colors and a choice of rubber strap or steel bracelet – is about updated materials and mechanics instead of a major redesign. The case diameter has risen from 41mm to 42mm and the Seamaster’s distinctive cone-shaped crown for the helium escape valve sits at the 10 o’clock position. For the first time on a Seamaster Diver 300M, the case-back is sapphire crystal. 
The movement is Omega’s well-proven co-axial chronometer calibre 8800, which is METAS-certified for magnetic resistance to more than 15,000 gauss and has a 55-hour power reserve.
The rotating dive bezel is now made of ceramic and, on this blue version, has inlaid white enamel markers. On the dial – also ceramic – Omega have reintroduced the distinctive wave pattern of the early SMPs and moved the date window from the 3 o’clock position to 6 o’clock. The shape of the skeletonised hands is also strongly reminiscent of those on the original.
The two steel-on-steel models capture the feel and look of the original far more than the rest of the new line-up does; in black it’s classic and restrained while in blue it’s right on the nail. Nostalgia aside, the simplicity of the blue bezel-blue dial combo makes for a really clean and strong design – which is what we want in sports replica watches.
The glossy finish of the ceramic dial and the slightly wider laser-cut wave pattern look more assertive than on the earlier SMP models. Therefore, the effect is well balanced by strong but not overbearing indexes that are full of bright white SuperLuminova.
The increase in case size from 41mm to 42mm is barely discernible on the wrist and, with those nicely curving lugs and great weight distribution. The soft and fluid feel of the bracelet is an unexpected treat on a proper sports cheap replica watch
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