A reliable underwater watch is one of the necessary pieces of equipment a professional diver needs in their arsenal.
This is one of the reasons why the Rolex Submariner and the Omega Seamaster are two of the most sought-after timepieces by professional divers.\
Is the Submariner and Omega Seamasters stiill used in diving?
Their quality, design, and functionality as a tool watch are all impeccable for a diver’s needs however as times have changed and the advancement in technology to computerized diving watches has made it safer and more reliable for divers needs.
Its retired the seamaster and the submariner from real world commercial diving settings where they were used to keep track of dive time as it was crual for the safety and wellbeing of the divers going to new depths.
Diving computers have come along way since the use of automatic diving watches to using important technology that that informs the diver on all sorts of important information about the progress of the dive such as:
- Depth gauges
- Air supply meters
- GPS and more
From tool watch to luxury
Technology aside, these two iconic watches are appreciated on a new level of higher luxury time pieces that people collect and enjoy.
And its for good reason because of their build quality and attention to detail in the manufacture and longgevity that allow them to be passed down from generation to generartion as a family air-loom.
But which is better?
A closer look will reveal how much these two watches from different brands have almost similar features.
Both even share the same fame of being used in several James Bond movies.
This guide will help you decide which of the two is better suited to your taste.
The Rolex Submariner
The Submariner needs no introduction as it’s one of the most prominent watches ever made.
First introduced in the 1950s, it became one of the few watches that can be submerged underwater up to a depth of 100 meters.
It was later updated to improve its underwater capabilities and became instrumental in the development of Rolex watches like the Sea-Dweller and the creation of the helium valve release mechanism.
Pros:
- Brand is more prestigious, and the watch has a higher resale value
- Bracelet snuggly fits the wrist
- Efficiently applied anti-reflective coating
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 300 meters
Cons:
- Limited style options
- More expensive than the Seamaster for almost the same features
- Have a lot of imitations
The Omega Seamaster
The Seamaster is often dubbed as the “James Bond watch” as various models from the collection were used in different James Bond movies.
But before the Seamaster became a wide success, it was first designed as a waterproof watch to be used by the British military during the Second World War.
Later on, the Seamaster was developed to cater to both casual and professional customers who need a watch that can withstand extreme water pressures.
Pros:
- Presents a wide variety of designs and colors
- Excellent lume brightness that makes the watch highly legible underwater
- Has a helium escape valve
- More affordable than the Submariner
- Has a magnetic resistance of up to 15,000 Gauss
- Power reserve of up to 55 hours
- Water-resistant up to 300 meters
Cons:
- Less luxurious brand compared to the Rolex name
- Bezel can be hard to rotate at times
- Anti-reflective coating is on the outside of the crystal, making it more prone to scratches
- Small date window
Head-to-Head: Seamaster vs Submariner
Comparing the features of these two sports watches will help you decide which is better for your preference.
We’ll be using the Seamaster 210.30.42.20.01.001 and the Submariner 114060 in this comparison.
Case
Both the Seamaster and the Submariner have stainless steel cases, solid case backs, and scratch-resistant sapphire crystals.
The Seamaster is a bit bigger with its 42mm diameter and 13.7mm thickness.
It has a helium escape valve at the 10 o’clock position.
On the other hand, the Submariner measures 40mm in diameter and is 12.5mm thick.
Bezel
The Seamaster has a ribbed, unidirectional rotating bezel with satin-finished Arabic numeral and index minute markers.
Its brushed steel build is filled with a black ceramic insert and has a luminous pip at the 12 o’clock position.
The Submariner’s ribbed bezel is made of polished steel with a black “Cerachrom” insert.
Rolex claims the bezel material is scratch and corrosion-resistant.
The mix of Arabic numeral and index minute markers also won’t fade even when exposed to UV rays.
Crown
Both the Seamaster and the Submariner feature a screw-down crown for improved water resistance.
Dial
The Seamaster’s dial features a wavy pattern that suits well with the timepiece’s purpose as an underwater watch.
The dial has index hour markers and a small date window at the 6 o’clock position.
Both the markers and the rhodium-plated hands are covered with luminescent material.
The Submariner features circular index hour markers and sword-shaped hands with the infamous Mercedes logo.
The 11460 model doesn’t have a date window, although there are variants with a Cyclops date window at the 3 o’clock position.
Either way, the Submariner is highly legible because of the simple watch face design.
Both the hands and the markers are coated with lume to increase visibility underwater and at night.
Movement
The Seamaster utilizes the Omega caliber 8800 which has an improved co-axial escapement mechanism for better reliability and durability.
It’s also magnetic-resistant up to 15,000 Gauss.
The Seamaster’s COSC-certified chronometer has an impressive accuracy of -0/+5 seconds per day.
It also has a large power reserve of up to 55 hours.
On the other hand, the Rolex Submariner has a caliber 3130 COSC-certified chronometer.
It has an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day and a power reserve of up to 48 hours.
Strap
Both diver watches feature stainless steel bracelets with different clasp mechanisms.
The Seamaster has a push-button folding clasp, while the Submariner has a folding clasp with a safety latch.
Water Resistance
Both the Omega Seamaster and Rolex Submariner diver watches have a water resistance rating of 300 meters.
Price
The Submariner is priced at $10,500, while the Seamaster is priced at $4,300 only.
Conclusion
When you consider the features, there’s not much difference between the Submariner and the Seamaster.
The only differences to consider when choosing between the two are the brand and the design options.
If the price is your priority, the Seamaster is the definite choice.
However, if you give more importance to prestige and investment opportunities, the Submariner may be the better option between the two.
