Omega Seamaster 300 Co-Axial Long-Term Watch Review - 233.30.41.21.01.001

StrapHabit readers: After reviewing StrapHabit's Men Wear Pink and FKM Ribbed Pass-Through straps for the WatchClicker website, contributor Furry Wrist Abroad graciously wrote a few guest posts for the StrapHabit blog. You'll find one them below that I think you'll enjoy!

-Nick

 

Dear readers,

Due to the release of the Omega x Swatch Moonswatch not too long ago, there has been a quiet but gradual rise of interest in used Omega watches from the general public. StrapHabit offers some of the best options for MoonSwatches on the market, and many of you come here as a result in search of better straps for these popular watches. These two articles focus on two popular models, the Seamaster and Speedmaster, and will offer you a brief guide as to what you can expect and what to potentially look for when shopping for a pre-owned Omega. 

Introduction:

2014 was an impactful year for watch releases. Omega was on a roll, releasing the Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial, the first iteration of the Trésor, and the second coming of the Speedmaster Mark II. Tudor was set for its North American comeback with its modern Ranger. There was a lot of noise in the industry about the new use of coloured luminescent paint that echoed vintage watches from many brands, including Jaeger-LeCoultre. 2014 set forth a set of features that soon became precedents during an era in which the watch industry was about to face its biggest challenge since the quartz crisis – the smartwatch.

I was in the market for a Submariner when this Seamaster was announced during the now-extinct Basel World Fair. After I tried on the Rolex at a local authorized dealer, and yes, back then, you could walk in and buy a steel Rolex model without any issue and even negotiate the price, I decided that the Submariner was not for me. I waited to try on the 300, and ten years and several dozen monumental dives later, I am very glad I did. 

First Impressions:

The first time I tried on the Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial, something strange happened that has not occurred since. The watch seemingly snapped into place on my wrist. The 41mm case, 21mm bracelet width, and the polished elements all simply made sense on my wrist. The 48mm lug-to-lug distance was perfect, as were the extra two millimetres from the male end links. The vintage-inspired coloured lume made it more versatile than my Speedmaster Professional, for it immediately complimented a third of my wardrobe, which leaned towards shades of brown. Its dress-diver aesthetics made it the perfect candidate for the boardroom and the weekends when it saw duty at dive sites.

Watch, Bracelet and Movement Details:

Watch and car enthusiast circles, which mostly have their opinions fuelled by articles often written by other enthusiasts rather than first-hand experiences, have a history of creating unfair and uninformed opinions about products. For this particular model, the luminescent paint and the polished centre links were criticized for not adhering to some pure notion of how the watch should have been made. In practice, the colour of the lume was appreciated. All of the polished elements of the watch do have a lot of scars and scratches on them, but these do not detract from how good the watch looks now. I have had many “non-watch people” make unsolicited compliments on the watch and how wonderful it looked directly due to its cosmetic damage. As a tool watch, its polished surfaces never created an obstacle either.

The sandwich dial was so well-received on this model that on its successor, Omega doubled down on this design choice and moved the numerals onto the lower dial instead of being printed as in the model here. The sandblasted grey dial is still a constant source of delight and is the main contributor to the subtle yet timeless character of this watch.

My particular Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial was an early production unit during a phase in which Omega was in the process of moving its operations into the new behemoth manufacturing facility they are using today. As a result, some minor details suffered on my example, but they were all addressed and fixed after its first service after three years of being worn on a daily basis. I have come across many others who own this model, and none of them experienced any of the issues I did - the following is a testament to how good the service is from Swatch Group, and why you should never skimp on getting your watch serviced properly and by an Omega licensed watchmaker.

The first was that the ceramic bezel started disintegrating after a series of dives in polluted waters. Without hesitation, Swatch Group Canada replaced the bezel free of charge. Seven years later the bezel remains flawless, save for a couple of hairline scratches that are very hard to see. Watch brands advertise their ceramic compounds as being scratch-proof when, in reality, they are merely more scratch-resistant than their counterparts, such as aluminum or steel. If you are looking at pre-owned examples, check to see if the bezel looks clean, for you may be looking at another early example if it is not.

Second, the crown on my watch started coming loose on multi-level dives from the compression and expansion of my wetsuits. This was also addressed in the first service, and the crown has performed admirably ever since.

Third, the movement was never quite “right” from the factory, as by the third year, it started to exhibit some irregularities with its timekeeping. Six years after its initial service, and many hundreds of hard-worn hours later, the movement still runs within 0 to +2 seconds a day. The calibre 8400 in this watch, just like the 9300 and 8900 series, have all been remarkable movements and are definitely a central selling point for Omega.

My only advice to those of you who are looking to buy a pre-owned Omega with a Co-Axial movement is to make sure that it was serviced by Swatch Group or an Omega-licenced watchmaker.

Wearing Experience Over the Long Term:

Omega has several Seamaster model lines, and this heritage-based 300 series sits between the more formal sports watch series, the Seamaster Aqua Terra, and the more tool-watch-oriented Seamaster 300 Professional. Above that, Omega also has its excellent Seamaster Planet Ocean series. The mission of the Seamaster 300 is to perform equally well in formal settings with a suit and within sporting environments, such as with a drysuit, while navigating near-freezing waters 100 feet below the surface during a dive.

This versatility makes this model a perfect watch to wear several straps with. Over the years, I have used curved 21mm spring bars to slip on 22mm pass-through straps. From experience, with a small collection of straps, it will be very easy to adapt and wear this watch to every occasion. If you are looking to maximize your dollar-value ratio, then a used Seamaster 300 will do this, for it can be on your wrist at all times and never look out of place.

If you do this, you will encounter small surprises about this watch over time. These would be the beautifully lacquered white seconds hand, which offers greater at-a-glance legibility on land and while at depth. The sandblasted ceramic dial will continue to surprise you as it seemingly changes personality from time to time. And the movements’ reliability, once dialled in, will make you consider never wearing a quartz watch or a smartwatch again.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, this is what makes a luxury timepiece purchase make sense. If serviced, it stays with you for a lifetime, and it never ceases to be a source of joy. For those of you who are looking for a versatile and highly water-resistant Omega as your first luxury watch, the Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial is probably the best place to start. If you manage to find a good example, it will prove to be a reliable and constant partner in all of your journeys moving forward – as it has for me.

Omega Seamaster 300 Specifications: 

Name: Omega Seamaster 300
Reference Number: 233.30.41.21.01.001
MSRP: $6,800 (no longer available)
Diameter: 41mm
Height: 48.0mm
Thickness: 14.7mm
Lug Width: 21mm
Weight: 175g
Movement: Omega 8400
Water Resistance: 300m
Crystal: Domed sapphire with anti-reflective treatment inside
Crown:  Screw-down
Bezel: Uni-directional, ceramic insert
Bracelet: Stainless steel