Is the Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M the Best Contemporary Seamaster?

By Brent Robillard

The Bond Connection

When I bought my neo-vintage Omega Seamaster Professional in 2024, it was already one of the most recognizable watches of the modern era. My reference 2531.80—the blue wave dial, skeleton hands, and helium escape valve proudly at ten o’clock—was the first Seamaster to appear on the wrist of James Bond (okay, okay, it was actually the quartz 2541.80). But that moment, in GoldenEye (1995), marked the beginning of a three-decade relationship between Omega and the Bond franchise. And it remains one of the most iconic brand–cinema partnerships in watchmaking.

Fast forward to 2025, and Omega’s Seamaster Diver 300M line is as strong as ever. However, its the newest black version—reference 210.30.42.20.01.010 on steel or 210.32.42.20.01.003 on rubber—that feels like a meaningful return to form. After several years of shiny ceramic bezels, glossy dials, and layered case finishing, this model dials the flash back just enough to reconnect with the original spirit of the Seamaster: a capable, good-looking, go-anywhere diver’s watch.

Dial close up of the Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on OEM stainless steel mesh — The Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M (210.30.42.20.01.010) @calibre321

A Subtle Evolution

At first glance, it’s unmistakably a modern Seamaster 300M—the scalloped bezel, lyre lugs, and skeletonized sword hands are all present and accounted for. But the details tell the story of restraint. Instead of polished ceramic, Omega has gone with a black oxalic anodized aluminum bezel insert. That single material choice makes an enormous difference. It softens the light, cuts the glare, and gives the watch a more grounded, almost vintage sensibility.

Pocket shot of the Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on OEM stainless steel mesh — The Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on OEM stainless steel mesh @calibre321

The dial, too, moves closer to the past. The familiar wave pattern returns in its “small-wave” form, laser-engraved into a black aluminium surface. It’s subtle and textural rather than loud and glossy. Rhodium-plated hands and applied markers, filled with crisp white Super-LumiNova, keep things legible under all conditions—while the printed Omega logo and dial text remind us that sometimes simplicity reads as confidence.

Inside, the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 keeps time with all the precision and reliability we’ve come to expect. It’s a METAS-certified movement with magnetic resistance to 15,000 gauss and a 55-hour power reserve—not overdone, just excellent.

Wrist check with the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on mesh bracelet — A return to tool watch roots @calibre321

Contemporary Competitors

Among Omega’s current Seamaster lineup, two other watches could reasonably contend for “best contemporary Seamaster”: the No Time To Die (NTTD) edition and the 60th Anniversary model.

The NTTD, worn by Daniel Craig in his final Bond outing, is a titanium marvel—lightweight, warm, and thoroughly cinematic. But its faux-military markings and movie tie-ins, while charming, make it feel more like a collectible than a pure daily driver.

“No Time To Die” Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition — NTTD Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition @dhareza.jpg

The 60th Anniversary Seamaster, meanwhile, is a beautifully executed tribute. Its nods to the 1957 original, but also to the Bond franchise, including the animation on the case back. It has a lovely sense of nostalgia. But it’s just that: a commemorative watch. The black Diver 300M, by contrast, is neither a movie prop nor a museum piece. It’s a Seamaster built for everyday life in 2025.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Co-axial Master Chronometer James Bond 60th Anniversary Edition — 60th Anniversary Omega Seamaster Diver 300M @calibre321

A Return to Tool Watch Roots

Despite its CA$9,300 price tag, the black Diver 300M feels closer to the utilitarian ethos that once defined the Seamaster Professional. There’s something about aluminium—its matte finish, its vulnerability to honest wear and patina—that makes this model feel human again. It’s less of a “luxury dive watch” and more of a companion.

It also happens to be a strap monster. The black dial and bezel work effortlessly on everything from canvas to sailcloth, from crocodile leather to NATO. On the brushed mesh bracelet, it channels a bit of vintage charm; on rubber, it’s a capable daily diver; and, yes, with a crisp dinner jacket, it can even sneak into black-tie territory.

Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M on a nylon NATO strap from RSM Straps — On a NATO strap from RSM Straps @calibre321

The Shape of an Icon

Few watches in modern times have managed to create an entirely new silhouette and see it become so emblematic. The lyre-lug Seamaster Diver 300M is one of them. Alongside the Speedmaster Professional, it’s the defining expression of Omega’s modern aesthetic—technical yet elegant, functional yet cinematic.

The black version strips the formula down to its essence. No limited-edition storyline, no commemorative engraving, no cinematic backstory. Just a brilliantly designed, beautifully built dive watch that knows exactly what it is.

And that, in my opinion, makes it the best contemporary Seamaster you can buy.