The year is 1970 and the world is captivated by the hippie movement, anti-war demonstrations are taking place in the USA, against the backdrop of which the Pentagon attacks Cambodia, in the USSR the production of the Zhiguli with the VAZ 2101 model (the so-called 'kopeyka') begins, and on the other side of the ocean, in response, the Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 and the Pontiac GTO Judge Ram are launched (it is not clear if these cars ever had the honor of meeting in a direct duel, but this omission by the two technical powers was filled by the many encounters of the F4 Phantom 2 with the MiG 21 – here, however, victory was far from being on Uncle Sam's side).
It was at this time that Omega took a very bold step with the launch of the Seamaster Professional 600 m, nicknamed the Ploprof. In our humble opinion, the design of this watch was conceived in some Minivan, to the songs of 'The Who' and Jimi Hendrix during Woodstock a year earlier – we know that none of Omega's designers will admit this fact, but at that time this design was so unusual, unlike any other and breaking all the rules in the conservative world of watchmaking, that there is simply no other explanation for its appearance – except that it was conceived with the help of a joint.
The watch, designed in collaboration with the French industrial diving company Comex, was intended for professional use: the name 'Ploprof' is an abbreviation of 'PLOngeurs PROfessionels' or professional divers. The watch very quickly became sought after not only by professionals, but also by enthusiasts and collectors, and the only reason it did not gain great popularity was that at the time of its launch it was quite expensive (about 2 times more expensive than a Rolex Submariner!).
An advertisement for the original Omega Ploprof reads: 'It may not look good on the surface, but deep underwater it is a real beauty' – a bold slogan, to say the least, right?
When I first saw this watch in person – I immediately thought of what this watch reminds me of. There are different designs – with watches, most are elegant, aristocratic, and clean, and with this they win their admirers. The design of this watch is rather muscular, rough, and exudes power – to me, it resembles my favorite Leatherman Surge, but most of all some armored fighting vehicle – a T-14 'Armata' or a 'Stryker'.
The new Ploprof, which debuted at Baselworld in 2009, is a worthy successor to its predecessor, but several differences become clear upon closer inspection. The presented model was launched in 2015 and has several very important improvements – first, of course, is the use of titanium, the interesting thing in this case is that the mesh bracelet is also made of this strong and light material (according to Omega, a first in the watchmaking industry). The second is the bezel – in this case, we return to a ceramic one (much more practical than the sapphire one in the previous version) and the third, of course, is that the case back is transparent, and thus we can enjoy the brand's new movement.
The nearly 5 mm thick sapphire provides sufficient pressure resistance on the front of the case, which allows the new Ploprof to withstand pressure equivalent to that measured at 1200 meters underwater. The new case architecture allows for the placement of the automatic helium valve (located on the underside of the orange bezel release button and marked with 'He' (helium). The case presents a unique combination of beveled and straight planes, with alternating polished and brushed surfaces.
The offered piece is on a titanium mesh with the unique diver's buckle – offered by Omega only on this model (the same for both the rubber and the mesh), and in addition, we also offer the special grey rubber strap for the model. There are 2 side buttons that allow the clasp to be easily opened, and a light press with the thumb allows the built-in mechanism to slide to a maximum extension of 26 mm. Then, after the clasp is closed, the strap can be adjusted to the required size in one-millimeter increments. There is also a so-called 'diver's extension,' which adds another 22 mm and folds under the clasp. Very well designed and with even better execution and appearance – and in addition, it is important to say that the clasp is made from a titanium block by milling, not by bending a metal sheet – this further guarantees the strength of both the grip and the buckle itself.
The movement provides new reasons for admiration – it is the new Omega Co-Axial – 8912, operating at a frequency unusual for other movements of 25,200 vibrations (3.5 Hz), with a power reserve of over 60 hours, 39 jewels, and 202 components. Two barrels, the brand's Nivachoc anti-shock system, etc., etc. – all this allows Omega to offer a 5-year warranty for some of its watches with this movement. The differences compared to the previous Omega co-axial movement from the 85xx family are several, but the most significant is that it is now a Master Chronometer (It has passed the METAS certification - with much stricter criteria). And thanks to all the innovations and features, the Ploprof is one of the few watches offered today that meets the industrial diver standards DIN 8306 and ISO 6425.
