When adventurer Victor Vescovo successfully piloted his submersible Limiting Factor to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in early 2019, the 10,928m dive set a new world record. Along for the ride was the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional.
The world’s first manned expedition to the deepest point in each of the five oceans is the brainchild of adventurer and submersible pilot Victor Vescovo. Above the surface is the good ship DSSV Pressure Drop, equipped with the highest fidelity full ocean depth sonar. The action at depth takes place in DSV Limiting Factor, a Triton-built submersible commercially certified by the international maritime authority DNV-GL for extensive, repeated dives to extraordinary depths. On the ocean floor, gathering important scientific data are three “Landers”.
A Legacy Underwater
Omega’s journey with the depths began in 1932, with the launch of the first divers’ watch made for everyone – the Omega “Marine”. The timepiece was used by Charles William Beebe, the American explorer who created the ‘bathysphere’, a spherical diving vessel that could transport humans to the depths of the ocean.
In 1948, the first Seamaster was born and was highly valued by British aviators and sailors for its water-resistance and reliability in combat. In 1957 Omega introduced its Seamaster 300, a watch designed specifically for divers and professionals who worked underwater, followed by Omega’s distinctive “Ploprof”, which emerged in 1970 and was tested at depth by the legendary Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Other models, including the Seamaster 1000, Seamaster 120 “Big Blue” and Seamaster Diver 300M followed, further cementing this legacy.
Made to Take the Pressure
Producing a timepiece for the Five Deeps Expedition required starting from scratch. Using machined cut offs from the weld-free construction of the grade 5 titanium Limiting Factor, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional’s bezel body, casebody, caseback and crown bear the DNV-GL stamps, certifying the origin, characteristics and quality of the material. Inspired by the conical design of the submersible’s viewport designs, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional features a similar design that spreads the stresses of pressure on the sapphire-to-casebody assembly thanks to the use of Liquidmetal, an innovative patent-pending hot form bonding process.
Fully integrated into the titanium casebody, the lugs of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional are left open to lower the risk of exceeding material limitations at full ocean depth, as both the watch and the strap can be subjected to high traction loads. They are called “Manta” lugs due to their distinctive look.
A Living Piece of History
The expedition logo is located at the center of the caseback inside concentric circles evoking the Multi Beam sonar technology. Relevant information including the model, reference number, materials, DNV-GL certification, and the words – tested 15,000m / 49,212ft – are all laser-engraved.
Three Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep timepieces made the dive. Two attached to the submersible’s robotic arm, another to a Lander. Omega’s choice of strap material drew on the brand’s experience in space. The combination of polyamide strap and Velcro closure is closely associated with the straps used during Apollo missions.