Omega Seamaster Alternatives: 5 Affordable Recommendations

Affordable Omega Seamaster Alternatives

Some watches form part of trends whilst others make them. This has never been more true of a watch than the Omega Seamaster. Since 1948 it has been the flagship Omega piece and has set the standard for dive watches across the globe. Its reputation has passed the ultimate test as it has been 007’s watch of choice in all the James Bond movies since 1995.

It’s not just a novelty piece either – a specially modified version also holds the record for underwater integrity at the deepest depth, remaining in check down to 10,928 metres during a test in 2019. 

But with prices for a new Seamaster starting at just under £4,000, it’s fair to say it isn’t accessible for everyone in the watch market. With that being said, we’re going to run through some of the best alternatives to the Seamaster on the market, giving everyone the opportunity to achieve the same timeless style at a reduced cost. 

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• Orient Triton – Brand New Price c. £400
• Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600 – Brand New Price c. £695
• Longines Hydroconquest – Brand New Price c. £1,230
• Mens Raymond Weil Freelancer Diver – Brand New Price c. £1,695
• Breitling SuperOcean 42 – Brand New Price c. £3,000

Orient Triton

The first watch we’re putting up against the Seamaster is the Orient Triton. This entry-level piece from the Orient range reflects some of the same concepts the Seamaster is built upon – large dial, large bezel and sleek stylings. 

Its stainless steel construction is matched with a high-quality sapphire crystal, long power reserve and a date indicator window. Inside the case, it utilises Orient’s Cal. 40N5A automatic movement which, despite this watch’s low RRP, is also found within some of Orient’s more premier pieces. 

Much like the Seamaster, it also comes in a number of variants, including a rather quirky black/gold combo. Although, if you’re wanting to emulate the Seamaster closely you’ll likely opt for the all-blue model shown above.

Whilst there are many similarities between this and the Seatmaster, naturally the level of finish and technology inside the watch varies massively. Firstly you’re getting 100m less water resistance and this isn’t a certified master chronometer – but this is to be expected given the Triton is around 10% the cost of the Seamaster – you’ll get a similar look and feel, but nowhere near the same level of spec!

At the time of writing (April 2020) the Orient Triton retails directly from Orient USA at around the $500 mark but if you take a further look online, trusted retailers will stock this piece slightly lower at around $399, with pre-owned dropping another $30 or so. 

We recently put together a detailed look at the Orient Triton, why not take a look here? 

Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600

Moving slightly up the pricing ladder, we come to the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro 600. The British brand is renowned for their Swiss-made pieces which pack super high quality into beautiful casings at often unbelievable prices. 

Their Triton range has been going for a little while now, and this latest wave, including the C60, have again raised the bar. Grade X1 GL C1 Super-LumiNova®, 3.4mm AR sapphire crystal, 38-hour power reserve, anti-shock system, date complication – honestly, these watches are packed with great specs! 

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Arguably the most impressive thing here though is the movement which can be found in many great Oris & Bulova pieces. Combining together this robust movement with a high-quality case build gives this watch a whopping 600m of water resistance – twice that of the Seamaster!

At the time of writing, you can pick up a brand new C60 from Christopher Ward around the £700 mark. It’s also worth keeping an eye on their weekly sales where, for a very short window, you can get up to 50% off certain pieces! 

Longines HydroConquest

Swiss brand Longines have been in the watch game for a while, creating some gorgeous dress, sports and vintage watches along the way. We’re pulling out their Hyrdoconquest to put up against the Seamaster and it’s a great match up! 

This is a really premium divers watch, bringing understated and simple face design to high-spec stainless steel & ceramic construction. Like the Seamaster, it’s good down to 300m and features the diving components you’d expect such as sapphire crystal and Swiss Super-LumiNova®. 

Jumping up the power reserve, this model will keep going for up to 64 hours all whilst keeping the hours, minutes, seconds and date indications in check at a 4hz frequency. 

If you’re heading to Longines direct, you’re starting at £1,230 for this one although if you head into the pre-owned market, you should be able to get the price down below the £1,000 point! 

Raymond Weil Freelancer Diver

Our last stop in the ‘affordable’ bracket is with Raymond Weil and specifically, their Freelancer Diver range. The specs of this one line up very close against the Longines above so you’re getting 300m water resistance, ceramic bezel and a stainless steel makeup. 

This one does drop down to 30 hours power reserve but keeps the high-quality sapphire crystal. There’s a date indicator on this one too, but its design is unique to the stylings we’ve seen before, incorporating a larger indicator at the 4 o’clock position that shows 3 numbers and an arrow marker. 

The stylings of this one are a little darker too and will appeal to those who are fans of Raymond Weil’s typically clean and minimal design theme. 

Brand new your starting around the £1,700 mark, but if you head over to the trusted pre-owned sites, you will find some models below £1,300!  

Breitling SuperOcean 42

To finish up, we’ll look at a watch from a brand you’re more likely to directly associate with Omega and that’s Breitling. Whilst best known for their aviation-themed watches, Breitling are no strangers to the ocean and have a full range of diving watches to suit many tastes. 

Specifically, we’ve pulled out the SuperOcean42. Firstly, this just screams Breitling – matching their relatively compact dial watches with large number indications and a high-spec bezel to maximise ease of use in challenging environments. 

In terms of other specs, it more than matches up! It will keep you accurate down to 500m for up to 38 hours combining high-quality stainless steel with a glare-proof sapphire crystal. Breitling’s Calibre 17 movement sits inside the case and with its chronometer certification you know it’s going to be super accurate! 

If you head over to Breitling directly, you’ll be picking this one up for around £3,150 which is a great price given Brietling’s reputation for high-quality, robust pieces. If this price is still a little too rich for you, you can get some awesome pre-owned prices, the best of which plunge all the way down to around £2,250! 

Wrapping Up

No one does dive watches quite like Omega and the Seamaster is an absolute classic. With that said, the dive market is vast and there are some great alternatives both at similar and reduced prices. 

If you’re really on a budget, there are some great pieces from Orient we recommend taking a look at and, whilst not featured in this roundup, Seiko are always worth reading up on! As you head up the cost ladder, most brands will provide a great diving range including some of the names we’ve picked out above.

One thing’s for sure if you’re wanting to look great and keep safe in the water, there are plenty of alternatives to the Omega Seamaster out there, but will they ever truly match up? We’ll leave that opinion to you!

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