The Nekton, a fake watch that debuted in 2020, was the final push that got me on the “SMP” bandwagon, even though “Professional” is no longer part of the official name, and we should use “SMD” to be factually accurate. Anyway…
“Naked” bezels… What can I say? I have a thing for them. Ceramic bezels are not for me, and colored ceramic bezels in particular do not get my blood pumping. I have a love for metal bezels with contrasting markings, just like the one on my Speedmaster Replica as well as the cheap replica Rolex Explorer II and the Grand Seiko “Mist Flake” that I’ve been eyeing for some time now. I also like those with markings engraved in relief. The most famous example of such a bezel is the platinum one on the Rolex Yacht-Master. And what about a bezel that has both color and relief, like that of the Yacht-Master 42 in RLX Titanium? Well, that’s an exceptional combination of a sober, matte color and three-dimensionality that’s just sensational. But let me get back to the Seamaster Diver 300M, an aaa quality replica Omega watch that I never liked all that much. But why?
Know when to stop
The 1:1 fake Omega Seamaster Diver 300M is a watch that has a lot going on. Some brands stop designing when 90% of the work is done. With some Omega creations, I get the feeling that the design process only stops after 110% of the job is completed. In other words, some Swiss movement replica Omega watches look overdesigned in my eyes. The current models, with their ceramic bezel inserts showing white enamel diving scales and their glossy ceramic dials with laser-engraved waves, are very “in your face.”
There is also the very large, distinct skeleton handset and applied, rhodium-plated indexes filled with Super-LumiNova. And that’s just the dial. The visual spectacle doesn’t stop there. Who could miss the conical helium escape valve sticking out of the case? And if you opt for a bracelet over a rubber strap, you get a bold, non-tapering one with both polished and brushed surfaces. Everything is fighting for attention. I didn’t even mention the date at 6 o’clock.
Full disclosure
There’s just a lot going for a 42mm watch. This makes it look bigger than it actually is. It looks more like a 43.5mm watch, a size that top quality replica Omega also has in its catalog. But although it looks big, the smallest of modern SMP models wears just fine. The 42 × 49.9 × 13.7mm case, which weighs 115 grams, sits quite nicely on my 18cm wrist. Having said that, Nacho’s GADA watch, the SMP 300M ref. 2254.50.00, with its 41 × 47 × 12mm case, is even better on the wrist. The 1.7mm difference in thickness is notable and important when it comes to how the watch feels. And I mean this not in a strictly physical sense but, rather, more in the emotional sense. A 41mm watch that’s only 12mm thick feels more luxurious and sophisticated than a 42mm evolutionary version of it that’s almost 2mm thicker.
The Nekton is different
So why do I find myself developing a strong interest in the Nekton? It’s not the story of the high quality fake Omega, although you can’t have anything against a not-for-profit research foundation committed to the protection and management of the world’s oceans. The case back, showing a medallion with a Nekton submarine, is also pretty cool. I won’t complain that it covers the nicely decorated Master Chronometer caliber 8806 inside. Instead, I will just enjoy this movement’s accuracy and 55-hour power reserve.
My interest in the Nekton is because of its matte ceramic dial with subtle, polished waves in relief, the absence of a date (although I am certainly not a member of the “Date Police”), and the unidirectional Grade 5 titanium bezel with a laser-ablated diving scale. And the case-hugging black rubber strap with a no-nonsense, polished/brushed pin buckle is also part of the appeal. By the way, the little detail of a rubber pin inside the second keeper to keep it in position on the strap is both very neat and practical.
The Nekton Edition is a bit of a mix between the unobtainable best quality fake Omega Seamaster Diver 300M that King Frederik X of Denmark wears — a fully brushed, no-date, matte-dial tool watch with the insignia of the Frømandskorpset on the back — and the titanium “No Time To Die” 007 Edition (ref. 210.90.42.20.01.001). The Nekton name also has a nice ring to it, I think — a bit Transformer-ish, don’t you agree? These factors combine to create a timepiece hovering between fantastic fiction and instrumental reality.
