Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/07/21/omega-seamaster-planet-ocean-a-modern-design-icon/
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To try and demonstrate this, I will use the ten principles of good design defined by Dieter Rams. He is a German designer that is best known for his associations with consumer brands such as Braun and Visœ, as well as the functionalist school of industrial design. His philosophy inspired the likes of Jony Ive and several Apple products have been influenced by his designs.
Dieter Rams 10 Principles of Good Design
Beyond just his products, Dieter Rams also developed the ten principles of good design that he used to critique his work.
The ten design principles are as follows:
- Is Innovative
- Makes a Product Useful
- Is Aesthetic
- Makes a Product Understandable
- Is Unobtrusive
- Is Honest
- Is Long-Lasting
- Is Thorough Down to the Last Detail
- Is Environmentally Friendly
- Is as Little Design as Possible
By following the above, I want to try and show that the Omega Planet Ocean is by definition well-designed.
Is Innovative
The first principle is self-explanatory, and I imagine I wouldn’t need to say much here to show the Planet Ocean is innovative, however, I will. The most obvious place to start is the movement. Innovation is abundant in the caliber 8900. This was the first movement to receive an approved certification from METAS. The movement precision is tested in a wider range of scenarios, particularly around the simulation of daily wear. It was first seen in the 2015 Globemaster and made its way to the Planet Ocean in 2016.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep
A more specific innovation to just the Planet Ocean is the use of Liquidmetal. Material innovation has been a hot topic since the start of the 2000s, and Liquidmetal was Omegas’ answer to Cerachrom from Rolex. Liquidmetal is an alloy made up predominately of Titanium, Zirconium and Copper and has the unique property of being elastic and malleable. When combined with the ceramic used to create the bezel, the Liquidmetal provides further durability as it results in extreme hardness and corrosion resistance.
As the alloy can be manipulated at lower temperatures than ceramic, it can be used to fill in the engraved numerals and minute markers found on the ceramic bezel leading to two different finishings on the end product.
The numerals and markers are brushed and the rest of the bezel has the traditional glossy look we are accustomed to with the use of ceramic. The first Planet Ocean to use Liquidmetal was launched in 2009. That particular reference is one of the most sought-after as it was a limited edition of 1,948 pieces and retained the older, thinner movement.
Makes a Product Useful
The second principle follows the thought that a product is ultimately bought to be used, and good design emphasizes its usefulness. Omega did not forget this with the Planet Ocean. On the contrary, Omega went out of its way to create a useful product. The formula for a modern dive watch is as follows: good water resistance, legibility, luminescence, anti-magnetism, a fixed rotating bezel and more recently, wearability.
Omega made sure all these points were considered. The watch is good for depths of up to 600m (and even more for some variants), Super-LumiNova is used across the indices and bezel, the 8900 movement is non-magnetic up to 15,000 Gauss and, despite its relatively large size, it fits on the wrist well as the lug-to-lug is on the narrower side (like the Seiko Turtle).
Further to this, there are other additions including a Helium Escape Value, a bracelet with a wide micro-adjustment range and an extremely clear dial. This watch, whichever way you look at it, is designed to be a useful diving companion and does not compromise on ability.
Is Aesthetic
The Planet Ocean launched in 2005 and it was nothing like any previous Omega watch. As it was a new model, Omega had free rein over what the watch could look like. There was no heritage tied to the name so they could design a product for the modern world to fulfil its intended use – to be a functional diving tool. Yes, there was some minor inspiration from the 1950s Seamaster 300 ref. 165.024, but at most it uses Arabic numerals and a clear minute track.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Third Generation
Somehow the package Omega put together looks as contemporary today as it did nearly 20 years ago. It was so good in fact, they did not feel the need to change it from day one. On top of that, Omega incorporated the use of orange through the different models, with some even featuring fully orange bezels. This distinct shade and color choice has become synonymous with the range. The overall aesthetic does not just look good, but it is so distinct that you can recognize it across the room.
Makes a Product Understandable
Does the design make the product self-explanatory? Yes. The Planet Ocean is built for a purpose and this goes hand-in-hand with point two on whether the product is useful. In terms of being understandable, this can be seen in a few different areas.
Firstly, the dimensions – this is a hefty watch with a 43.5mm diameter case measuring 16.1mm thick. The thickness is 1mm more than the Rolex Sea-Dweller.
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean helium escape valve
Secondly, there is the Helium Escape Valve and this indicates the watch is ready and expected to go below 100m. Finally, the legibility and color-use signal that the Planet Ocean can be seen in dark environments i.e., underwater. This watch is designed as a functional tool and the look is defined by this.
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Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/07/21/omega-seamaster-planet-ocean-a-modern-design-icon/
