Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9654 in Watches
• Brand: Omega
• Model: 2220.80.00
• Band material: stainless-steel
• Bezel material: stainless-steel
• Case material: stainless-steel
• Clasp type: fold-over-clasp-with-double-push-button-safety
• Dial color: blue
• Dial window material: anti-reflective-scratch-resistant-sapphire
• Movement type: swiss-automatic
• Water-resistant to 1000 feet

Features

• Quality Swiss Automatic movement; Functions without a battery; Powers automatically with the movement of your arm
• Domed, anti-reflective scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
• Case diameter: 41 mm
• Stainless-steel case; Blue dial; Date function
• Water-resistant to 300 M (1000 feet)

Amazon.com Product Description
Set a course for adventure with this classic Omega Seamaster 300M stainless steel men's automatic chronometer watch, part of Omega's James Bond collection. You'll be able to negotiate all manner of adventures and still look stylish in the boardroom or at the baccarat table. This highly accurate, self-winding timepiece is also a great diving watch, with water resistance to 300 meters (984 feet) and a helium escape valve, which allows helium to escape from inside the watch when the watch is worn in highly pressurized environments (such as long-term underwater work evading the bad guys). The large silver rhodium-plated case measures 41mm wide (1.61 inches) and it's complemented by a handsome stainless steel bracelet band. A blue elapsed time unidirectional bezel frames a wavy blue dial that includes luminous dotted hour markers, luminous-tipped skeleton hands, and a date window at 3 o'clock. Other features include a 48-hour power reserve and scratch-resistant and glare-proofed domed sapphire crystal.

It's powered by Omega's break-through Co-Axial escapement. Developed in conjunction with master watchmaker George Daniels, it's based on double co-axial escape wheel, a lever with three pallet stones and impulse stone on the balance roller, together with a free sprung-balance. The Co-Axial escapement system reduces sliding friction compared with the lever escapement and thus ensures greater accuracy over time.

This watch also features the Omega 2500 caliber automatic movement, which has been certified as a chronometer by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Control). Only 3 percent of watches produced in Switzerland are "chronometer-certified." To achieve this highly coveted certification, the movements are subjected to numerous tests over a period of 15 consecutive days and nights, in five positions and at three different temperatures.

The Omega Story
The Omega watch story begins in 1848, when founder Louis Brandt began hand assembling key-wound precision pocket watches from parts supplied by local craftsmen in his principality La Chaux-de-Fonds, in the northwest corner of Switzerland. However, the Omega name didn't appear until 1894, after Louis Brandt had passed away and his watchmaking traditions were taken over by his sons, Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt. Omega watches have long been associated with glamorous screen and sports stars--the Omega Seamaster is famous for being the watch of choice for James Bond--with current ambassadors including Pierce Brosnan, Nicole Kidman, tennis player Anna Kournikova, and swimmers Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe.

But Omega is more than just a fashionable watch. In 1965, the Omega Speedmaster chronograph was "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions" as the only wristwatch to have withstood all of the U.S. space agency's severe tests, including passing grades for extreme shocks, vibrations, and temperatures ranging from -18 to +93 degrees Celsius. The greatest moment in the Speedmaster's history was undoubtedly 20 July 1969 at 02:56 GMT, when it recorded man's first steps on the Moon's surface as part of the Apollo 11 mission. Omega watches rocketed off to space on many subsequent missions, including visits to Skylab and the historic Apollo-Soyuz link-up of Soviet and American astronauts in 1975.

In more recent years, Omega created the world's first self-winding wristwatch with central tourbillon in 1994 and made history in 1999 with the first mass-produced watch incorporating the co-axial escapement, developed in conjunction with renowned English master watchmaker George Daniels. In simple terms, the escapement is the heart of a mechanical watch, generating the impulses that make the mechanism move. Omega's Co-Axial Escapement drastically reduces the friction among the parts that transmit energy to the other components, producing greater stability and precision and reducing service requirements.

Today, Omega is known for its rigorous testing of new movements, cases, and bands. Each new Omega movement is tested on the wrist in existing Omega models, while various laboratory tests are conducted to determine temperature-resistance, shock-resistance and vibration-resistance.

Customer Reviews

James Bond is Back in Casino Royale
This 2006 edition of the famous James Bond watch made its debut in the movie Casino Royale. Actually, there are two Omega watches in the movie; the limited edition Omega Seamaster Plant Ocean Big Size 2907.50.91 and the limited edition Omega Seamaster Chronometer 2226.80.00. The watch offered here carries on the James Bond style without the limited edition price tag.

This style of the James Bond watch first appeared in the movie 'Golden Eye' (1995) and is still available as the full size gents model 2531.80.00. The new 2006 model 2220.80.00 has several refinements that you should consider over the previous (but still available) model. Most notably, the automatic movement now has the newly designed Co-Axial escapement. The Co-Axial Technology reduces sliding friction compared with the lever escapement in the previous model and ensures greater accuracy over time. More importantly, it doesn't require servicing for 10 years versus 2-3 years in the previous model. Servicing a luxury watch like Omega can be expensive. Bear in mind that any Omega watch purchased on the internet voids the International Warranty, so read the seller's warranty terms carefully. This watch is also available in a quartz version as model 2221.80.00.

The other big change is the appearance of the watch face. The blue wave dial is a deeper shade blue with a more distinctive wave pattern and the Seamaster script is a subtle red. More apparent is the hour markings are now encased in stainless steel mountings instead of painted on as in the previous model. This alone cleans up the watch face and makes it look like it costs thousands more.

If you desire a James Bond series watch with a true Swiss movement, this is the one.

Fantastic Omega Watch From Amazon!!
Well, I guess I was supposed to have this watch. I had always wanted a Seamaster Cronometer Automatic, but never saw myself spending this kind of money, not to mention the price at an authorized dealer. Amazon sent me an email a week or so ago that had special 12 months no interest on select watches. I looked and looked and finally pulled the trigger on this fantastic blue face large size automatic. Actually, I ordered on July 31, 2009 and for $6.99 extra with Amazon Prime had it at my door before 10:00 a.m. this morning. It's a good thing I took advantage of the offer, because as of today, the "12 months" offer is no more and the price has actually gone up!

I had somewhat of a concern by ordering a "gray market" watch, but I had ordered a Luminox ETA automatic from Amazon about 4 or 5 years ago and had good luck with it and also saved about $200.00.

I read all of the reviews here on Amazon and even went to watch forums such as [...] and read reviews. The folks on timezone appear to only purchase through authorized dealers. Fortunately by going to a forum I learned about some very important things surrounding the watch such as serial numbers and a little "red dot" that Omega applies to watches out of the factory. I had concerns about this and thought that if I saw anything suspicious that I could just return the watch to Amazon. Man was I happy after inspecting it! Sure enough, all of the serial numbers were there from the multiple cards that come with the watch to the little "medallions" that are tied to the watch upon opening. The watch itself has the laser engraved serial number in the appropriate place also. I had heard that some "gray market" watches do not come with everything, from what I have seen, my purchase from Amazon did. I realize that it can only be covered under warranty through Amazon, but by saving hundreds if not close to a "grand" that's fine with me.

Now to that little "red dot". Sure enough it is there and it acts as a tiny little "bridge" between the case and the screwed on case back. It tells you if anyone has opened the case since it came from the factory as the little dot will break upon opening the case. I guess if someone really wanted to take the time they could "paint" it back on, but it would be difficult as I'm not sure it's exactly paint.

This is the new "007" watch with the Co-Axial movement in it and it is super quiet! If I didn't know that it was an auto, I'd think it was a quartz. You can't feel it moving around either on your wrist.

The fit and finish of the watch is second to none. I'm really not sure why Rolex charges as much as they do, the Omega seems like a bargain actually, even though it's still an expensive watch. So far, as I write this review at 4:31 p.m., it seems to be keeping fine time. I'll have to wait and see how it is tomorrow. When I received my Luminox I had to take it and have it calibrated as it was way too fast upon arrival, it keeps perfect time now. I'm hoping that this Omega Chronometer will not need adjusting. You'd think since it is a "certified chronometer" that you would not need it, but I've read of several people having to have theirs adjusted, even folks that bought from authorized dealers.

I can see why this model is so popular, it's just a really fine time piece. Those luminous hands and hour markers as just as stated, they glow bright and for a long time!

I know that some say that they would NEVER buy "gray market", but I've always had excellent service with Amazon and since I had no issues with my first watch from them, I'm sure glad I took advantage of their offer and purchased this fine time piece! All in all, for the savings it was worth it and I'll continue to purchase my time pieces from Amazon.

Hope this review helps anyone with reservations about purchasing an expensive time piece from Amazon.

Take care

UPDATE: December 13, 2009

Merry Christmas all. Just wanted to give a short update on my SMP 300. As You can see, I purchased this watch back in August. This has to be one of the finest watches that I have ever purchased hands down! It keeps perfect time. I can set it to an atomic clock and it will still be within 1 second 72hrs later. Amazing. Again, by purchasing mine through Amazon, it came with all of the cards, boxes, matching serial numbers, red dot on caseback in tact, everything!

Seasons Greetings!

Doesn't get much better than Omega
The four true luxury watch companies (in my limited, but somewhat informed opinion) are Breitling, Cartier, Rolex and Omega. If you want a true luxury watch, buy a Omega! The 2220.80.00 is commonly known as the "Bond Watch" (as seen in the past four 007 movies). This Seamaster 300m Co-Axial Chonometer is a great luxury watch, stylish and manly. Be careful to learn about Authorized Dealers vs. "Grey Market" watches. ALL Omegas sold online are "Grey Market" since Omega does not allow internet sales, hence your warranty will probably not be honored by Omega directly but by some watch company (beware!). Want to learn more about luxury watches check out Timezone.com before buying to make sure you get the right watch. I got the watch for my 40th Birthday (Thanks Steve!) and I love it!