This is the one that started it all. When arriving at the age of 40, I decided it was time to treat myself. I would buy my first high end watch. At the time I was getting my PADI Open Water certificate and desperately in need of a diving watch. My fellow students bought themselves either a Citizen Diver or a real diving computer from Suntuu or the likes. I aimed at a higher goal and got me a nice Seamaster Professional 300M.

No, not the James Bond one, but the version with the black bezel and sword hands, on the Speedmaster bracelet but with diver extension. The 41mm automatic version with reference 2254.50.00 a.k.a. the 'Peter Blake'.  

Different sizes and movements

The Omega Seamaster 300M Divers are available in fullsize and midsize and with an automatic movement or a quartz movement. The features on the two men's sizes are both scaled to not appear significantly different. Notice there is no mentioning of the movement type on the dial. How can you tell them apart?

The second tell is the date window. On the quartz models it is closer to the center of the dial. This can best be seen when looking at the hour marker at the 3 position. 

Evolution of the Seamaster Professional

The first (1988) and second (1992) generation of the Professional series of Seamaster watches were 200M water resistant and labeled 'Seamaster Professional 200M'. Available in black (dial and bezel) and gold (bezel) with integrated steel bracelet. You can recognize a first generation model by crown, back case and clasp.

The introduction of  the third generation (1993) brought the blue James Bond model with skeleton hands. The depth rating increased to 300m/1000ft, and the watch got a red tipped seconds hand. The wave dial was introduced. Blue and white dials with several matching bezels. No longer an integrated bracelet but the rail bracelet.

With the Pro Diver in Titanium and its companion '150th Anniversary L.E.' in 1998 the fourth generation was released. Without changing any of the existing models in the Seamaster Professional line though. More distinct hour markers, sword hands and bolder numbering on the bezel. Available in semi electric-blue and silver. 

This new dial style was extended across more models in the Seamaster Professional line in 2000 (fifth generation) as a supplement to the skeleton Bond style models. Omega intended to replace the rail bracelet for the Speedmaster bracelet on almost all models but USA and South America distributors rejected the change. 

Seamaster Professional Pre-Bond 200m 

This fabulous 2nd generation Seamaster Professional 200m diver is from 1992. It has a 18K yellow gold bezel and gold plated crown and stainless steel case and bracelet. The reference is DR 396.1062 which makes it the successor of the 396.1042. It's a quartz midsize model with a diameter of 38.5mm. As you can see it has the embossed Seamaster logo on the caseback and a double secured clasp.

Different models of the Pre-Bond 200m

As this page of an Omega catalog shows, the bracelet of the Seamaster Pre-Bond was also used on the Seamaster Polaris, another iconic timepiece of Omega in two-tone stainless steel / gold style. Both typical products of the roaring 80's and 90's.

The Omega Seamaster 120m Diver - predecessor of the Professional series