So, remember back when I wrote about the original Omega PloProf (here) earlier this month? If you do, you’ll recall that I mentioned our friends over at Ocean7 have a model inspired by the original, their LM-7 Professional PloProf Hardened Titanium Diver. Today, we’ll be taking a look at their original version (they just introduced a two-tone bezel variant).
It’s readily apparent from the get-go that the LM-7 is inspired by that earlier Omega. Which, depending on your particular tastes, could be a good or a bad thing. While they are quite visually similar, there are some differences that you’ll find when you get into the details.
First off, you have the material used. While the original Omega utilized steel, here, Ocean7 has opted for hardened titanium, which gives great strength, while cutting down on the weight. This means you have a watch head (that is, the watch without the rubber strap) that only weighs 90g – which is quite a feat for a watch that carries a WR rating of 1250m.
Though it’s a light watch, it’s not small – it measures in at 55mm x 42mm (17mm thick). This is in large part due to the plunger (and HEV) over on the right hand side of the case. The plunger (orange here, where the original had red), of course, is what releases the bezel to be rotated. This is fun to play around with, especially if you’re the type of person (like me) that has to get things lined right back up perfectly when done timing something.
Rather than rotating back around a full revolution, you can just back it up a tad. This also means that, if you were in a dive situation, you could rest assured that the bezel wouldn’t be moving on you once it was set. The bezel is the next spot that we’ve got some differences.
First off, what we had in for review came with a sapphire bezel (lumed, nonetheless). Ok, that’s not quite so different. What is is the fact that Ocean7 has made it so you can easily swap out the bezel, and they even include an engraved bezel you can swap in. So, not only are you able to change the looks up, you’re able to get in there and clean things out after a day at the beach.
I will note one oddity with the bezel that I ran across. That is, there was much more play than I was expecting. This didn’t mean I could slop the bezel over to a different minute or anything like that, it’s just… wiggly. This feels a little disconcerting when you compare to other dive bezels (Ocean7’s have been reliably solid in the past). I think this is primarily due to it being a 60-click (rather than 120-click) bezel as we more commonly see. And, like I said, even with the wiggle, I couldn’t move the bezel off of the time set.
The last difference comes into play with the crown. While it’s over on the left (and set into a massive crown protector) like the Omega, it features a round crown (whereas the Omega had a square one). Sure, this maybe doesn’t lock things in quite as much as the original, but I’d dare say our water sealing tech has gotten a lot better in the intervening years, so it’s not something I’d be too concerned about (disclaimer: I am not a diver).
Ticking away inside is the ETA 2824-2, which performed just fine while we had the watch in, and I would expect to perform flawlessly, and be able to be easily maintained by your local watch shop (I really should find one myself one of these days, come to think of it). All told, this is rather competent tool watch, and one that would be ready to take to the seas with you, for the (I feel) reasonable price of $899. ocean7watchco.com
- Brand & Model: Ocean7 LM-7 Professional PloProf Hardened Titanium Diver
- Price: $899; upgrades available on the bezel, strap, and/or buckle
- Who’s it for?: The person who absolutely loves the original (or maybe even has the original), but wants something they’re not concerned about actually using
- Would I wear it?: While I appreciate the style heritage, and I like dive watches, this particular style just isn’t for me.
- What I’d change: Slap a 120-click bezel in there, and possibly swap in a more premium-feel material for the orange plunger.
- The best thing about it: The faithful reference to the original, without feeling like a cheap knock-off.
