THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: OMEGA
MODEL: 166.077
YEAR: 1973
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 45mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: RUBBER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC 

In the late 1960s, underwater exploration, offshore oil construction and maintenance, as well as activities such as scuba diving, water sports, and sub-aquatic military and naval operations, drove a growing demand for specialised underwater watches.

At the time, a major issue arose when saturation divers returned to decompression: helium would build up inside the watch case with no way to escape, often causing the crystal to crack or even explode.

Omega tackled this problem by developing a sealed monobloc case that prevented any air from entering or escaping. The result was the Omega Seamaster 600 “Ploprof”—a portmanteau of Plongeur Professionnel, meaning “Professional Diver” in French. Its bold, uncompromising design would later become a cult favourite among watch enthusiasts.