Omega, founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848, is one of the most historically significant watchmakers. The brand served as official timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932 and achieved immortality when Buzz Aldrin wore a Speedmaster Professional on the Moon in 1969.
Available below retail on the secondary market at 15% discount, this model offers exceptional value for buyers willing to purchase pre-owned. This pricing makes it one of the better value propositions in the dive watch category.
Our WVS Value Score of 74/100 places this in the upper range of luxury watches. The score reflects a solid balance between value retention, brand recognition, specification quality, and market availability.
The annual cost of ownership comes to $444 per year — roughly the cost of a gym membership. This factors in depreciation, periodic servicing, and insurance, and represents good value for a watch of this caliber.
Understanding the true cost of owning a luxury watch requires looking beyond the purchase price. Our cost-of-ownership model calculates the annual net expense of keeping the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 210.30.42.20.03.001 on your wrist, factoring in three key components.
First, depreciation: based on historical pricing data for this reference and similar Omega models, we estimate annual value change at 6%. This depreciation rate is typical for this price segment and brand positioning. Second, servicing: Omega recommends periodic maintenance to ensure accuracy and water resistance. We amortize the estimated service cost across the recommended interval, arriving at $80 per year. Third, insurance: at approximately 1.5% of market value, annual insurance costs $73 to protect against theft, loss, or accidental damage.
Combining these factors yields a net annual cost of $444. That's roughly $1.22 per day — less than a daily cup of coffee.
Estimated market price trend based on aggregated public listing data. Prices reflect average asking prices for complete sets in excellent condition. Updated monthly.
Our proprietary score rates every luxury watch on a 0-100 scale across five dimensions. Scores above 85 indicate exceptional value retention and market positioning. The formula is transparent and weight-based.
When considering the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 210.30.42.20.03.001, it helps to understand how it compares to alternatives in the dive watch category. The highest-scoring alternative is the Rolex Explorer with a Value Score of 89/100, slightly above the 210.30.42.20.03.001's 74/100. The comparison table below provides a detailed side-by-side analysis of all key metrics.
| Watch | Market Price | Size | WR | Own/Yr | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 210.30.42.20.03.001 | $4,200–$5,500 | 42mm | 300m | $444/yr | 74 |
| Rolex Explorer 124270 | $8,500–$11,000 | 36mm | 100m | $100/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Air-King 126900 | $8,000–$11,000 | 40mm | 100m | $99/yr | 88 |
| Rolex Submariner 124060 | $10,500–$14,500 | 41mm | 300m | $105/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Submariner 126610LN | $12,000–$16,000 | 41mm | 300m | $108/yr | 89 |
| Rolex Explorer 226570 | $10,500–$14,000 | 36mm | 100m | $105/yr | 87 |
Originally designed for professional underwater use, modern dive watches are equally at home on a desk as they are at depth. The rotating bezel tracks elapsed time underwater, while the high water resistance and luminous markers ensure readability in low-light conditions.
Key specifications for a dive watch include water resistance (minimum 200m for ISO 6425 certification), unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous hands and indices, screw-down crown, and robust bracelet with dive extension. Higher-end models feature helium escape valves for saturation diving.
Dive watches are the most versatile luxury watch category. They pair equally well with a suit, casual wear, or technical gear. The sport-luxury aesthetic makes them appropriate for virtually any situation, which is why models like the Submariner and Seamaster are among the best-selling luxury watches globally.
Unlike Rolex, most Omega watches are readily available at authorized dealers, often with negotiable pricing. Discounts of 10-20% off MSRP are common at ADs, and grey market dealers offer even lower prices. This accessibility is both an advantage for buyers and a factor in secondary market pricing.
Modern Omega watches feature Master Chronometer certified movements, tested by METAS to resist magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. The Co-Axial escapement, developed by George Daniels and adopted by Omega in 1999, reduces friction and extends service intervals.
Omega recommends servicing every 5-8 years. Service costs range from $500-$800 for standard models. The Master Chronometer certification and Co-Axial escapement are designed to extend these intervals compared to traditional lever escapements.
Omega watches typically depreciate 20-40% from retail in the first few years, then stabilize. The Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch holds value best, while Seamaster and Constellation models see more depreciation. Buying pre-owned at the depreciation floor offers excellent value.
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Every current reference ranked by Value Score. Click any model for full analysis.
| Ref | Variant | Retail | Score | Own/Yr | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210.30.42.20.01.001 | Steel/Black | $5,700 | 74 | $444/yr | $4,200–$5,500 |
| 210.30.42.20.03.001 | Steel/Blue ◂ | $5,700 | 74 | $444/yr | $4,200–$5,500 |
| 210.22.42.20.01.004 | Two-Tone/Black | $8,600 | 74 | $624/yr | $6,500–$8,000 |
Value Score 74/100 · $444/year to own · 94% retention