By Ben James Hodges
August 17, 2024
Welcome to the ultimate strap guide from Artem Straps. This edition looks at the best strap and colour combinations from Artem’s Sailcloth, FKM Hybrid, and Nylon collections with iconic OMEGA models. OMEGA produces some of the most popular mechanical watches on the market and is one of the most recognisable and renowned luxury brands.
Established in 1848, the Swiss brand cemented itself in its present-day form in 1957 with the release of three iconic and influential wristwatch models: The Seamaster 300 (ref. CK2913), the Railmaster (ref. CK2914), and the Speedmaster (ref. CK2915). Little did we know, but at least two of these models, the Seamaster and Speedmaster, would go on to define OMEGA’s sports collection to this day. While the Railmaster is still produced, the range now sits within the Seamaster family instead of a distinct range.
Despite the familial names, models can vary wildly in style and design from the initial 1957 references. Therefore, exploring the Seamaster and Speedmaster watches from OMEGA and the best Artem Straps to pair them with is worthwhile.
OMEGA Seamaster 300
The OMEGA Seamaster 300 is the latest model to pay homage to the heritage diver from 1957. While it’s not a 1:1 remake such as the 60th Anniversary Seamaster 300 from 2017, the watch uses design elements with contemporary diving technology to cater for modern audiences. The 41mm stainless steel case has a proportional 21mm lug width, which can often be limiting for aftermarket options. But luckily, Artem Straps caters to odd-sized lug dimensions, including 21mm.
OMEGA Seamaster 300 234.30.41.21.01.001 on Artem Black Loop-less™ Sailcloth Strap
The matte black aluminium dial and vintage beige luminous accents, including the bezel, could hamper colour exploration. But over the years, I’ve experimented with various colours and am often surprised by the results. Initially, the black Sailcloth with black stitching was my go-to choice, as the dark base colour didn’t clash with the vintage accents. However, the latest Sailcloth options complement and enliven the heritage design.
OMEGA Seamaster 300 234.30.41.21.01.001 on Artem Khaki Green Loop-less™ Sailcloth Strap
I am especially fond of the Khaki Green Sailcloth, which brings a more tactical aesthetic to the diving watch. Even the Sand Beige works wonders, very closely mimicking the hue of the luminescent hands and indices. You can’t go wrong between the Classic and Loop-Less buckle options, but the foldover clasp of the Loop-Less shares a similar system with OMEGA deployant clasps.
OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M
Another icon of the OMEGA Seamaster range is the Diver 300M. Debuted in 1993, the modern diver severs its chain from past Seamaster models and radically alters the dive watch brief. Notably, the Diver 300M features a manually operated helium escape valve. Further additions are the scalloped bezel grip, wavy dial, and skeletonised sword hands. The 1993 watch garnered fame when featured in the 1995 James Bond outing, Goldeneye. The Seamaster Diver 300M has been the go-to choice for Bond right up to No Time To Die in 2021.
OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Limited Edition 210.22.42.20.01.004 on Artem NTTD Nylon Strap
Mixing up the strap options is common for Seamaster Diver 300M owners. Most notably, the divers choose a Nylon strap for water excursions due to its inherent robustness. Artem offers many Nylon strap colours to mix and match with various dial shades. You can’t go wrong with any Nylon colour, but the Bond Nylon variations nicely lean into the fictional agent’s legacy.
Sailcloth is also a good pairing for the Seamaster Diver 300M as its texture and soft padding brilliantly flow from the lyre lugs. Hybrid FKM fits the Seamaster, too, demonstrating the versatility of the Diver 300M and the options by Artem Straps.
OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional
The OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch is the chronograph of all chronographs. This manually winding watch is steeped in notable history, namely being the first wristwatch on the moon. The NASA-qualified Speedmaster began as a racer’s wrist timer on 1950s speedways. Graduating to an astronaut’s instrument required stringent testing, which the Speedmaster passed to become a NASA-issued watch — still to this day.
The rigorous tests imposed showcase the endurance of the Speedmaster. Naturally, the watch demands a similarly robust strap to complement it. For the Speedmaster, the Sailcloth is a fantastic choice. Given the monochrome dial, any colour Sailcloth will look brilliant, but I particularly like the black Sailcloth Loop-Less with white stitching. There’s something very “spacey” with this combo. Similarly, the Khaki Green, Blue, and Sand Beige vary the look of the Speedmaster.
OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 3861 on Artem Black Loop-less™ Sailcloth Strap
Another great option is the nylon collection, which resembles the extra-long straps designed to fit over an astronaut’s space suit sleeve. Colour choices are down to personal preference, but limited Speedmaster models have unique colour accents that can be combined with Artem’s Nylon range.
OMEGA X Swatch Speedmaster Bioceramic MoonSwatch
While technically a Swatch, the recreation of OMEGA’s iconic Moonwatch in Bioceramic took the world by storm in 2022. The inter-group collaboration is still proving popular amongst collectors and new entrants in watch fandom. The case colours are vivid thanks to the Bioceramic properties, each reflecting a celestial body within our solar system. At a fraction of the OMEGA Moonwatch’s price, the MoonSwatch opens itself up to a new audience.
Swatch X OMEGA Bioceramic Moonswatch Mission to Neptune on Artem Navy Blue Loop-less™ Sailcloth Strap
The MoonSwatch can be paired with many 20mm straps for further uniqueness. My personal favourite is combining the MoonSwatch with a Nylon strap. By swapping out the supplied hook-and-loop strap, the MoonSwatch can become personalised. Just like OMEGA’s Moonwatch, Sailcloth also works well with the MoonSwatch. As the colours vary, matching the strap colour to the vibrant cases is good. But even alternating strap hues will match the boldness of the punchy cases.
