As the official timekeeper of the Olympics, Omega has a long history of releasing special watches for each major Olympic event. This year, the watch brand has outdone itself with the Omega Seamaster Milano Cortina, celebrating the 2026 competition, co-hosted by the Italian cities Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The watch’s white ceramic case and bezel capture the spirit of the Winter Olympics and stand as a testament to Omega’s robust engineering. Omega has marked past Olympic Games with a wide range of commemorative designs, from chronographs rooted in tradition to modern dive watches like this Seamaster. Earlier releases, such as a previous Milano Cortina Olympic release, leaned more toward classic chronograph styling, highlighting how differently Omega approaches each Games.
As an authorized OMEGA retailer, we had the opportunity to take a closer look at this release and explore how its materials, design, and functionality come together. Let’s dive in to learn what this dive watch is all about.
Omega Seamaster Milano Cortina Review
Appearance
The Omega Seamaster 300M’s most obvious feature is its stunning white color. Made from ceramic, it offers a laser-engraved, frosted texture that instantly recalls ice and snow. The white rubber strap and bezel enhance the monotone appearance.
Rhodium-plated hands and indices filled with SuperLuminova contribute to the watch’s silvery-white look while offering optimal legibility underwater and in dark places. Another thing to look out for is the zigzag pattern, abstractly inspired by the ‘26’, from the Milano Cortina 2026 emblem, which uses the same finger-tracing concept to stylize this number. You can see the design as you shift the watch under the light, revealing its full shimmery spectrum.
Also notable are the small pops of blue printing, including the gradient-blue central seconds hand, which adds a subtle hint of color. The absence of a date window plays a part in the clean design.
The Fit
The white rubber strap and lightweight titanium and ceramic materials contribute to the watch’s comfortable fit. Although it measures 43.5 cm, its downward-curving lugs make it wear smaller. While the helium valve and screw-down crown are present, they do not dig into the wrist.
The new Seamaster sits well on a wide range of wrist sizes, 6.5” and up, and wears smaller than most typical tool watches.
The Strap
The rubber strap is soft and subtle, easily conforming to the wrist without a break-in period. It closes with a titanium pinbuckle with plenty of sizing holes for optimal adjustment.
Flowing cleanly out of the lugs, with wave-style contours seen on other Seamaster 300M straps, the watch maintains a streamlined, integrated look that pays homage to its tool-like roots while staying modern and sleek. The white color contributes to a balanced appearance, continuing the frosted design. Rubber is an obvious divers’ choice, holding up well to water, sweat, and general outdoor adventures.
Caseback and Movement
As a diver’s watch, this Omega Seamaster features a closed titanium caseback, which contributes to its lightweight design. The caseback is engraved with the official Milano Cortina Olympic emblem, establishing its status as a collector’s item, though it is not a limited edition.
The watch is powered by a coaxial master chronometer, Metas-certified calibre 8806 movement. It offers a 55-hour power reserve and high anti-magnetic resistance, making it a robust timepiece for diving and everyday wear.
Functionality
Though scaled down, the functionality lies largely in the unidirectional rotating white ceramic bezel, engraved and then filled so the minutes stand out nicely against the all-white aesthetic. It offers the standard 0-60-minute layout of modern dive watches, with a prominent lumed triangle at 12 o’clock for timing. The minute markers for the first 15 minutes, followed by 5-minute graduations, let you measure elapsed time, decompression stops, and other intervals at a glance.
Overall, it stands out as a true ISO-style diver’s watch- unidirectional, grippy, and easy to manipulate with wet hands.
Purchase Your Next Watch at Precision Watches
If the white ceramic Seamaster Milano Cortina sparks your interest, exploring the broader Omega watch collection offers a closer look at how Omega continues to evolve its dive watch lineup. From contemporary releases to distinctive Olympic-themed models, there’s a wide range of options to discover.
For collectors interested in discontinued or harder-to-find pieces, browsing our selection of pre-owned watches can also be a rewarding way to explore Omega’s past and present.
FAQs
Is the Omega Seamaster Milano Cortina limited edition?
While the watch is described as a ‘collector’s homage’ to the 2026 games, exact production numbers are not specified. This approach is typical for an Omega Olympic release.
Is the Milano Cortina Seamaster 300M meant to be a daily wearer or more of a special occasion piece?
Functionally, the watch is ideal for everyday wear. It offers lightweight comfort, water resistance, and holds up well to the elements. However, the all-white color may make it more of a special-occasion piece, depending on how dressy you like to get for casual events.
How does the white ceramic case hold up to scratches and discoloration?
Ceramic is extremely scratch-resistant, and with color baked into the material, you don’t have to worry about it yellowing or wearing off. However, like any watch, it can scratch or chip with direct impact, so it’s necessary to take the standard precautions.
Will the white rubber strap get dirty quickly, and can it be cleaned?
Because the strap is white, dirt will show up easily. However, it is easy to clean, requiring mild soap, water, and a soft brush or cloth. Some staining is inevitable with years of use, but routine cleaning will keep it looking bright.
How does this model compare to the regular steel Seamaster Diver 300M?
Mechanically, the watches are similar, featuring the same movement family, equal water resistance, and nearly identical basic architecture. However, they differ in aesthetics, materials, and weight, with the Milano Cortina being lighter, more visually striking, and more collectible due to its Olympic theme and ceramic construction.
Will the watch still feel relevant after the 2026 Games are over?
Omega’s watches tend to age well as time capsules of a specific event or era. The Milano Cortina Seamaster’s classic looks and ability to tell a story also contribute to its timelessness. However, the true answer to this question is in the eye of the beholder, and that’s a factor be considered in purchasing decisions.
