Writer Arne Hjeltnes spotted wearing a Omega

A casual seated portrait of Norwegian writer and broadcaster Arne Hjeltnes reveals a stainless steel sports watch on his left wrist that horologically-minded observers will recognise immediately: the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 42, one of the Swiss manufacture's most enduring professional dive references.

The watch on Hjeltnes's wrist aligns precisely with reference 232.30.42.21.01.003 — the 42mm steel Planet Ocean fitted with a unidirectional rotating grey ceramic bezel, black dial, and stainless steel bracelet. The dial carries orange Arabic numerals at 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, white bar indices, and arrow-tipped luminous hands — a layout unchanged in its essential geometry since Omega introduced the Planet Ocean line in 2005 as a more serious, tool-oriented counterpart to the Seamaster 300M. Water resistance stands at 600 metres / 2,000 feet, underscoring its dive-instrument credentials beyond mere aesthetics.

Powering this reference is Omega's calibre 8500, a bi-directional Co-Axial movement developed entirely in-house. The 8500 holds COSC chronometer certification and uses a free-sprung balance with twin barrels delivering approximately 60 hours of power reserve. The Co-Axial escapement reduces friction and theoretically extends service intervals — a genuinely meaningful technical advance rather than a marketing talking point.

Among collectors, the 42mm Planet Ocean occupies a respected position: large enough for legibility, honest in its dive-watch DNA, and backed by one of the industry's more credible in-house movements. The grey ceramic bezel variant has particular appeal as it occupies a subtle middle ground between the sport-aggressive black bezel and dressier options. It wears confidently off the wrist of someone who reaches for their watch as a daily tool rather than a display piece.

Arne Hjeltnes — known in Norway as a writer, former Olympian, and television host — projects exactly that sensibility. The Planet Ocean 42 in steel retailed around $5,700 and trades on the grey market in a healthy range, remaining accessible relative to equivalent Swiss tool watches. It is a choice that speaks to understated confidence — and that is a reasonable editorial verdict on this sighting.