The present watch was reportedly previously owned and used by Jacques Cousteau. The consigner purchased the watch from a gentleman who purchased the watch frrom Andre Galerne. Mr. Galerne notably started International Underwater Contractors, a company that became the world’s largest privately owned deep-sea construction company with nearly 100 deep-sea divers. According to the owner, Galerne asked Cousteau for one of these watches and Cousteau sold it to him since they were friends, but somewhat rivals. The Archives information of OMEGA seem to support the story of this watch being previously owned and used by Jacques Cousteau. According to the Archives of OMEGA the present watch was manufactured on May 10, 1972 and delivered to SSIH in France with a mention of "Budget special Montre de plongee." The opportunity to own a watch that was reportedly owned and used by Cousteau is truly exceptional.

There is a story published in the New York Times about Andre Galerne's life: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/business/18galerne.html?mcubz=0

The Seamaster 600 Professional model, also called the "PLOPROF" for "Plongeur Professional" or "professional diver," was launched in 1970. The Ploprof was developed by OMEGA in conjunction with Jacques Cousteau and Comex which is the French commercial diving company usually associated with Rolex. It took over 4 years to design and create this watch. The case is made out of one piece of steel.