Omega Builds On The Legacy Of The Seamaster Watches

This year marks two important milestones for the Omega Seamaster – the 70th anniversary of the first ever Seamaster timepieces and the 25th anniversary of the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M

Above Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds (left) and Central Second (Photo: Omega)

Do you know that during World War II, Omega supplied more than 110,000 watches to the British military? When the war ended, Omega harnessed its knowledge in robust technology into a stylish range of civilian watches, giving birth to the Seamaster in 1948, which became the Swiss watchmaker’s first family of watches.

Comprising a small seconds and a central seconds model, these classic watches retain the old style but suitably updated with the latest Master Chronometer calibres in 2018. The Master Chronometer is Omega’s innovative solution to combat the negative effects of magnetism and certified by METAS (the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) to be anti-magnetic up to 15,000 gauss.

The Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds is endowed with the Master Chronometer Calibre 8804 and features 18k gold leaf-shaped central hands.

Meanwhile, the Seamaster 1948 Central Second is powered by Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 with dauphine-styled and domed hour and minute hands.

Above The embellished sapphire crystal caseback of the Seamaster 1948 (Photo: Omega)

These subtle design differences of the hands allude to the original watches, as do the stainless steel case, polished bezel and silver opaline domed dial embossed with the vintage Omega logo Ω, elements shared by both watches.

Their sapphire crystal casebacks are fitted with the patented Naiad locking system that allows them to be decorated with the engravings of the 70th anniversary logo as well as images of the Chris-Craft boat and Glaster Meteor aircraft as a reminder to the watch’s origin as an instrument for adventure seekers. These watches are water-resistant up to 60m.

Also see: What makes the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra ticks

Above Seamaster Professional Diver 300M in stainless steel with PVD chrome dial and white enamel diving scale (Photo: Omega)

The Bond connection

In 1993, Omega released the professional Seamaster Diver 300M that found greater fame when Pierce Brosnan strapped one on as James Bond in Goldeneye in 1995. The film costume designer, Lindy Hemming, said: “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear the Seamaster with the blue dial.”

Since then, the watch has been closely associated with the film franchise, appearing in every movie including the last Bond outing, Spectre. With the next Bond movie still a year or more away, there are no less than 14 new models – six in stainless steel, and eight in a mix of steel and gold - to keep us occupied until then.

Above Seamaster Professional Diver 300M in steel and gold with blue dial and Ceragold diving scale (Photo: Omega)

Now endowed with the new Master Chronometer Calibre 8800, the diving bezel has been upgraded with ceramic with the scale in Ceragold or white enamel. Ceramic is used to construct the dial, available in black, blue or PVD chrome, and is laser-engraved with a very distinctive wave pattern.

The signature openworked sword-shaped hands have been subtly redesigned while the helium escape valve (seen at ‘10’) is now given a conical shape.

Above Seamaster Professional Diver 300M in titanium tantalum (Photo: Omega)

There is also a limited edition (2,500 pieces) in titanium case and bracelet with tantalum bezel base and middle links. Sedna gold on the bezel, crown, helium escape valve and middle links offer a nice contrast against the overall grey appearance.

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Topics

Omega Omega Seamaster Seamaster Professional Diver 300M Dive Watches Master Chronometer

Tatler Asia

Omega Builds On The Legacy Of The Seamaster Watches

The Bond connection