SHOWCASING THE OMEGA SEAMASTER’S 50TH, 60TH, AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITIONS

Omega Seamaster 300 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Master Chronometer 39 mm / Credit: Monochrome Watches

The Omega Seamaster wasn’t always a dive watch – when it was released in 1948 it was designed for “town, sea, and country”. It was a gentleman’s watch, at 34 mm in diameter, and was dust and moisture proof. The inspiration came from watches that Omega had designed for use in World War II and it also has roots going back to the Omega Marine from 1932 – truly the world’s first dive watch (that was specifically tested and rated for diving at significant depths).

The Omega Seamaster was instantly popular and became the brand’s best seller. Today it remains the oldest model in Omega’s current collection and continues to be one of the most popular lines Omega offers.

The Omega Seamaster 300 (For the 60th Anniversary of the Trilogy of Tool Watches, 1957-2017)

In 1957, Omega released its famous trilogy of tool watches: the Omega Speedmaster, the Omega Seamaster, and the Omega Railmaster.

The Omega Seamaster 300 was designed specifically for underwater use. It was a direct competitor to the Rolex Submariner, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Zodiac Sea Wolf, and Breitling SuperOcean, to name a few. The original Omega Seamaster was the ref. CK2913 and this special edition did an excellent job of maintaining a respectful homage. These Omega limited editions included only 3,557 pieces of the Seamaster, Railmaster, and Speedmaster each and were released in 2017.

The three releases from the 1957 60th Anniversary Limited Edition. Each is limited to 3,557 pieces. / Credit: Hodinkee

The Omega Seamaster Skeleton (For the 50th Anniversary of the Omega Seamaster, 1948-1998)

In 1998, Omega released fifty Seamaster Skeleton ref. 2932.80.00s (white gold) and fifty Seamaster Skeleton ref. 2931.80.00s (yellow gold). This was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster. You can see the level of craftsmanship that went into the skeletonized design of the watch and the engraving on the movement. A true gem.

The Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds and Omega Seamaster 1948 Center Seconds (For the 70th Anniversary of the Omega Seamaster, 1948-2018)

In 2018, Omega released the Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds and the Omega Seamaster 1948 Center Seconds to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster. Each model was limited to 1,948 pieces.

The dial of the Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds includes a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock, while the Omega Seamaster 1948 Center Seconds boasts the classic vintage Omega aesthetic. The caseback of these limited edition timepieces was engraved with the 70th anniversary logo, a Chris-Craft boat, and a Gloster Meteor aircraft. This was to commemorate the aviators and mariners who trusted Omega’s tool watches during back in the 20th century.

The Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds and the Omega Seamaster 1948 Center Seconds / Credit: Hodinkee

The Omega Seamaster was Omega’s first family of watches after its release in 1948. After delivering more than 100,000 watches to the British Ministry of Defence with great success during WWII, the need for a peacetime application of this technology saw Omega look at the requirements of everyday citizens. The Omega Seamaster was that model in 1948. And today, it continues to be one of Omega’s top sellers, over 70 years later.

By: Eric Mulder

Read more:

Tyme, Anthony. “A Brief History of the Omega Seamaster.” Vintage Portfolio, August 19th, 2018, https://www.vintage-portfolio.com/a-brief-history-of-the-omega-seamaster/.
Westphalen, Louis. “Introducing The Omega Seamaster 300 60th Anniversary Limited Edition.” Hodinkee, March 22nd, 2017, https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/omega-seamaster-300-60th-anniversary-limited-edition-introducing.
Klint, David. “New & Noteworthy: The Omega Seamaster Skeleton 50th Anniversary.” European Watch Company, https://www.europeanwatch.com/blog/omega-seamaster-skeleton-50th-anniversary-review/.
“SEAMASTER 1948 LIMITED EDITIONS.” Omega, https://www.omegawatches.com/watches/seamaster/heritage-models/seamaster-1948/product.