INTRODUCING: The Omega Seamaster 1948 Limited Editions 

Felix Scholz

The Seamaster is one of the enduring staples of the fine watch world, found on the wrists of young and old, all over the world. It turns out that this year the old favourite turns 70, and so we’ve obviously got new Omega Seamaster watches being released at Baselworld 2018 — like these Omega Seamaster 1948 Limited Editions, offered in small and central seconds variations.

Vital statistics

It’s not often you think about watches in the context of international events, but in the case of the Seamaster it’s pertinent. First released in 1948, while the world was still reeling from World War II, the original Seamaster built on the lessons Omega learned in the war — it’s a rugged, robust and overall accurate watch, the sort of watch they provided the British Ministry of Defence in their thousands, but with a more civilian flavour. Today, Omega have honoured that original design with two similar, but subtly different, variants. The Small Seconds model, features leaf-style hands in 18k white gold, adding an extra touch of elegance to the domed silver opaline dial with its applied markers. The Central Seconds is slightly more youthful, with sportier dauphine hands and SuperLuminova.

Both are powered by Master Chronometer movements — cals 8804 and 8806 respectively, visible though a commemorative caseback that seems to hedge its bets somewhat, with boat and plane illustrations.

Initial thoughts

This is proof again — if any were needed — that Omega knows how to do vintage. Great care, effort and thought has gone into this watch. The core details are right, like the case, with its mix of polished and brushed finishes; the clean dial and the domed sapphire are all you’d expect, but Omega have nailed the details — the period-correct notched crown, the dial text positioning, and the perfect old-school font. Lovely stuff.