OMEGA’s 60th Anniversary Trilogy
Hiren Kumar Bose on the 1957 Trilogy which pays tribute to Omega’s mechanical masterpieces
Stunning in their execution and true to their vintage counterparts Omega has hit a grand slam with the 1957 Trilogy, three Limited Edition models of the classics, namely the Seamaster 300, the Railmaster and the Speedmaster. Omega pays tribute to these three mechanical masterpieces by releasing special 60th Anniversary editions this year.
Using a unique digital scanning method on original examples of the watches to obtain cross-sections and accurate dimensions, the new trio received slight revisions for the 21st century. All three models have solid steel cases in brushed and polished finishes and are in the 38-39mm range. All feature black ‘tropic’ dials with darker vintage coloured lume and will come supplied on vintage style stainless steel bracelets. Each bracelet will feature a different retro Omega symbol logo on the clasp.
THE SPEEDMASTER 60TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION 38.6 MM
The first chronograph wristwatch (Speedmaster CK2915) originally debuted in 1957 in the world with its tachymeter scale on the bezel– intended to benefit race car drivers–as opposed to printed on the dial, the “broad arrow” Speedmaster is distinctive with its broad arrow hour hand and external steel tachymeter bezel. With its perfect match of the original ’57 tachymeter, the new release stays true to this design. It is powered by the 1861 calibre. Chosen by NASA for its astronauts during the Moon missions, Speedmaster instantly changed the face of the chronograph wristwatch. The Speedmaster Professional Deluxe was created to celebrate the Apollo 11 Moon landing with the first examples being given to all the astronauts active in the US space program as well as other prominent individuals.
THE RAILMASTER 60TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION 38 MM
Designed for engineers and other technicians who worked around strong magnetic fields often found in the vicinity of trains, the Railmaster CK2914 debuting in 1957 had a double cased anti-magnetic design to protect the movement. Then, the dial was soft iron and the watch featured a dual layer case back. Though the new model retains the original’s unpretentious style, its Master Chronometer 8806 movement takes antimagnetic to a whole new level, resisting fields of 15,000 gauss. The dial and hands are again faithful to the original, with the same arrow tipped hour hand and vintage style lume. The indices are sunk into the dial to allow for deeper lume plots that can give a stronger glow. Vintage Railmasters are a craze among collectors and command serious sums.
THE SEAMASTER 300 – 60TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION 39 MM
Based on the CK2913, this new Seamaster 300 features a black aluminum bezel and retains the famous Naïad sign on the crown, which back in ’57 was a mark of exceptional water resistance. Powering the 2017 model is the Master Chronometer 8806. As Omega’s first true dive watch, it has become a dive watch icon with its distinctive broad arrow hour hand. Like the original this too is water resistance up to 300 meters. The caseback continues to have the same original Seahorse logo engraved, just like the 1957 version. Then, it was the first to have the now standard layout of three counters and the timing scale on the bezel, thus ensuring the Speedmaster’s place not only as the most iconic chronograph ever created but also the most famous.
