The first Seamaster was produced by Omega in 1948 making 2018 its 70th Anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, two collectible Seamaster 1948 Limited Editions were created and will be available Fall 2018.
The Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds and the Seamaster 1948 Central Second both come in a 38 mm x 11.20 mm stainless steel case with a silvery opaline domed dial, a domed sapphire crystal, and a polished crown with a raised vintage Omega horseshoe emblem.
One is powered by caliber 8804 and the other by caliber 8806, although both movements are practically the same with the only differences being that one displays central seconds and the other features a subdial.
Even though these are made to have a vintage aesthetic both calibers incorporate Omega’s modern METAS-certified Co-Axial chronometer movements which beat at a rate of 3.5Hz (25,200 vph) and feature 55-hours of power reserve, 35 jewels, a silicon balance spring, free sprung balance wheel, rhodium-plated rotor that winds in both directions, rhodium plated bridges, Geneva waves in arabesque, and blackened screws, barrel, and balance wheel.
These are not true dive watches because they lack timing devices such as a rotating dive bezel and because 100 meters is the minimum required water-resistance set by the ISO6425 standard. However, at 60 meters of resistance they should be fine to wear swimming and other light-use water activities.
With that said, what the Seamster 1948 collection lacks in water-resistance they make up in looks. They look totally different from the regular dive watch line, and this is a good thing as it gives consumers another option to own an Omega if the modern dive watches are not desirable but the Omega name is. In a way, they wear more like a vintage or dress watch, which makes a great choice for those with small wrists or wanting to add a classic dress watch to their collection. Plus, considering each version is limited to 1,948 they should hold their value.
The Seamaster 1948 collection will available in the U.S. market in October and will retail for $6,700 (small seconds) and $6,150 (central seconds).
Read our original article on the Omega Seamaster 1948 Limited Editions.
