One To Watch | OMEGA Seamaster Railmaster

A triumphant return of a stylish classic, the Omega Seamaster Railmaster was originally launched in 1957 for railway staff or anyone who worked close to electrical fields; the watch could withstand magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss.

Today’s Railmaster continues to be a smart timepiece both inside and out. The update to this iconic series still places emphasis on being anti-magnetic; it’s 15 times more resistant than the original and able to withstand magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss, whilst retaining the vintage styling of the exterior.

All-Brushed Finish

Omega have gone for an all-brushed finish, a move which is fairly rare these days as watch brands tend to go for a high polished finish. From the bracelet and the lugs to the 40mm stainless steel case and the dial, everything is matte brushed for an understated kind of cool. It’s the kind of finish we didn’t know we needed until now, with the watch being perfect for wearing with both casual and smart attire.

It works particularly well on both the dial options (you’ve got a choice between grey or black), and it's emphasised slightly; with the vertical brushes adding depth, drama and detail to an otherwise fairly simple dial. Simple is not to be scoffed at though, as Omega have clearly carefully thought this dial through.

There’s a railway minute track around the edge and Super-LumiNova-filled triangles at each hour, which are set into the dial so the surface is flush, matching perfectly with the ‘Railmaster’ lettering. The white Omega logo and ‘Co-Axial Master Chronometer’ tie in with the white Arabic numerals, and the ‘lollipop’ second hand recalls the world of railways.

And whilst Omega have nodded to many vintage references as seen on the original, the watch is still very much a modern piece designed for everyday appreciation, housing a very modern movement...

The Master Chronometer

The Railmaster is powered by the anti-magnetic Master Chronometer Calibre 8806, meaning you’re not only getting a COSC-certified movement but a movement with an extra certification on top of that; Master Chronometer-certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology.

This means the watch has passed extra tests for resistance to external environmental factors like magnetism, shock, temperature and water, and it will come with a Master Chronometer certificate showing the specific results of all eight tests.