{"id":26159,"date":"2021-03-23T20:53:52","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T20:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/the-omega-trilogy-1957-limited-editions-watches-hands-on\/"},"modified":"2022-08-13T09:53:25","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T07:53:25","slug":"omega-1957-trilogy-speedmaster-railmaster-seamaster-300-reissue-baselworld-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/en\/omega-1957-trilogy-speedmaster-railmaster-seamaster-300-reissue-baselworld-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"The Omega Trilogy 1957 Limited Editions watches hands-on"},"content":{"rendered":"

Number three is the symbol of perfection. Musicians call triple time \u201cperfect\u201d and relegate the C semicircle \u2013 the sign of imperfection, and, by definition, incompleteness \u2013 to quaternary time. The perfect trilogy shows up in Basel in the form of a single work by Omega<\/strong> and three historical names: the Speedmaster<\/strong>, the Seamaster<\/strong>, and the Railmaster<\/strong>.\u00a0I decided to call it a \u201csingle work\u201d because if the maison had come up with a single re-edition of each one of these timepieces, the circle wouldn\u2019t have fully closed and everything would have been seen as a \u201cclassic limited edition\u201d, but things didn\u2019t go that way.<\/p>\n

\"OMEGA-Speedmaster-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-39-mm\"1957<\/strong>\u20132017<\/strong>; 60 years have passed by for the three collections that were presented, at the same time, in 1957<\/strong>. The design remained faithful to that of the original models, but it now sports a technological and innovative spirit too (it only resisted temptation on one single instance) that Omega<\/strong> has made us used to and that we can no longer do without. Three models that, almost perfectly, copy the history of three big icons from the 60s. As per Omega<\/strong>\u2019s declaration, the original drawings from the past were used and so were the optical scans of the original models so that, technically speaking, the result is the \u201cskin\u201d of the CAD sample that formed the base of this trilogy.<\/p>\n

\"OMEGA-Speedmaster-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-39-mm-7\"The very real icon of this brand, the Speedmaster<\/strong>, makes its come back following the pencil drawn lines of its famous designer; Claude Baillod. The symmetric case of the Omega\u00a0Speedmaster 60<\/strong>th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary\u00a0Limited\u00a0Edition\u00a0<\/strong>measures 38,6mm<\/strong>, the \u201cBroad Arrow\u201d counters are covered with SuperLuminova\u00ae<\/strong> that gives them a vintage effect, the Omega<\/strong> logo is applied and the dial features a tropical black colour. The tachy scale stays faithful to the original scale from 1957<\/strong>, although an editing of the font was required so that the writings and their positioning could match. The caliber hosted within is the evergreen manual 1861 caliber<\/strong> \u2013 based on the Lemania 861<\/strong> \u2013 a simplified version of the original and famous 321<\/strong> caliber that, we hope, Omega<\/strong> will bring back in a super-edition for collectors.<\/p>\n

\"Omega-Seamaster-300-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-39-mm-4\"From the main character in space, we move on to the historic main character in the sea; the Seamaster 300<\/strong> that stays faithful to model CK2913<\/strong> (in the Omega<\/strong> lingo, the CK<\/strong> acronym indicated those timepieces with a stainless steel case), the diameter of the case measures 39mm<\/strong>, the watch features \u201cBroad Arrow\u201d counters and a bi-directional ring made of black aluminum and featuring a \u201cknight\u201d at 12 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n

On the case-back lies the sea horse that was drawn using the approach from the past. We are all well aware that details are fundamental features at Omega<\/strong>\u2019s \u2013 just take a look at the Na\u00efad<\/strong> indication on the crown \u2013 a symbol of high waterproofing that confirms our thoughts. The most innovative part of the \u201cMaster of the sea\u201d is its in-house built 8806 caliber<\/strong> and Master Chronometer certified that allows it to enter \u2013 anti-magnetic-wise \u2013 a territory that, back in the days, belonged to the Railmaster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Omega-Railmaster-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-38-mm\"The Omega\u00a0Railmaster\u00a060<\/strong>th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary\u00a0Limited\u00a0Edition\u00a038mm<\/strong> is\u00a0the arch that closes the full circle of this trilogy and in my opinion \u2013 I am a big Speedmaster<\/strong>\u2019s fan \u2013 it is also the most interesting one, keeping in mind that there is no other watch in the Omega<\/strong> catalog that can match it. There is the Aqua Terra<\/strong> and I own its very first anti-magnetic version, but, let me tell you that it is not the same thing; it is as if it were a cousin that has slowly gone its own way and has left a void in the spot that used to belong to the Railmaster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The timepiece was originally created as a time measuring tool for professionals that were constantly dealing with anti-magnetic fields (i.e. railway workers, big plants workers) and is now equipped with the in-house built Master Chronometer certified\u00a08806 caliber<\/strong>; the state of the art in watch-making when it comes to this type of performance and, historically, the best timepiece to be equipped with this modern mechanic movement. It is as if you were suddenly equipping a flying machine designed by Leonardo da Vinci with some modern technology and the machine would start taking off the ground.<\/p>\n

\"Omega-Seamaster-300-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-39-mm\"The three timepieces come in a limited version; 3557<\/strong> pieces sold separately and equipped with a NATO<\/strong> strap and a leather strap<\/strong> too. The whole set comes in a box inspired to the original 1957<\/strong> one. Omega<\/strong> also crafted 557 pieces<\/strong> of the \u201cTrilogy<\/em>\u201d box that contains the three versions \u2013 with the same numbering \u2013 and six NATO straps<\/strong>, six leather straps<\/strong>, a tool to replace the strap, a leather travel case and, of course, the box that is faithful to the original one. This is an object for aficionados and a collectible item too.<\/p>\n

\"https:\/\/www.horbiter.com\/media\/uploads\/OMEGA-Speedmaster-60-Anniversary-Limited-Edition-39-mm-4\"In a nutshell, Omega<\/strong> leaves Baselworld 2017<\/strong> as the real winner thanks to its trilogy, its attention to detail both when it comes to presentation and packaging. The elongated and straight lugs of the\u00a0Omega\u00a0Speedmaster\u00a060th<\/sup> Anniversary\u00a0Limited\u00a0Edition\u00a038,6mm<\/strong> coupled with the hesalite glass<\/strong> are one of the nicest gifts Omega<\/strong> could ever give to hardcore and historic collectors who are in love with the very first Speedmaster<\/strong>. The only note that left me slightly perplexed is the decision to have the 8806 caliber<\/strong> inside the Seamaster 300<\/strong>; a very thoughtful choice from a technical point of view but slightly off rails for what the original version is concerned.<\/p>\n

It was as if you had a waterproof Seamaster<\/strong> that could go down up to a 300 metre depth; something that makes no sense and that\u2019s why the waterproofing limits of this timepiece stop at 60 metres. After many limited editions presented in the last few years, the Omega\u00a0Speedmaster\u00a060<\/strong>th<\/sup> Anniversary\u00a0Limited\u00a0Edition\u00a038,6mm<\/strong> goes back to its roots with no compromises. Let me end this article with a thought; I wonder what it could have been like visiting the Baselworld<\/strong> in 1957<\/strong> and witness the presentation of three new releases like these ones!<\/p>\n