Lot 30
OMEGA, LIMITED EDITION 1957 TRILOGY SET MADE TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPEEDMASTER, RAILMASTER AND SEAMASTER 300, NO. 257⁄557
CASE NOS. Seamaster 300: 89’527’482, Railmaster: 89’519’530, Speedmaster: 78’772’431
Fermé21 July 2020
Estimation
CHF 18,000–28,000
Plus d'informations
Note du spécialiste
Launched in 2017 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of three landmark models of the Omega manufacture, the present set features accurate representations of the Seamaster 300, Railmaster and Speedmaster launched in 1957. With the help of a unique scanning technology, Omega was able to provide its Swiss watchmakers with the accurate representations of the original watches. Along with drawings of the original models, these served as design templates for the new watches, which though slightly revised, remain true to the spirit of 1957. The models therefore feature retro-style Omega logos on their clasps, the Omega logo used on the dial of each watch is a perfect replica of its 1957 original.
The Seamaster 300 model was highly coveted upon its creation for its water-resistance and style, made for diving and resisting to pressures of 300 meters. Considered a great achievement for the time, it was chosen by many of the world’s most celebrated explorers including Jacques-Yves Cousteau as well as military diving units such as the British Special Boat Service. The Seamaster 300 was also made famous due to its innovative “Naiad” winding crown. At a time when Rolex had the patent for the screw-down crown, Omega had to explore another path and ingeniously created a crown with an internal rubber sealing pack that sealed the movement and expanded as pressure increased. The higher the outside water pressure, the tighter the grip of the crown and its sealing material.
The Railmaster was built upon the experience Omega accumulated in creating anti-magnetic timepieces during previous decades. With the start of modern aviation and railroads in the 1950s, ever faster flights and trains became common and increased the requirement for watches that could resist to strong magnetic fields. To improve its resistance levels to magnetic fields, Omega experimented with the use of new metallic alloys as well as the Faraday Cage method which consists of a soft iron capsule that surrounds the watch movement inside the case. The addition of the capsule allied with a dial of extraordinary thickness deflecting magnetic waves and forces around the movement minimises the effects of magnetism on the accuracy of the watch. By using the experience gained during research, Omega was able to widely commercialise the anti-magnetic watch. In 1953, Omega delivered anti-magnetic watches to Britain’s Ministry of Defence and decided to create prototypes for civilian usage. These watches already sported the legendary “Railmaster” name. The complete batch was delivered to the Canadian Railways in a yearlong collaboration and research towards manufacturing the perfect antimagnetic watch.
Upon release of the model, the Speedmaster was an instant disruptor. Not only destined to become the first wristwatch to be worn on the moon, it was also the first chronograph with a timing scale engraved on its bezel. Meant to be a reliable, high-precision waterproof chronograph, the Speedmaster included technologies used in the Seamaster 300 such as an armoured glass, the O-ring gaskets and the “Naiad” crown. By 1962, the Speedmaster was chosen by American astraunauts for their upcoming Project Mercury flights because of its great legibility and quality. This eventually led to the selection of the Speedmaster by the NASA in 1964. The Speedmaster was declared “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions” and by 1965 accompanied astronaut Edward White on America’s first spacewalk, during the Gemini IV mission. The Speedmaster was later celebrated for becoming the first watch to be worn on the moon in when it accompanied Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong during the legendary Apollo 11 mission.
The Seamaster 300 model was highly coveted upon its creation for its water-resistance and style, made for diving and resisting to pressures of 300 meters. Considered a great achievement for the time, it was chosen by many of the world’s most celebrated explorers including Jacques-Yves Cousteau as well as military diving units such as the British Special Boat Service. The Seamaster 300 was also made famous due to its innovative “Naiad” winding crown. At a time when Rolex had the patent for the screw-down crown, Omega had to explore another path and ingeniously created a crown with an internal rubber sealing pack that sealed the movement and expanded as pressure increased. The higher the outside water pressure, the tighter the grip of the crown and its sealing material.
The Railmaster was built upon the experience Omega accumulated in creating anti-magnetic timepieces during previous decades. With the start of modern aviation and railroads in the 1950s, ever faster flights and trains became common and increased the requirement for watches that could resist to strong magnetic fields. To improve its resistance levels to magnetic fields, Omega experimented with the use of new metallic alloys as well as the Faraday Cage method which consists of a soft iron capsule that surrounds the watch movement inside the case. The addition of the capsule allied with a dial of extraordinary thickness deflecting magnetic waves and forces around the movement minimises the effects of magnetism on the accuracy of the watch. By using the experience gained during research, Omega was able to widely commercialise the anti-magnetic watch. In 1953, Omega delivered anti-magnetic watches to Britain’s Ministry of Defence and decided to create prototypes for civilian usage. These watches already sported the legendary “Railmaster” name. The complete batch was delivered to the Canadian Railways in a yearlong collaboration and research towards manufacturing the perfect antimagnetic watch.
Upon release of the model, the Speedmaster was an instant disruptor. Not only destined to become the first wristwatch to be worn on the moon, it was also the first chronograph with a timing scale engraved on its bezel. Meant to be a reliable, high-precision waterproof chronograph, the Speedmaster included technologies used in the Seamaster 300 such as an armoured glass, the O-ring gaskets and the “Naiad” crown. By 1962, the Speedmaster was chosen by American astraunauts for their upcoming Project Mercury flights because of its great legibility and quality. This eventually led to the selection of the Speedmaster by the NASA in 1964. The Speedmaster was declared “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions” and by 1965 accompanied astronaut Edward White on America’s first spacewalk, during the Gemini IV mission. The Speedmaster was later celebrated for becoming the first watch to be worn on the moon in when it accompanied Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong during the legendary Apollo 11 mission.