Cazalea offers a captivating account of an Omega Seamaster party, providing a candid look at the brand's diverse and sometimes ambiguous Seamaster line. His report, enriched with personal observations and historical pieces from the Omega museum, highlights the challenge of defining the Seamaster identity across its varied models, making it a valuable read for both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts.
I was invited to a
Seamaster party at the local Omega boutique last night. It was last minute but I had no conflicts on my schedule - they promised watches, good conversations, food and champagne! Who could say no?
I need to preface my report with a disclosure that I have had at least 6-8 Omegas at one time, even though I now can find only four. I buy watches that interest me but often don't get fully engaged with every brand.
Thus, I can't really articulate what makes an Omega a Seamaster rather than some other model. After some conversation, I learned that the sales force has the same problem. It's partially cosmetics (case shape, lugs, etc) and of course "sporty styling" but there has not been a clearcut model identity for Seamaster. In fact, there are manual, automatic and quartz movements; gold, stainless, titanium cases; with or without Seahorse on caseback; digital and analog displays, etc. There are current models, remakes of traditional models, and those that fall in-between (not new; not vintage -- just "used).
With all that out of the way, let's enter the party... at the back of the boutique we were greeted with a display of Seamaster models from the Omega museum:
Special Olympic commemorative model
The Cosmic
I don't know how this becomes a Seamaster, but it was in the same case ...
I had to stop with the photos in order to grab a glass of champagne. It was wonderful, as French champagne should be.
Continuing around the room, I saw more watches. This is sporty
This bezel implies a dive watch
and this 300 implies more water resistance.
A sporty chronograph but not a diving watch
A combination of labeling has this both a Seamaster and a DeVille. This is before brands wisely stopped using the term "Waterproof"
Now some unique case shapes:
bright colors
and serious diving artillery.
Finally - the shocking revelation that these are Seamasters, too.
(and I used to complain that Seiko's naming system was confusing. I repent.)
Of course, they were also displaying watches we could buy, such as these remakes of earlier models:
Even I could identify these, because on close inspection they all say Co-axial or Co-axial Master - I was told "Master" means more silicon in the escapement and more resistance to magnetism.
While I was learning about Omegas, the rest of the folks were enjoying food and drink.
As is often the case, there was some show-and-tell going on between customers - in addition to all the wrist-fulls of Omegas, one guy pulled out a case of Pulsars that he happened to have with him. As old watch nerds we laughed with delight at the red glowing numerals and were insanely jealous. He let us try on a few. The younger guys scoffed at us.
I'll throw in a few Speedmasters which we all know from Nilomis posting constantly and arousing our desires to own one or many of them.
and finally, my thanks to all the Omega boutique staff who patiently explained their products, poured generously, and who kindly gave me a service case so I wouldn't put my grandpa's gold bumper-wind Omega back in my pocket.
My surprise favorite of the night was this one and I am pretty sure it's not a Seamaster.
Cazalea
