Incomparable LEGACY

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the OMEGA Seamaster.

- KELVIN TAN

In today’s vast sea of watches, the OMEGA Seamaster stands as a prominent and highly recognised name. It has established itself as a renowned timepiece associated with oceanic exploration, and one would naturally assume that its creation was specifically inspired by this purpose. However, similar to other timeless designs, the evolution of the Seamaster has followed a distinctive path. Over the course of 75 years, its trajectory has transformed, and its true origins are far more intriguing than one might envision.

AT FIRST, THERE WAS THE MARINE

OMEGA’s legacy in the maritime realm began with the introduction of the “OMEGA Marine” in 1932, which holds the distinction of being the world’s first diver’s watch available to civilian divers. This timepiece boasted a cleverly designed double case, offering exceptional water resistance that captivated adventurous explorers and laid the foundation for OMEGA’s future in diving. Notably, it was the watch of choice for Charles William Beebe, the pioneering American explorer who developed the “bathysphere,” a spherical diving vessel enabling humans to explore the depths of the ocean. The “Marine” timepiece proved its worth during Beebe’s historic dive to a depth of 14 m in the 1930s. With its pioneering construction, the “Marine” also earned the trust of explorers like Yves Le Prieur and marked a definitive turning point for OMEGA.

1948 – THE SEAMASTER ARRIVES

Between 1940 and 1945, OMEGA supplied over 110,000 timepieces to the British Ministry of Defence for use by the Royal Air Force and its other branches. These watches were highly regarded by the airmen and sailors due to their water resistance and dependability in combat.