The original Omega Railmaster of 1957 was perfectly suited to a role in working-class life, thanks to its reliable design and superb anti-magnetic properties. Denim jeans were once manufactured purely for the benefit of hard-working labourers in American industries. For a long time, the robust cloth was the choice of miners, factory workers, farmers, and of course, those on the railroads.
Today, the Denim jeans, as well as the Railmaster, have moved up the social ladder to become chic fashion icons. To pay homage to their shared rugged past, Omega releases a denim-inspired Railmaster.
It features a vertically-brushed “blue jeans” dial with indexes and hands with light-grey Super-LumiNova. There is also a beige lollipop central seconds hand and transferred Railmaster indication that are both reminiscent of the coloured stitching found in denim jeans.
Most uniquely, the model is beautifully presented on a genuine blue denim NATO strap with brown leather used on the underside and for the keepers. The same model is alternatively available on a stainless-steel bracelet.
Following the design of the Railmaster’s modern facelift, the 40 mm brushed symmetrical case is made from stainless-steel and features a conical crown and a wave-edged caseback with a NAIAD LOCK system to keep the wording in perfect position.
More than 60 years on, Omega is still one of the industry’s leading names in anti-magnetic innovation and, inside this new watch, the brand has included a Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 which is 15 times more resistant than the original Railmaster models. Certified at the industry’s highest standard by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), all Master Chronometer models can withstand magnetism of 15,000 gausses.
Omega had a strong connection with the railroad dating back to 1895, since which time it had been officially delivering watches to railway companies. To strengthen this bond further, the Railmaster was introduced in 1957. It was part of the Omega Masters Trilogy which also comprised the Speedmaster and the Seamaster. The Railmaster was the first Omega explicitly designed for professionals who worked with or in the vicinity of strong electric currents such as railway employees, scientists, technicians and electricians, among others. To protect the movement against the damaging effects of electromagnetic fields, it had a special antimagnetic double caseback.
In 2003, the Railmaster enjoyed a revival thanks to a revised re-edition. It was equipped with the high-quality movement featuring coaxial escapement, developed at the end of the 90s.
