Omega Railmaster

It’s safe to say that the Railmaster has been greatly overshadowed by the Speedmaster in the minds of collectors and enthusiasts. 

Released in the same year, 1957, it lacked the flashy connection to racing — and to NASA — that the Speedmaster has. Nor did it attract the attention of SCUBA divers, like the Seamaster 300 did. But the Railmaster, with its unusual purpose and case design, is worthy of attention and praise by serious vintage collectors, as well as people who simply appreciate a well made watch.

The 1950s was a decade marked by transition. Experienced soldiers returning from military service transitioned into the workforce, while watch manufacturers transitioned from producing military watches to producing watches for the men entering new trades. Like the IWC Ingenieur or the Rolex Milgauss, the Railmaster was intended for professionals who worked closely with machines that emitted strong magnetic fields and electrical currents.

In the Railmaster’s case, it was intended specifically for railway employees, but its antimagnetic capabilities made it useful for engineers and scientists working in numerous other fields as well. Omega addressed the problems magnetism imparts on mechanical watches by encasing the movement in a soft iron or ‘NuMetal’ cage. To give the movement additional protection, Omega made Railmaster dials a full 1mm thick, which was thicker than the conventional 0.4mm used by other manufacturers.

This added protection meant that the Railmaster could withstand exposure to 1,000 Gauss — the same protection afforded the Rolex Milgauss that was released the previous year. Also, since this watch was the stablemate of the Seamaster, Omega’s first dedicated dive watch, the Railmaster was water resistant up to 200 feet, or 60 meters.

Visually, the appearance of the Railmaster has much in common with the Seamaster 300: The dials are similar, with Arabic numerals and large luminescent triangles at the poles. The Railmaster went through several variations, with different dial and hand designs, including some for the British and American railways as well as for the RAF. However, the Railmaster’s esoteric purpose meant that it never quite caught on as well as the Speedmaster and the Seamaster, and it was discontinued in 1963. It wouldn’t be seen again in Omega catalogs until 2003, when Omega rolled out the co-axial calibers conceived by master horologist George Daniels.

This particular Railmaster, a Reference 135.004-63 SC features a 38mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a signed crown, a polished bezel, and a matte black Tritium dial with printed quadrant ‘Arabic’ indices and a matching handset. Powered by Omega's Caliber 286 hand-cranking movement, it comes paired to an excellent, stainless steel expanding flat-link bracelet with a signed blade clasp. It also is accompanied by an extract from the Omega archives dating production to 1964, and delivery to Lebanon.

Due to limited production numbers, Railmasters don’t appear often on the vintage market. If they do, it’s not for very long —  the model has a small (but highly devoted) following, so examples like this one are snatched up faster than lighting.

 

The story of Omega is one that captivates generations of horological devotees. The second-largest watchmaker in the world in terms of annual turnover, the Bienne-based firm has been continuously producing watches since 1848, which it does today under the auspices of the Swatch Group.

Founded in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland as La Generale Watch Co, Omega was well ahead of the horological curve from the beginning, developing the first minute-repeating wristwatch in 1892 as well as the eponymous “Omega” caliber in 1894. This 19-ligne movement was revolutionary in that its parts could be replaced by any watchmaker in the world without modification, while its winding and time-setting via the crown provided an industry standard.

Omega became the timepiece supplier of choice for the British Royal Flying Corps in 1917, while the Americans followed suit in 1918, choosing their watches for the U.S. Army. Awards for precision chronometry became almost commonplace, while 1932 saw them become the first watch brand to time an entire Olympic Games. Their Marine, which debuted the same year, is regarded as the first commercially available diver’s watch.

During the Second World War, Omega supplied well over 100,000 timepieces to British forces, making it the largest watch supplier to the British and her allies. These watches, from the unique 6B/159 to the famed “Dirty Dozen” W.W.W, remain highly collectible today.

1948 saw the launch of the original Seamaster: Built upon the tool watch legacy of the brand’s timepieces from the War, it’s since become a byword for reliability and legibility, both as a dress watch and, more recently, as a serious diver’s tool. The Speedmaster, released in 1957 and originally marketed for the auto-racing market, first rocketed to space on the wrist of American astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962. However, it became a household name when, in 1969, it accompanied Buzz Aldrin on the Moon, and later helped save the space-stranded crew of Apollo 13 in 1970 by timing a critical rocket burn.

Today, Omega’s watches — all of which feature in-house movements — run the gamut from svelte dress pieces to the venerable Speedmaster in all its guises. Providing an unquestionable value proposition, Omega is a brand that deserves to be at the center of every serious watch lover’s collection.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.