This week on ?Vintage Eye,? we?re bringing our focus to the third musketeer of Omega?s iconic ?Class of ?57? trio: we’ve already covered the Seamaster 300 and the Speedmaster; this time around we turn our attention to the Railmaster.
This distinctive watch, like its aforementioned sister pieces, was released in 1957 and targeted at scientists and technicians working in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields (vintage picture below, via Antiquorum). It competed directly with similarly-developed watches like the Rolex Milgauss, released in 1956, and the IWC Ingenieur, released in 1954, with its focus on use by railroad workers, from which it aptly derived its name. The original Railmaster, the CK 2914, worked to differentiate itself as the anti-magnetic watch of choice with a magnetic resistance of 1,000 gauss made possible by a copper-finished movement, double case, extra-thick dial, and iron dusting throughout. However, the piece did not prove to have as much appeal, or staying power, as its ?57 counterparts or its contemporary competitors, and eventually ceased production in 1963. In recent years, the series has been revived in short production runs numerous times, and in 2017 it returned to the market in a special vintage homage to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its release.
The new release, the Omega Railmaster 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Master Chronometer (Ref. 220.10.38.20.01.002), is a 38-mm, highly legible, steel-on-steel historical tribute. ...