There was a time, not very long ago, when trains were the most important mode of transportation, even for the rich and the mighty. So, besides making watches for aviation and seafaring, some of the leading watch companies created timepieces with the railways and railway staff in mind — Omega was one of them. In 1957, the Swiss watch brand released its very first Railmaster model. Now, 60 years later, the timepiece is making a triumphant return. The new Railmaster follows the same simple and elegant design traits of the original, but with updated touches of style and state of the art mechanical movement.

As the name suggests, the first Omega Railmaster was built for railway staff or anyone who worked close to electrical fields. Shielded by an inner protective case, the watch was able to resist magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gausses, guaranteeing reliable precision for the wearer. By comparison, most antimagnetic watches at that time offered protection at only around 60 gausses.

Omega is still one of the industry’s leading names in anti-magnetic innovation, and the new Railmaster is 15 times more resistant than the original, thanks to its Master Chronometer Calibre 8806. Certified at the industry’s highest standard by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), and able to withstand magnetism of 15,000 gausses, this new Railmaster model recalls the superb anti-magnetic qualities of its predecessor.

The new vertically-brushed grey dial includes recessed hour-markers, which are all filled with ‘vintage’ SuperLumiNova. The dial also features a railway minute track, Omega’s ‘crosshair’ symbol of precision, and a transferred beige ‘Railmaster’ indication, which delivers a classic touch. Finally, the baton-style hour and minute hands are complemented by the popular ‘lollipop’ central seconds hand, which has a close connection to the railways.

The 40mm brushed symmetrical case is made from stainless steel, and its wave-edged case back features a unique locking system developed by Omega called Naiad, which keeps all the engravings and wording always oriented vertically. The watch is water resistant to 150m and comes with a fully brushed and integrated stainless steel bracelet, or a brown leather NATO strap. A second version of the watch is available with a black dial.