Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1959 Reference No: 2913-3 Movement No: 16’038’288, movement further stamped "OXG" Model Name: Seamaster 300 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 500, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed. Accessories: Accompanied by Omega Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present timepiece on March 12, 1959 and its subsequent sale to the United States. Literature: A similar example of a reference 2913-3 is illustrated in John Goldberger’s Omega Sportswatches, pp. 46-47.
Catalogue Essay
The Seamaster line is the longest-running series of Omega models still in production today. Its origin dates back to 1948 when, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the brand, a new wristwatch model was released for the occasion. Featuring robust water resistance capabilities, this was a civilian adaptation of technologies developed during wartime. These early Seamasters still maintained the design typical of post-war, time-only wristwatches such as a smaller case diameter and delicate architectural elements.
The early 1950s saw global population growth beginning to emerge from the shadow of World War II, a boom in the international economy and technical innovation, and a growing public desire for leisure activities. Fittingly, it also saw the birth of iconic tool watches such as the Rolex Submariner, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and the Zodiac Sea Wolf. A few years later, in 1957, Omega joined the fray, introducing their now-celebrated “Holy Trinity” of professional timepieces: the Speedmaster (ref. CK2915) for timing industrial production, the Railmaster (ref. CK2914) for engineering and other specialized work in magnetized environment, and indeed the Seamaster 300 (ref. 2913, exemplified by the present lot) for diving. These three models are considered so iconic and landmark, that last year (2017) a re-edition of all three was issued by Omega to overwhelming acclaim from the collector community.
This early third iteration of the first generation of the Omega Seamaster 300, reference 2913-3, is almost identical to the first and second iteration, the references 2914-1 and -2. Produced in 1959, it sports the same "Broad Arrow" handset, triangle indexes, and bi-metallic rotating bezel in its original Bakelite. With its O-ring gasket and screw-down caseback providing water resistance, the Omega Seamaster 300 was able to withstand depths of up to 300 meters; in fact, it is known to have reached 365 meters. Though sometimes seen with the lollipop seconds hands, advertisements of the time show that the model was offered without the lollipop seconds hand, as is the case with the present lot. Future generations of Seamaster would take myriad forms, but nothing can quite compete with the original.
Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.
Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.