Omega Relaunches the Railmaster With Modern Upgrades

by Barbara Wilson

Omega has officially reintroduced the Railmaster, a heritage model first launched in 1957 as part of the brand’s original professional tool watch lineup. The updated version, unveiled today, blends the Railmaster’s rugged, functional design with state-of-the-art antimagnetic technology.

The original Railmaster (ref. CK2914) debuted alongside the Speedmaster and Seamaster 300, forming Omega’s now-famous “Professional Trilogy.” While the Speedmaster was designed for motorsport and the Seamaster for diving, the Railmaster served professionals exposed to strong magnetic fields—such as railway workers, engineers, and scientists. It used a soft iron inner case to shield the movement, offering protection up to 1,000 gauss, far beyond the 60 gauss most watches could withstand at the time.

Despite its technical appeal, the Railmaster struggled to find a market and was discontinued in 1963. Meanwhile, the Speedmaster and Seamaster rose to global fame—the former earning iconic status through NASA’s moon missions and the latter gaining popularity in the James Bond films.

Omega revived the Railmaster briefly in 2003 and again in 2017 as part of the brand’s 60th anniversary “Trilogy” collection. Later that year, it returned as a regular production model, equipped with a brushed steel case and Omega’s METAS-certified Co-Axial Master Chronometer movement, offering magnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss.

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The new release includes two 38mm stainless steel variants. One features a gray dial with a black gradient and bold white Super-LumiNova hour markers, available on either a black leather strap or a steel bracelet. The other has a beige dial with a small seconds subdial and vintage-style lume, paired with a golden brown leather strap or matching bracelet.

Both models adopt a symmetrical case design similar to the Seamaster Aqua Terra, finished with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The watches are powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer calibers 8806 and 8804, which achieve high magnetic resistance without needing a Faraday cage. These movements are certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

Celebrities such as Eddie Redmayne and Kevin Hart have been seen wearing the Railmaster. Redmayne recently wore it in the TV series The Day of the Jackal, in which he plays the title character, perhaps a fitting match for the watch’s quietly precise persona.

Long overshadowed by its famous siblings, the Railmaster now returns with modern engineering, fresh design elements, and renewed attention from watch fans and the film world alike.

Whether it can finally rise to the level of the Speedmaster and Seamaster remains to be seen.

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