Pre-Owned Omega Seamaster Chronograph .322 40960069/AS05616

Why We Love It

Forgive us if we sound like a broken record here - but one of our favorite things about early Omega Seamasters is the seemingly infinite variations they were available in.

The Seamaster line has been with us for 70 years and includes a multitude of desirable references, from slim-line dress models to professional-grade divers. The chronograph references in particular offer considerable value proposition alongside tremendous design and horological chops, especially when you take into consideration that some are powered by the famous Calibre .321.

Case in point: The reference CK2886 we have here. Dating to the 1950s, this lovely Seamaster chronograph houses the iconic Calibre .321 column-wheel chronograph movement fit into its 35mm steel case with drilled, beveled lugs, barrel pushers, acrylic crystal and signed crown. Its satin silver radium dial features a lovely, even patina and “dart”-style hour markers alongside an applied Arabic index at 12 o’clock. With an applied Omega logo, inner tachymeter scale, ultra-desirable “Alpha”-style hands and sub-register hands, this beautiful chronograph is not only a rare bird, but a really, really good-looking one at that!

Want to fly under the radar with your chronograph? This one will instantly grant you a head nod from connoisseurs.

The Omega Story 

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.