Quest for the Next
There are two parts to watch collecting. Finding the next watch and enjoying the ones you have. I learned this with my last purchase.
I’d been saving up for a couple years and was getting close to the point where I’d be making my next purchase. I tried on the autumn four seasons Grand Seiko and like it a lot. The gold and the blue looked phenomenal together.
I don’t had any ADs within two and half hours from me so after a while I talked myself out of it. I began to think it was too blingy. While that may not actually be the case that is what I thought at the time. This got me looking at more under the radar pieces like smooth bezel Tudor BB 36s, Rolex OP(hah if they actually existed), IWC Pilots Watches, and Omega Railmasters.
Jump forward a few months and I’m visiting my family in Georgia. While I certainly spent time with them I also found some ADs nearby and yes I did visit them. When you love watches you have to always be playing 4D chess to plan out your next purchase. I tried on a few IWCs and for some reason something about them just didn’t click for me. Then a found an AD with a single blue Railmaster. One of the watches on my list of considerations.
Trying it on I was more that pleasantly surprised. The case is fantastic, the bracelet was low profile, and while the face was simple it still had character. Was I smitten yes absolutely. I goggled at it the rest of my time in Georgia. It is a fantastic piece.
Once I was back home though my mind shifted on it a little. It was my most expensive watch and while it looked nice it didn’t tell me at a glance that it was my most expensive piece. Should it have more polish on it? Should it have applied indices? these and other questions came to mind.
Thankfully I was able to pump the brakes and begin to appreciate it for what it was. It was a low profile sports watch that keeps fantastic time. The dial may be under the radar but has a surprising amount of depth in different conditions. My mind was so busy thinking about everything it want I forgot to appreciate it for what it was. So remember l to enjoy your watches and not just the hunt for the next.
Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I just wanted to share my experience. Hope you enjoy the pictures as well
Great story - finding your way to a piece can sometimes takes you different places, but in the end you are rewarded with something that feels that more special. Glad you didn’t overthink it too much when you got home, because it’s an absolutely beautiful piece with so much character to love on its own! Congrats on the new watch - and great photos as well! 🤙🍻
I seem to go through a similar thing with most watch acquisitions, regardless of their price. The first day or two on wrist, it looks just a bit wrong. Not long after that I start to appreciate it more.
Great dial on that Railmaster!
Wonderful watch and story. Thank you for sharing. It's always great to hear others experiences.
4D chess is an understatement haha. Congratulations on the beautiful piece though!
I’ve actually had this with my two Omega’s. I own a SMP300 and a vintage Speedmaster. Been thinking about how this is the best 2 watch combination in my opinion, though When I first bought the Seamaster I was kinda dissappointed after a few days. In my mind I thought is this it? then a couple of months later I am faling in love with it all over again, same goes for my Speedmaster
Great story. Enjoy your beatiful watch.
Great story - finding your way to a piece can sometimes takes you different places, but in the end you are rewarded with something that feels that more special. Glad you didn’t overthink it too much when you got home, because it’s an absolutely beautiful piece with so much character to love on its own! Congrats on the new watch - and great photos as well! 🤙🍻
Glad you enjoyed the story! Yeah since it was my most pricey piece there was an odd dichotomy between the price and how I felt it should look. I’ve grown to really appreciate it though.
I seem to go through a similar thing with most watch acquisitions, regardless of their price. The first day or two on wrist, it looks just a bit wrong. Not long after that I start to appreciate it more.
Great dial on that Railmaster!
Yeah even if it looks dope and awesome it feels weird on the wrist at first. I love the watch now. The shimmer and texture of the dial is really interesting to look at.
4D chess is an understatement haha. Congratulations on the beautiful piece though!
Totally haha gotta always plan and scheme!
I’ve actually had this with my two Omega’s. I own a SMP300 and a vintage Speedmaster. Been thinking about how this is the best 2 watch combination in my opinion, though When I first bought the Seamaster I was kinda dissappointed after a few days. In my mind I thought is this it? then a couple of months later I am faling in love with it all over again, same goes for my Speedmaster
100% I got it back in early Dec and in Feb I’ve really grown to enjoy the watch. I think the case is one of the best parts about it. The twisted lugs are awesome and even though it may be all brushed I think there are different fineness of brushing.
Great story. Enjoy your beatiful watch.
Thanks!
This piece with a gray dial is my favorite Omega and on my short list specifically because of the all-brushed and understated finish.
The Railmaster originated in 1957 with an internal Faraday cage offering 1000 gauss of antimagnetism for railroad workers, scientists, anybody working where magnetic fields could ruin the accuracy of a timepiece. It was an absolute tool watch... and now it has matured.
We have the beautiful case curves of the Aqua Terra line, the interesting yet still subtle vertical dial texture that changes colors slightly with angle, a sector dial and sans serif cardinal numerals all saying something but not too loud. Even the lume indices are inside a recessed subdial so they maintain a perfectly flat surface. Then you have the new movement which is built with amagnetic materials, upgrading the protection from 1,000 to 15,000 gauss -- literally capable of maintaining COSC/METAS specs after exposure inside a standard-power MRI machine.
It's the latest iteration of a 1957 tool watch produced to today's technical specs and finishing abilities but without losing the spirit of the original. Even more powerful but still not flashy. A diesel truck at heart. Nobody knows it's a $5200 watch unless they already know why it's worth it, and frankly a deal at that price. And so if I saw you on the street wearing it, I don't know if I would be more appropriate to give you a smile and high-five like a fellow enthusiast or just a nod of respect like someone who sees one of his own understated kind. Either way, wear it with satisfaction.
This piece with a gray dial is my favorite Omega and on my short list specifically because of the all-brushed and understated finish.
The Railmaster originated in 1957 with an internal Faraday cage offering 1000 gauss of antimagnetism for railroad workers, scientists, anybody working where magnetic fields could ruin the accuracy of a timepiece. It was an absolute tool watch... and now it has matured.
We have the beautiful case curves of the Aqua Terra line, the interesting yet still subtle vertical dial texture that changes colors slightly with angle, a sector dial and sans serif cardinal numerals all saying something but not too loud. Even the lume indices are inside a recessed subdial so they maintain a perfectly flat surface. Then you have the new movement which is built with amagnetic materials, upgrading the protection from 1,000 to 15,000 gauss -- literally capable of maintaining COSC/METAS specs after exposure inside a standard-power MRI machine.
It's the latest iteration of a 1957 tool watch produced to today's technical specs and finishing abilities but without losing the spirit of the original. Even more powerful but still not flashy. A diesel truck at heart. Nobody knows it's a $5200 watch unless they already know why it's worth it, and frankly a deal at that price. And so if I saw you on the street wearing it, I don't know if I would be more appropriate to give you a smile and high-five like a fellow enthusiast or just a nod of respect like someone who sees one of his own understated kind. Either way, wear it with satisfaction.
Yeah honestly the watch is fantastic. I have a few other watches all quality pieces but this one keeps the best time. It is off by +10ish seconds after a month. The thing that really threw me for a loop was how flat the dial was. To pull it off as well as Omega does is rare and for a sports watch that is understated but remarkably still has some elegance to it.
Thanks for sharing all the info on it. The Railmaster is really under represented by Omega it is a wonderful piece.
Wow, your photos look way better than Omega’s! The lume appears whiter — fauxtina has been overdone, imho. And I love that it is all brushed: below the radar, plus little scratches are fixable with scotchbrite.
Love the railmaster. My favorite watch Omega is offering these days
Yeah honestly the watch is fantastic. I have a few other watches all quality pieces but this one keeps the best time. It is off by +10ish seconds after a month. The thing that really threw me for a loop was how flat the dial was. To pull it off as well as Omega does is rare and for a sports watch that is understated but remarkably still has some elegance to it.
Thanks for sharing all the info on it. The Railmaster is really under represented by Omega it is a wonderful piece.
if you take the watch off at night, try resting it in different positions. You’ll probably find some where it runs slightly fast, and some slightly slow. Once you have “the combination” you can keep it even more accurate. I have a SMP Diver300 and an AquaTerra. Both are within 1sec right now, and I haven’t had to set either of them in a couple months.
Wow, your photos look way better than Omega’s! The lume appears whiter — fauxtina has been overdone, imho. And I love that it is all brushed: below the radar, plus little scratches are fixable with scotchbrite.
The blue Railmaster actually has white lume actuall. The brushed metal is really nice because I honestly can’t tell if I’ve got a scratches on it yet. The different levels of brushing are nice because some have a bit of luster to them.
Love the railmaster. My favorite watch Omega is offering these days
Same here. I’d tweak a few things about the aqua terra and then I’d be into it. I’m not crazy about the teak pattern.
This watch ticks all the boxes for me. An absolute stunner and satisfies my 'tool watch' preference. BUT..... for the money, give me applied indices!
if you take the watch off at night, try resting it in different positions. You’ll probably find some where it runs slightly fast, and some slightly slow. Once you have “the combination” you can keep it even more accurate. I have a SMP Diver300 and an AquaTerra. Both are within 1sec right now, and I haven’t had to set either of them in a couple months.
Oooo I didn’t really think of that I’ll need to start testing out different positions!
This watch ticks all the boxes for me. An absolute stunner and satisfies my 'tool watch' preference. BUT..... for the money, give me applied indices!
You know I was of the same thought for a little while but I think for the amount of lume on the dial I’ve come to appreciate the completely smooth face on the dial.