Strange But True Watch Tales: How The Seamaster Logo Landed On The Speedmaster

During World War II, Omega gained valuable industrial experience while supplying the British Ministry of War with military watches made to rigorous specifications. This new generation of military watches enabled Omega to launch the Seamaster collection in the aftermath of the war, making the 1948 model one of the most innovative watches of all time.

But beside the story behind the original Seamaster collection, there are two strange facts. First is the fact that the Seamaster logo is on the Speedmaster’s caseback. And second, the fascinating origins of the famous seahorse logo itself.
 

When the Omega Seamaster collection was born in 1948, it was made without a caseback stamping as it was the first family of wristwatches made by the brand. But in 1952, Omega introduced the Constellation collection, a chronometer line, with the immediately recognizable Geneva Observatory cupola serving as its logo. At that stage, it became clear the Seamaster should also have a logo to symbolize the collection.
 

Discover how the designer for the Omega Constellation’s logo had a revelation while in Venice at one of the first Omega boutique openings. Petros Protopapas, Omega’s International Brand Heritage Manager, reveals everything to Watchonista in the video below!
 

Introduced in 1956, the seahorse logo was engraved on the caseback of the Seamaster and the Railmaster, which was primarily a water-resistant watch with specific protection against magnetic exposure.

So, with the 1957 launch of the trilogy collection in (consisting of the Seamaster, Speedmaster, and Railmaster), Omega issued a line of professional watches engraved with the new mythical seahorse logo.
 

(Photography by Pierre Vogel, Videos by Léon Orlandi)