Omega Seamaster automatic, 1958

Last Updated on April 19, 2025 by Jason

Since its introduction in 1948, the Omega Seamaster line has become a classic timepiece of Swiss watchmaking. In the modern world, the Seamaster is known for its rugged professional dive watches. However, Seamasters from the 1950s and 60s often displayed refined looks. They featured classic round cases and clean dials. Stainless steel was popular, and the dials came in silver or black with applied markers and dauphine hands. This modest, gentlemanly design made the Seamaster an ideal all-occasion watch. It suits both formal and casual outfits. This is exactly why I like vintage Omega Seamasters. This particular Omega Seamaster automatic, 1958, has a stainless steel case and houses a reliable 501 movement. It sits on my wrist, ticking as I type.

Omega history

In 1848, Louis Brandt set up a small watchmaking business in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. He called it “La Generale Watch Co.”. When Louis passed away in 1879, his sons, Louis-Paul and César, took over and kept things moving forward. By 1880, they had relocated to Biel/Bienne, where Omega’s headquarters still stand today.

In 1885, they introduced their first mass-produced movement, the Labrador. Then, in 1892, they created the first minute-repeater wristwatch. In 1894, the company developed an in-house movement known as the 19 ligne calibre. The brothers named the new movement ‘Omega’, a name in Greek which means extreme or final part. The company received such positive feedback that they decided to rename it Omega in 1903.

Omega quickly became adopted by the military. The Royal Flying Corps and the US Army used Omega’s watches during WW1. In World War II, they supplied the British military with rugged, reliable timepieces now known as one of the “Dirty Dozen”.

In 1948, Omega launched the Seamaster, which remains in their current collection. Then, in 1957, Omega introduced a trio of professional watches that would become iconic in their own right: the Seamaster 300, the Speedmaster, and the Railmaster. In the 1960s, NASA put their trust in Omega for the Apollo missions. When Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon in 1969, an Omega Speedmaster was right there with him. Today, Omega is part of the Swatch Group and continues to make waves, most recently with their Moonswatch collaboration.

The Omega Seamaster

The Omega Seamaster was introduced in 1948 to celebrate Omega’s 100th anniversary. It was inspired by Omega’s involvement in creating the robust Dirty Dozen watches for the British military during World War II. The first Seamaster models featured an innovative O-ring gasket, which provided superior water resistance compared to traditional lead or shellac gaskets.

In 1957, Omega launched the Seamaster 300, which was specifically designed for divers and professionals working underwater. It featured a robust case, a rotating bezel, and improved water resistance. Later, in 1969, Omega introduced the helium escape valve in the Seamaster 600 model, addressing the issue of helium buildup in professional diving watches.

Omega revitalised the Seamaster line in 1993, with the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M. It included a distinct wave-patterned dial, skeleton hands, and a helium escape valve. It became widely popular and is notable for featuring in the James Bond film series.

Hippocampus logo

The iconic seahorse logo, also known as the “hippocampus”, was first used on Omega Seamaster watches in 1958. Engraver Jean-Pierre Borle designed the emblem. He was inspired by the traditional imagery of seahorses seen on Venice’s gondolas. It symbolises the Seamaster’s connection to water and its suitability for aquatic activities. Notably, this particular Omega Seamaster automatic, dating from 1958, would have been amongst the first to have the Hippocampus logo. The case back also states that the watch is waterproof. However, as with any vintage watch, it should be kept away from water and moisture. Previous Omegas I have owned have never had the Hippocampus logo… something that has always been missing from my collection.

Omega Seamaster, 1958

This 1958 model is of the classic Seamaster design with its beefy lugs and solid look. The dial is original and is lightly patinated with a silvered finish. It has applied silver arrow hour markers with matching silver Dauphine hands and a sweeping silver seconds hand. The applied Omega logo is also silver, whilst the “Omega”, “Automatic”, “Seamaster” and “Swiss Made” logos are printed in silver.

The stainless steel case is beautifully presented on a new brown leather strap with an aftermarket Omega buckle. The back casing displays the Omega Seamaster logo. The watch case measures 34mm in diameter, excluding the winding crown and the lugs. The case is stainless steel, and it is in good condition with just some light marking to the back. This is nothing more than patina and adds to the character of the watch. The inside of the case back has the Omega logo, and as a nod to authenticity and originality, the watch has the original signed Omega Seamaster winding crown. The unsigned acrylic crystal lens is in good condition.

The watch includes a Certificate of Authenticity from The Watch Register. The certificate confirms that this watch has a clean history and has not been lost or stolen.

Omega calibre 501

The watch is equipped with the Omega calibre 501 movement. This high-grade calibre is one of the first of the respected 500’s series movements. It is considered one of the finest mass-produced automatic movements from the era. The copper coloured movement has 20 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, an Incabloc shock protection system, a self-compensating flat balance spring and a micrometer regulator. The movement is 12.5 ‴ lignes (28 mm) in diameter and has a power reserve of 46 hours. The serial number on the movement dates this watch to 1958.

Omega produced the calibre 501 from 1955 until 1960. Watch enthusiasts highly regard the Caliber 501 for its accuracy and reliability. Notably, the calibre 501 was the first full rotor-driven movement by Omega, contributing to its noteworthy reputation. In contrast, previous models in the 350 series (1945 to 1949) used the older bumper automatic technology.

Calibre 501 design

The 501 belonged to the group of calibres that introduced Omega’s first rotor-driven automatic movements. Omega began with a standard hand-wound movement, a design it had mastered for decades, and attached a separate rotor module on top to enable automatic winding. This approach functioned efficiently, though it was not a true automatic movement. Instead, it combined a hand-wound mechanism with an independent component that allowed it to wind automatically through the wearer’s wrist motion. Despite this distinction, the design proved highly effective, showcasing Omega’s skill in blending traditional craftsmanship with automatic technology.

Condition

The condition of this particular movement is impressive. A lot of movements in watches of this age are worn out and are identifiable as such by their tarnished appearance. The distinctive copper-coloured finish of this movement shines without the slightest sign of dullness or corrosion. All the screw heads slots are crisp and all of the components look to be original. This 501 calibre movement has been fully serviced by the Authentic Watch Company and includes a 12-month warranty.

Authentic Watch Company

The Authentic Watch Company (AWC) is an established family-run business located in the South East of England. They have a passion for vintage watches, with a particular focus on Omega (Seamaster, Constellation and De Ville). They have built a list of carefully selected suppliers who meet their strict criteria. AWC supplies fully serviced vintage watches with a twelve-month guarantee and a Certificate of Authenticity.

I took an interest in a couple of the Omega Seamasters offered through AWC. Consequently, I made an appointment and visited Liam in their office. Liam spent an hour talking with me about the watches on offer and vintage watches in general, he is a very knowledgeable and personable business owner. I made a selection and walked away the very happy buyer of this 1958 vintage Omega Seamaster. The Authentic Watch Company’s attention to detail, including the packaging, documentation, and presentation box, truly impressed me. As a result, I’ll be buying from the Authentic Watch Company again.

Conclusion

I must admit, I have become a real fan of the Omega brand and the Seamaster in particular. There is nothing to dislike about either. What I like about the Seamaster is that it can be worn in both casual and dressy situations, and it’s not only accurate, but also has a robust build that can withstand everyday use.

Omega has a long history, has always produced high-quality watches and, as a company, survived the Quartz crisis. Along the way, they have introduced two classic watches that have been with us for nearly 70 years, the Seamaster and the Speedmaster. Therefore, I am pleased to say that I now own another vintage Seamaster and hope to add a Speedmaster in the future. This particular Omega Seamaster automatic has everything: good condition, a quality 501 movement and most importantly, for me, the Hippocampus on the case back.