Omega Seamaster Edizione Venezia – A Story To Tell

Omega didn’t show us everything in BaselWorld, as we already noticed some images on Instagram from some Italian colleagues and collectors talking Seamaster Edizione Venezia. Just a few days ago, Omega officially announced this special watch that will only be for sale at the Omega Boutique and the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS (department store) in Venice.

Omega Seamaster Edizione Venezia

The Seamaster collection (1948) is actually the oldest line-up from Omega in the current families of watches. The Constellation was introduced in 1952, Speedmaster in 1957 and De Ville in 1967. The very first Seamaster models have little to do with the current line up of watches. The Seamaster slowly transformed into sporty watches and professional watches as we know them today. The exception might be the Seamaster Aqua Terra collection of watches, but still you can hardly say that these are dress watches.

The Omega Seamaster Edizione Venezia clearly is. At first it made me think of the recently introduced Omega De Ville Trésor, but this watch has a different case design. The Seamaster Edizione Venezia uses the famous lyre lugs, that we also know from other modern Omega models. The date at 6 and the arrow shaped hour markers does remind me of those vintage 1950s Seamaster watches. I actually have one of those in my own modest collection of watches, a 1950s Seamaster Calendar with automatic bumper movement.

According to Omega, this Seamaster Edizione Venezia got its name from the fact that one of people from Omega’s design team of the 1950’s was inspired by the famous gondolas and the sculpted representations of Neptune’s Seahorse on each side. This lead to the use of the famous Seahorse medallion. Interesting fact: the same person was also responsible for the Observatory medallion on the caseback of the Constellation models.

A modest 39.5mm is the size of the case, which makes it a perfect dress watch and similar to the case size of the Omega Globemaster and De Ville Trésor. Actually, it is right in between those two other models regarding the size. You could also say that the design is also in between those models. The Trésor looks a bit more ‘sleek’ while the Globemaster is a bit more contemporary. It might be worth a trip to Venice if you’re ‘in-between’ those models.

Interestingly, the spherical crown on the watch is inspired by the dome of the St Mark’s Basilica in Venice. As already mentioned the applied indexes remind me of the vintage Seamasters like my own. The hands are ‘leaf’ shaped, instead of the dauphin hands those 1950s models used to have in most cases.

The caseback of the Seamaster Edizione Venezia does of course carry the Seahorse medallion, but not in the classic way. As you can see, the Seahorse has been laser engraved in the sapphire crystal. Using this method, you are still able to admire the movement that has been Master Chronometer certified by METAS. The Seamaster Edizione is water resistant to 60 meters.

The 18 carat Sedna gold model features the caliber 8801 movement. A self-winding movement with Co-Axial escapement that meets all the ‘Master Chronometer’ requirements such as a resistance to magnetism up to 15,000 gauss. It has a free sprung-balance with silicon balance spring. This movement has a 55-hour power reserve. The stainless steel Seamaster Edizione Venezia has the caliber 8800 movement, which has the same specifications but  lacks the 18 carat Sedna gold rotor and gold balance bridge. An image of the caliber 8800 version can be seen below.

The 18 carat Sedna gold Seamaster Edizione Venezia comes on a brown leather strap while the stainless steel version comes on a black leather strap. Both watches come in this beautiful black-lacquered box with burgundy velours lining, just like those Venetian gondolas.

The stainless steel version of the Seamaster Edizione has reference number 511.13.40.20.02.001 and retails for 5900 Euro. The 18 carat Sedna gold version has reference 511.53.40.20.02.001 and retails for 13.200 Euro. Again, these watches are only available in Venice but are not a numbered or limited edition.

 For more information on these special models, visit Omega on-line.