102 Omega Extremely Rare and Attractive Seamaster Military Wristwatch in Steel, Reference 135 004–63, Black Dial Made for the Pakistani Air Force

Estimate: € 12,000 –⁠ 24,000

Model: Seamaster
Material: Stainless Steel
Reference N°: 135004-63
Year: 1964
Case N°: 20476906
Caliber: 286
Movement type: Manual
Movement N°: 20476906
Bracelet: Leather Strap
Dimensions: 38 mm
Signed: Dial, case and movement

“Innovative watchmaking is the cornerstone of Omega’s heritage that is inspired by sports timekeeping” this is what is written on Omega website showing that for all its history, it has always been specialized in the production of very reliable and efficient wristwatches. This efficiency has been really appreciated by many customers who needed reliable instruments such as military forces or soldiers. For this reason, in the 1960s the Pakistan Air Force decided to rely on Omega for the supply of a special model. In fact, Omega decided to use the case and movement of a Railmaster but rename it Seamaster on both dial and case back. To tell the truth, the models supplied to the Pakistan Air Force were two: the first one in 1960 was the CK 917-5, featuring older broad-arrow hands, with less than 300 pieces available; the second one was the reference 135 004, in 1964, with baton hands in two versions: the first with less than 100 pieces with a serial number of 20’476’XXX such as the present watch, while the second with an estimated 100–200 pieces and serial number of 21’087’XXX. Its curious the choice to change the name from Railmaster, designed for professionals such as scientists, technicians and electricians working within close distance of powerful electric currents, to Seamaster. One of the most accredited hypotheses is that, at that time, the British were controlling the railroad in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and the Railmaster designation implied a bad reputation given the past history of colonisation. The present lot is a very nice specimen of this rare configuration: produced in stainless steel, the case has been presevered nicely with the engravings on the case back still very clear an deep. The dial has aged wonderfully now presenting a beautiful patina and a fascinating color of the indexes and hands. The crystal is still the original one and is demonstrated by the minuscule Omega logo found at its center. This is for sure the perfect and a very rare example of military watch.