1998 Omega Seamaster 300M Quartz 41mm Blue 2541.80.00
Ref: 2541.80.00
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold “Watch Only” and therefore without its Omega box and Omega paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 20mm Omega bracelet with an Omega-signed push button-release clasp and will fit up to an 8-inch+ wrist. The watch is from Circa. 1998 The watch is in original worn condition, with signs of wear across the case and bracelet, as seen by the photographs. A full case and bracelet refurb can be provided on request at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qOy5Y80syMDw3gpwYYZhZrrRwIqdE2sQ?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 11:16 - https://youtu.be/umDC096ToZY
The Watch
Here we have a 1998 Omega Seamaster 300M Quartz Blue 2541.80.00 with a 41mm polished and brushed stainless steel case, curving over your wrist with the characteristic twisted lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 47mm and a case thickness of 11mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. Famously worn by Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in the 1985 Golden Eye movie. On the right side is a signed screw-down crown protected by crown guards and a helium escape valve at 10 o’clock on the left side. The unidirectional bezel has scalloped sides for extra grip and a blue aluminium dive insert with silver numerals and markings. Sapphire crystal sits above a deep blue dial with a dynamic wavy pattern, an outer minute track has disc and baton indexes coated in luminance marking the hours, and at 3 o’clock a framed date window, skeletonized sword hands have lume tips complemented by red-tipped lollipop sweeping second-hand, at 12 o’clock we have the Omega motif and at 6 o’clock “Seamaster Professional 300m/1000ft'' is printed underneath. On the reverse a screw-down case back with engraved waves and a polished Hippocampus in the centre, a seahorse that represents Neptune the God of the sea, Pierre Borie conceived it after seeing a picture of Neptune riding a chariot pulled by seahorses, it is the reason why the seahorses are wearing a bridle, first seen on the Seamaster in 1958. Inside a Quartz Omega Cal. 1538, 6 jewels, based on the ETA 255.461. The watch comes paired with its polished and brushed 20mm Omega stainless steel bracelet with a signed push button-released folding clasp and will fit up to an 8-inch+ wrist.
Personal Note
I have been fortunate enough to have sold both this reference and the Mid-Size 36mm model many times over, both are wonderful but I do feel this 41mm model is more universal for most and the better fit for a lot of people. This example has a lovely tone which is beginning to develop a subtle fade, especially on the bezel, and is in unpolished condition allowing someone to continue enjoying it as is or give the watch its first polish and a fresh look, the choice is yours.
The Brand
Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. When he passed away in 1879, his sons quickly stepped in to carry on their father’s vision. In 1880 they moved to 96 Rue Jakob-Stampfli where they remain today. In 1885, the brothers released their first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador, Later in 1892, they developed the first minute-repeating timepiece. In 1903 they renamed the company Omega until 1982 when they officially changed their name to Omega SA. During WW1 Omega watches were used as official timekeepers for the Royal Flying Corps and the US Army. In 1930, Omega and Tissot merged together to form Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère (SSIH) In 1931, another group was formed - Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG). Where SSIH was primarily French-speaking, ASUAG was founded by the more German-speaking members of the Swiss watch industry. In 1948 they introduced the first edition of one of its most symbolic watches: the Seamaster. Omega first introduced the Constellation in 1952. At the time it was Omega's flagship timepiece. The first models had a Cal. 354 bumper movement in them. Later in 1955, Omega introduced the Automatic Cal. 50x, followed in 1959 by the Cal.55x (no date) and 56x (date) versions. Many of the Constellations came with pie-pan dials, diamond indexes, and fancy lug configurations. All the gold Constellations of that time have the Observatory of Geneva's hand engraved on the back. The stainless steel and stainless steel/gold versions had a gold medallion on the back with the Observatory of Geneva. The eight stars above the Observatory stand for the many exploits of Omega in the world Chronometer competition. Celebrating the fact that all Constellations are Chronometer Certified. In 1962, Omega made history when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making it the first Omega watch to enter space. After stringent tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today Omega is still an astronaut's first choice of timepiece. In 1969, President Nixon famously turned down the opportunity to be gifted the first-ever all-gold Speedmaster Professional Deluxe because he deemed it to be “too valuable.” As a response to the ever-growing threat of electronic watches to the manufacturers of mechanical watches, Omega in collaboration with Swiss brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe formed Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH). Prototypes began in 1967 with production starting in 1968. Then In 1972, Omega introduced the reference, 198.030, which included the Omega calibre 1250, a ‘tuning-fork electronic movement which was made under licence from Bulova. Later we saw a merger of SSIH and ASUAG into SMH, or Société de Microélectronique et d’Horlogerie. This merger took place in 1983. In 1992, the company acquired Blancpain, and in 1998 it officially rebranded itself from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the group.