2003 Omega Seamaster GMT Auto ‘Great White’ 41mm 2538.20

Here we have the charismatic 2003 Omega Seamaster GMT Auto ‘Great White’ 2538.20, released in 1998, which celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Seamaster, first released in 1958. Featuring 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 13.5mm, giving the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side is a signed screw-down crown protected by crown guards. The bidirectional bezel has scalloped sides for extra grip and a silver aluminium 24-hour insert with black numerals and markings. The domed sapphire crystal sits above a ‘Great White’ dial with a dynamic wavy pattern, and an outer minute chapter ring has long and short black outlined indexes coated in lume marking the hours. At 3 o’clock, a colour-matched date window, black outlined sword hands are lume-filled, complemented by red-tipped sweeping second-hand and a red arrow-tipped GMT hand. At noon, we have the Omega motif. At 6 o’clock, ‘Seamaster’ ‘GMT’ in red and ‘Chronometer’ completes this dynamic traveller's companion. 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 an automatic Omega Cal. 1128, 23 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, it features hand-winding, quick-set date, and hacking seconds for your convenience. It comes paired with its polished and brushed 20mm Omega stainless steel bracelet secured with a signed push-button-released clasp; it will fit up to 7-inch. This watch is sold with its Omega box and paperwork.

This watch is sold with its Omega box and paperwork. It comes paired with its polished and brushed 20mm Omega stainless steel bracelet secured with a signed push-button-released clasp; it will fit up to 7-inch. The watch is from August 2003. The watch is in worn condition but is overall in fair condition, with signs of wear across the case and bracelet, as seen in 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.

I have been fortunate enough to have sold many of the brilliant Omega Seamaster GMT 50th Anniversary black dial models, but very rarely do these white dials come up, and it is brilliant on and off the wrist. Nicknamed the 'Great White', this 41mm offers everything we love about early Omega Seamasters but adds incredible contrasts with the white dial and black highlights. I would not hesitate to add this rare reference to your collection today!

Reference : 2538.20.00
Movement : Automatic Omega Cal. 1128
Age : August 2003
Year : 2003
Case Size : 41mm
Case Thickness : 13.5mm
Lug to Lug : 47mm
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. in 1848, it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. When he died in 1879, his sons carried on his dream. In 1880, they moved to 96 Rue Jakob-Stampfli, where they remain today. The brothers produced their first mass-produced calibre, the Labrador, in 1885. Just a few years later, in 1892, they produced the first minute-repeater. 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, when astronaut Wally Schirra wore a Speedmaster on his Mercury Sigma 7 Mission, making it the first Omega watch to enter space. After rigorous tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions, including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today, Omega is still the first choice of astronauts. In 1969, President Nixon famously said it was “too valuable” and turned down the first-ever all-gold Speedmaster Professional Deluxe. As a response to the ever-growing threat of electronic watches to the manufacturers of mechanical watches, Omega and many Swiss brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe formed Centre Electronique Horologer (CEH). Prototypes began to appear in 1967, and their production started 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 branded itself from SMH to the Swatch Group. Then, in 1999, they purchased and integrated Breguet into the Swatch Group.