Description

An Omega reference 2576-4 in gold-capped stainless steel, dating to 1947, one of the earliest examples of what would become one of watchmaking’s most enduring families. Predating the official “Seamaster” name on the dial by two years, this is a true pre-production-era piece from a pivotal chapter in Omega’s history. The cream dial carries an exquisite warm patina entirely consistent with its age, the mixed Arabic and arrow-index layout is among the more characterful configurations found on the 2576 family, and the polished steel case retains exceptional sharpness. Powered by Omega’s distinctive bumper automatic movement, this is an authentic, unrestored survivor from the year the modern Omega automatic was born.

Omega’s First Automatic Generation – The Pre-Seamaster Story

The Seamaster name was introduced by Omega in 1948 to mark the brand’s centennial, but the reference 2576, the watch that would become the first Seamaster, was already in development and early production before the name was formalised. Examples dating to 1947, like this piece, carry no “Seamaster” text on the dial: collectors and scholars use the term “Pre-Seamaster” specifically to describe these earliest references, making them the most historically significant examples in the entire Seamaster lineage.

The timing was no coincidence. The late 1940s saw Omega consolidating its technical leadership in automatic winding, and the 2576 was the vehicle for that ambition. Robust, legible, and built to a standard befitting a centenary timepiece, these early references were produced in relatively small numbers before the Seamaster branding was formalised — giving surviving unrestored examples a scarcity that later production watches cannot match.

The Bumper Automatic – Engineering the Self-Winding Watch

The movement inside this watch is the reason the 2576 is sometimes called the “Bumper”: rather than a conventional full-rotor, the automatic winding mechanism uses a weighted sector, an oscillating mass, that swings with the motion of the wrist and recoils against two springs at the limits of its travel. The energy of each rebound winds the mainspring incrementally. It is an earlier, more visceral solution to automatic winding than the full-rotor that superseded it, and one that Omega executed with characteristic precision.

The movement is a 17-jewel bumper calibre running at 18,000 vibrations per hour, engineered to high tolerances. The soft, distinctive double-click of the bumper mechanism is faintly audible when the wrist moves sharply: a tactile reminder that this watch is a genuine piece of horological history, not merely a decorative object.

The Dial

The watch features a warm cream dial that has developed a gentle, even patina over its nearly eight decades, the kind of natural ageing that simply cannot be replicated and that experienced collectors actively seek. The layout is striking in its variety: Arabic numerals at 12, 3, and 6 o’clock are paired with applied arrow-tipped hour markers at the remaining positions, creating a dial that is both highly legible and visually engaging. Slender sword-style hands in gold tone complement the warmth of the cream field beautifully. The subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock features a guilloché engine-turned surface, a refined decorative detail that elevates what is already an exceptionally well-preserved dial.

Specifications

Brand: Omega

Model: Pre-Seamaster Automatic (Bumper)

Year: 1947

Case material: Gold-capped stainless steel

Case diameter: approx. 34 mm

Bezel: Polished gold-capped stainless steel bezel

Dial: Cream dial with Arabic numerals at 12, 3 and 6; applied arrow markers; guilloché subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock

Strap: Tan leather strap

Movement: Automatic (bumper)

Condition: Good vintage condition with light signs of wear consistent with age

Accessories: Watch only (no box or papers)

Warranty: 1 year warranty

Availability

This vintage day-date automatic watch is available through Vintage Times Amsterdam.

For further information or high-resolution images, please feel free to contact:

Vintage Times

Vintage Times Amsterdam is a small watch boutique who mainly deals online and with a select group of private collectors. We are constantly looking for rare vintage timepieces and try to present the best condition available. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact for more information about this watch or other timepieces from our collection. We ship worldwide and also welcome you for a visit at our office in Amsterdam.

Vintage Times

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