Omega Seamaster Exclusive Boutique

Omega has honored one of the world’s greatest cities (if I may say so myself) by releasing the Seamaster Exclusive Boutique New York Limited Edition. Only 399 examples of this gradient-dialed Seamaster are being made, and they’re available exclusively at Omega boutiques in the Big Apple(there are two); each is individually numbered too. Paying tribute to a city that never sleeps, the watch features a detailed engraving of the city’s iconic skyline along an inner ring that runs the circumference of the Omega Master Chronometer Caliber 8800. Peering through the display caseback, the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Bridge, as well as the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Rockefeller Center, and Empire State Building are all visible. The charm of this limited edition is in the details, and they don’t end with the skyline engraving.

The grey dial is slightly domed and lacquered, accentuating the gradient. A date window sits at six o’clock and the date wheel matches the color of the dial itself; the hands, applied Omega logo, and indices are all made from white gold.

The watch is part of a larger series, with five global centers recognized: Paris, London, Singapore, New York, and Switzerland. The Omega City Editions are all based on the Seamaster platform and feature dials specific to each cultural capital.

Capturing the spirit of “The Capital of the World” isn’t an easy task, especially working with only 39.5mm of real estate, but New York is all about doing big things in small spaces, right? Aside from the obvious inclusion of the skyline, subtle touches like white gold reflect the understated glam that New York consistently delivers. The dial is elegant and smart, but also reminds us of that fumé haze we first looked through when we arrived in the City. It’s easy to develop a deep affinity for New York City, and what better way to carry it with you than on your wrist.

The Omega City Editions are special in the modern Seasmaster line-up as they reference the aesthetic of the prolific Seamasters of the ’40s. Over time the Seamaster name has become reserved mostly for tool watches, but this City Edition takes us back to the most elegant expression of the lineage. One of the the only other modern Seamasters that shares this design language comes in platinum, costs $37,800, and is probably long gone. There were only 100 to begin with. The New York edition might even be more interesting – and is also certainly more attainable– given its geographical tie-in.