A Hands-On Introduction To The New Omega Railmaster With A Beige Or Gray Gradient Dial

With recent Speedmaster and Seamaster releases, Omega quietly put the new watches on its ambassadors’ wrists to hint at what was coming. We could have missed it, but we don’t think the same happened with the newly revised Railmaster. Supposedly, there was a leaked image, but it came with very little information. Luckily, we’ve recently spent some time with the new Railmaster models and can tell you all about them. That’s right; there are multiple versions. Both have gradient dials, but one is gray, and the other is beige.

The original Omega Railmaster (ref. CK2914) debuted in 1957 as part of the brand’s “Professional Line” or “Broad Arrow” trilogy, which also included the first Speedmaster (ref. CK2915) and the Seamaster 300 (ref. CK2913). Each watch served a clear function or specific audience — the Speedmaster for motorsports, the Seamaster for diving, and the Railmaster for railway staff, engineers, and scientists working in magnetic environments. The Railmaster stood out for its technical utility. At a time when most antimagnetic watches were only resistant to about 60 gauss, the Railmaster could handle 1,000.

The 60th-anniversary Omega Railmaster from 2017

That original model remained a rather niche product and was discontinued in the ‘60s. The Railmaster then lay dormant for several decades, making its first return in 2003 as part of the Aqua Terra line in various sizes. This was followed by a 49mm version powered by a pocket watch movement, the Omega 2201. Those models were all discontinued in 2012. The next comeback occurred in 2017, when Omega reissued the 1957 trilogy for its 60th anniversary. Alongside that limited-edition model, the brand also introduced the 40mm Railmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer. The infamous version with a “denim dial” came out a year later in 2018. Now, there’s the new 2025 Omega Railmaster. Let me tell you all about it.

The 2025 Omega Railmaster

The new Omega Railmaster shares its 38mm stainless steel with the Aqua Terra. That means that, unlike the original, it has twisted lugs and a brushed and polished finish. The lugs span 45mm from tip to tip, and, including the slightly domed sapphire crystal, the case is 12.36mm thick. The conical screw-down crown at 3 o’clock features a matte surface with a polished Omega logo.

Depending on the version chosen, the new Railmaster comes on a stainless steel bracelet or a leather strap. The former is the updated three-row bracelet with slightly rounded links and polished and brushed surfaces. It tapers from 19mm at the end links to 17mm at the signed, push-button-operated butterfly clasp. This clasp also features a toolless micro-adjustment system with a 2mm range. The other version of the watch comes with a brown Novonappa leather strap that tapers to 16mm at the steel folding clasp.

A gray or beige gradient dial

Size-wise, everything about these two models is the same, but the dials and their layouts are different. One model features a central seconds hand. This version has a matte gradient dial that goes from gray at the center to almost black at the edge. During the day, the painted hour markers on the dial all look white. However, in the dark, the indexes and numerals light up in blue, and the hands glow green.

The second option also comes with a matte gradient dial, but it goes from beige at its center to dark brown at the edge. Another difference is the presence of a small seconds register at 6 o’clock with a beige hand. On this version, the numerals and indexes have a faux-patina color, just like the lume on the hour and minute hands. At night, the hands, numerals, and indexes illuminate in the same blue tone.

On both dial options, the text is limited to the Omega logo, the Railmaster name, and “Swiss Made” straddling the 6 o’clock index. The Co-Axial Master Chronometer designation and 150m water resistance rating are engraved on the exhibition case back.

Fifteen times more resistant to magnetic fields than the original Railmaster

Through that case back, you can get a good look at the Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8804 (small seconds) or 8806 (central seconds). These automatic movements run at a frequency of 25,200vph, feature 35 jewels, and hold a power reserve of 60 or 55 hours, respectively. They are also officially certified by METAS, which means the watches run between 0 and +5 seconds per day, and the power reserve and water resistance are guaranteed.

As mentioned, the original Railmaster from 1957 was antimagnetic to 1,000 gauss. However, thanks to the silicon Si14 balance spring inside each new Railmaster’s movement, the watches are resistant to magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. Regarding the finishing, the movements each feature a rhodium-plated rotor and bridges with arabesque Geneva stripes, and the screws, barrel, and balance wheel all have a blacked-out finish.

The new Railmaster on the wrist

In terms of wearability, there are no real surprises here. The 38mm Aqua Terra case wears brilliantly on my 17cm (6.7″) wrist, but it’ll also do so on slightly smaller and larger ones. Because the Railmaster’s matte dial doesn’t feature a sunburst texture or any applied indexes, it’s a little less shiny and feels a bit more casual than its Aqua Terra counterparts.

My favorite version by far is the one with the gray gradient dial. It offers more contrast than the beige one, and I think it matches the more modern case design a little better. I also think the Railmaster looks best on its magnificent three-row bracelet, just like my Rolex Explorer 114270. The beige version goes the vintage-inspired route, and if that’s your thing, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this well-thought-out execution.

Final words

The new Omega Railmaster with a beige gradient dial and leather strap costs €6,100. The version with the gray gradient dial and the stainless steel bracelet costs a bit more at €6,300. That makes it €1,000 less expensive than the 38mm Aqua Terra and a compelling option if you’re looking for a no-nonsense, slightly more casual time-only watch from Omega. In addition, under the hood, it’s still just as capable as its more expensive Omega stablemates.

Let me know in the comments below what you think of these new Omega Railmaster watches!