Omega Seamaster Automatic Ref. 2828 Beefy Lugs Cal. 470

The Seamaster is, without a doubt, the most important and versatile line in Omega’s storied history. It was born in 1948, taking the lessons of robust, reliable military-issue watches from WWII and repackaging them for a new, optimistic post-war civilian life. These early Seamasters are, to us, the purest expression of that original “go anywhere, do anything” concept.

This watch hails from the mid-1950s, a white-hot period of innovation in watchmaking. The race was on to perfect the automatic, self-winding movement. This Seamaster is powered by the legendary Caliber 470. This wasn’t just an automatic; it was part of Omega’s very first family of in-house, full-rotor movements (the 47x series). This was the engine that truly set the standard for Omega’s reputation, replacing the charming but less efficient “bumper” movements and establishing the architecture that would dominate for decades. It’s a robust, beautifully copper-gilt finished workhorse.

This particular example, a Reference 2828, is a fantastic expression of that era. The 34mm stainless steel case wears larger than its numbers suggest, thanks to its wonderfully thick and sharp “beefy” lugs, a highly sought-after case variant. But the dial is the main event. It features the desirable “Explorer-style” layout, with applied Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12. This configuration, paired with the elegant “Seamaster” script at 6 o’clock, is one of the most balanced and beloved designs of the period.