One year from now, the 2026 Winter Olympics will commence in Italy. To mark the milestone, Omega has created one of its most striking vintage reissues to date, the Seamaster 37 mm Milano Cortina 2026. A homage to the vintage Seamaster Olympic created for the 1956 Melbourne Games, the new edition stays true to its heritage, but isn’t a one-for-one remake.

Instead it’s is a blend of elements characteristic of 1950s Omega watches, including distinctive “dog leg” lugs and hexagonal crown of the Constellation, along with a white grand feu enamel dial that’s a nod to the cream enamel dial of the Seamaster Olympic.

Initial thoughts

The new Seamaster revives some of the best design elements of 1950s Omega wristwatches, primarily the Constellation, while incorporating the key details of the Seamaster Olympic. The mix works surprisingly well, and results in a watch that has a pleasing vintage feel. The case is a little bigger and thicker than the original, but not sized reasonably well.

While it is not an imaginative creation, the new Seamaster looks good. The visual and tactile appeal will also be enhanced by the high quality of execution typical of modern Omega watches, especially on the dial and case.

The Seamaster 37 mm costs US$19,300, leaving it amongst the pricier time-only watches in the Omega catalogue and well beyond the sweet spot on the price spectrum for the brand. That said, it is decent enough value considering the case in Moonshine gold, fired enamel dial with solid gold appliqués and hands, and of course a latest-generation Master Co-Axial cal. 8807.

1950s style revived

The Seamaster 37 mm adopts elements from various vintage Omega models in a coherent manner. With its angled “dog leg” lugs and six-sided crown, the case is reminiscent of the Constellation, but it’s slightly larger than a 1950s watch, having been sized up for modern tastes and the calibre inside. The case is 37 mm wide and slightly thick at 11.4 mm tall, and it’s in 18k Moonshine gold, Omega’s proprietary yellow gold alloy. Despite the retro style and precious metal, the case is still water resistant to 100 m.

The dial is white grand feu enamel, a material that takes after the Seamaster Olympic that similarly had a fired enamel dial. While the vintage Seamaster had prominent Olympic branding on the dial – one version featured a large Olympic “Cross of Merit” emblem – the new model keeps the dial elegantly minimalist. As is the norm for most high-end Omega models, all of the elements on the dial are solid gold, including the applied logo and hands.

The solid case back bears the relief logo of the 2026 Winter Games that will take place in the twin northern Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Beneath is the Master Co-Axial cal. 8807. It’s a Master Chronometer that’s certified by METAS to meet a variety of functional criteria, including magnetism resistance of up to 15,000 gauss. Fitting with a free sprung-balance and silicon hairspring, the cal. 8807 is has 55 hours of power reserve.

Key facts and price

Omega Seamaster 37 mm Milano Cortina 2026
Ref. 522.53.37.20.04.001

Diameter: 37 mm
Height: 11.4 mm
Material: 18k Moonshine gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: Cal. 8807
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Frequency: 25,200 beats per hour (3.5 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 55 hours

Strap: Brown alligator leather strap

Limited edition: No
Availability: Now at Omega boutiques and retailers
Price: US$19,300

For more, visit omegawatches.com

Modelled on the Chrono-Matic GMT Count-Down from the 1970s, the Chrono-Matic 50 in blue stays true to its predecessor in style. The limited edition retains the five-crown configuration and retains the bold, helmet-shaped 48 mm case, though it forgoes the GMT function. As is typical for Hamilton, the new Chrono-Matic 50 is powered by a high-spec ETA movement and priced affordably.

Initial thoughts

For several years now, vintage reissues been a dependable strategy for watch brands. Rather than venturing into entirely new designs with unpredictable results, companies are playing safe by relying on the established appeal of reissues. But there are a lot of reissues already on the market, with more being launched seemingly all the time.

The Chrono-Matic 50 in blue exemplifies this. Having introduced a black version in 2019, Hamilton has done the same in blue. The new Chrono-Matic 50 stands out from the average reissue in two respects. One is the better-than-average movement for the price range thanks to Hamilton being a sister company of ETA, the biggest maker of mechanical movements in Switzerland. The second is the historical basis of the watch; Hamilton did actually make something like that in the past, which gives this a legitimacy that startups lack.

The case is somewhat oversized for my personal preference, though it is sized similarly to the chunky vintage original.It does have a unique design and layout, and with a retail of US$2,545, the Chrono-Matic 50 is also well priced.

Staying true to the original

The standout feature is the helmet-shaped case, measuring large 48 mm by 52 mm in diameter and 16.05 mm thick that is similar to the dimensions of the original.

Water-resistant to 100 m, the case boasts a radial brushed finish on the front, along with an unusual layout of two crowns and three pushers. The orange pushers operate the chronograph, while the black pusher at 10 o’clock serves as a date corrector, and the second crown at eight rotates the inner countdown bezel.

The Chrono-Matic 50 features a “reverse panda” dial with white sub-dials — one displaying small seconds at nine o’clock and another for elapsed minutes at three o’clock. Subtle orange accents enhance its appeal and add to the 1970s look.

The watch is driven by the self-winding H-31, an upgraded version of the Valjoux 7750. The H-31 is an industrial workhorse with a 60-hour power reserve and upgrades including a reworked oscillator.

Key facts and price

Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50 Limited Edition
Ref. H51606640

Diameter: 48 mm by 52 mm
Height: 16.05 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: Cal. H-31
Functions: Hours, minutes, date, and chronograph
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 60 hours

Strap: Blue perforated calf-skin leather strap

Limited edition: 150 pieces
Availability: Now at Hamilton retailers and online boutique
Price: US$2,545

For more, visit hamiltonwatch.com.