1972 Omega Seamaster Chronograph Gold Plated (Ref. 176005) "False Jedi"

The Speedmaster might be the watch that made Omega a household name (and took it to the moon), but the Seamaster has been around quite a bit longer and has its own incredible legacy worth talking about. 

First released in 1948 in celebration of Omega’s centennial anniversary, the Seamaster became a worldwide success and was the brand’s top seller for decades. Today, it’s the longest-running name in the Omega catalog and still holds a special place in plenty of collectors’ hearts.  

This Seamaster chronograph perfectly fuses '70s style and Omega's watchmaking excellence, the latter of which is evidenced in large part by this watch's heartbeat – the Omega Cal. 1040. While starting life as a Lemania 1340 movement, Omega made the Cal. 1040 their own by bumping jewel count from 17 to 22 and adding a 24-hour indicator inside the running seconds subdial. 

The odd story of the "Jedi" nickname for an Omega Seamster Chronograph starts with the ref. 145.0024, or the "True Jedi". Though the ref. 176005 is often labeled as the Jedi as well. This confusion started when a prominent auction house in the 2000s mislabeled a ref. 176005 as a Jedi model in their catalog. To be fair the ref. 176005 does radiate space-age design with its large dimensions and uniquely shaped case.