BaselWorld 2013: Seamaster Aqua Terra Day-Date

Day-Date. For many the Rolex Day-Date is the ultimate sports luxury watch and Omega has introduced its own sports luxury watch in the popular formula. The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra feature both a day display at a window at the 12 o'clock position and date display in a window at the 6 o'clock position. 

OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Day-Date. I do not have to many details on the new OMEGA offering. I do not even know what case size this watch will be offered in, but it is likely to be offered in two sizes. I do know that the new watch is offered in stainless steel, a bi-metal stainless steel and 18K red gold case and one in with a full 18K red gold case.

The Aqua Terra Day-Date collection is  powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8602. The co-axial technology is supposed to reduce wear and tear, and to back up this claim, the watches are delivered with a full four-year warranty. The movement is COSC-certified as a chronometer.

Trivia. The design of the dial of the watch is supposed to be the decks of a boat. The design looks best on black dial and grey dial models. The black dial is available on the stainless steel models, while the grey dial is available on the bi-metal and Rose Gold models.

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2013: OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT GoodPlanet

Planet Ocean. OMEGA's Seamaster Planet Ocean series of watches needs little introduction. Ever since being adopted as the new Bond watch in Quantum of Solace, it is probably one of the most easily recognizable OMEGA watch models.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT GoodPlanet. The Seamaster Planet Ocean is a divers watch, with a 600 meter water resistance rating and a helium gas escape valve which is needed by deep sea divers.  The new variant released at BaselWorld 2013 also includes a dual time function, with a second orange hour hand which rotates once every 24 hours and is read in conjunction with the rotating outer bezel. This will allow you to keep track of a second, and even third time zone. The watch has a 43.5 mm case and comes in either a steel bracelet or blue rubber strap. 

Inside is a OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8605, a self-winding movement with a three-level Co-Axial escapement and Si14 silicon balance spring. The design reduces wear and tear and to back up its claim, OMEGA offers the watch with a full four-year warranty.

GoodPlanet Foundation. What makes this watch particularly interesting is that it is issued in support of the GoodPlanet foundation. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT GoodPlanet will go towards the protection of mangroves and seagrasses in South East Asia. A good reason to buy this watch I would think. 

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2013: OMEGA Speedmaster '57

OMEGA Speedmaster '57. In addition to a modern take on the Speedmaster, OMEGA also created a classically inspired one, the OMEGA Speedmaster '57. The year 1957 was the year the original Speedmaster was released. The Speedmaster '57 combines the classic look of the original Speedmaster, with the new clean looking dial which reduces the number of sub-dials from three to two. This is achieve my merging the minutes and hour sub-counters used for the chronograph sub-dial into a single dial with two hands. I really like the new cleaner looking dial.

One thing is not in line with the classic theme. The Speedmaster '57 while being a classically inspired design losses the black tachymeter scale which makes a Speedmaster look like a Speedmaster.  


The Speedmaster ’57 has a 41.50 mm case available in a wide choice of metals. It comes in stainless steel, 18K red or yellow gold, a bicolour blend of 18K red gold and stainless steel and lightweight titanium. The different versions are made available with a matching bracelet or leather strap. The dial comes in either black or silver.

Inside is an OMEGA calibre 9300 movement which utilizes the companies trademark Co-Axial technology which reduces friction and extends the life of the movement.

Too many Speedmasters? As much as I like the new Speedmaster '57, looking at OMEGA's website, there are now seventeen variations of the Speedmaster, and each of those comes in a variety of configurations for a total of about ninety different models. In my opinion, the number of models and variations diminishes the line. A Rolex Submariner, from almost any era, is recognizable as a Rolex Submariner, even if it is one of the most common designs in the world. The Speedmaster line, is so diverse that is risks being just another Swiss chronograph. 

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2013: OMEGA Speedmaster "The Dark Side of the Moon"

Another Moonwatch. If there is something you can expect from OMEGA every year, like clockwork, is another Moonwatch. OMEGA feels to constantly need to remind us that its Speedmaster was the official watch selected by NASA during the early days of space exploration, and that the Speedmaster accompanied Astronauts to the Moons surface. Sometimes OMEGA finds some significant space event or digs up something from the Apollo Project history to commemorate, like the Alaska Project. At other times, you feel like OMEGA's designers are really forcing the issue... I mean, who commemorates at 35th Anniversary? Some hits, some misses. This year, OMEGA's effort to come up with a new Moon watch is a hit.

OMEGA opted not to look for some special event, and simply called the new watch "The Dark Side of the Moon".  The name is more inspired by the black ceramic case and the black zirconium oxide ceramic dial.

OMEGA Speedmaster "The Dark Side of the Moon". The new OMEGA offering is carries an all black theme. A 44.25 mm diameter ceramic case on a black Cordura fabric strap strap, is highlighted only by 18K white gold hands and indexes, as well the red "Speedmaster" label on the dial. The tachymeter scale, constructed from matt chromium nitride, contrast nicely with the the polished ceramic bezel. The overall look gives the OMEGA's old Speedmaster a decidedly modern look.   At the back, the words “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” are engraved above the bevelled scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

Instead of the three sub-dials you are accustomed to on Omega Speedmasters, you instead have two  sub-dials. The reduction of the sub-dials was accomplished by placing the of the 12-hour and 60-minute counters on the same sub-dial at the 3 o’clock position. The second sub-dial displays running small seconds.

Powering this watch is a built by OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 9300 movement, and equipped with a Si14 silicon balance spring. This Speedmaster is offered with a full four-year warranty.

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

OMEGA Baselworld 2013 Third Preview

We won't be needing these anymore in a bit.

Delayed but finally, almost here.

OMEGA Baselworld 2013 Second Preview

Omega  has released its second Baselworld 2013 preview. The design is familiar and leaves little to the imagination.

So, we can expect to see what appears to be a revised Speedmaster and a Date-Date Seamaster.

OMEGA Baselworld 2013 Preview

OMEGA has released a video teaser preview of its Baselworld 2013 offerings.

Just over four days to go to the big show.

OMEGA Video Manuals

Everyone is going high tech these days. Omega has found an excellent way to use modern technology to instruct users on its watches and market them at the same time. Omega has created Video Manuals for its watches and is hosting them on YouTube.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector's Piece Seamaster Co-Axial 300M in two sizes

OMEGA has released two limited edition Seamaster Diver 300M to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the James Bond movie franchise.

Fifty years have passed since the release of Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Her Majesty's Secret Service agent 007. SKYFALL, out on 23 October, marks the 23rd film in the franchise.
 
To celebrate fifty years of James Bond in the motion pictures, OMEGA is releasing a update of the Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond watch which was worn by 007 in movie GOLDENEYE and the next four films.


The James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector's Piece has been created in two sizes, 41 mm and 36.25 mm.

A lacquered black dial features a 007 monogram. The 41 mm version has 11 applied indexes while the 36.25 mm watch has ten with a diamond index at the 7 o'clock position, something we have seen before.  Its screw-in case back is stamped with a gun-barrel design. There is a "bullet" decoration on the rotor that can be viewed through a central sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Both versions feature OMEGA's calibre 2507 self-winding movement fitted with the Co-Axial escapement.The watch has a unidirectional rotating bezel and helium escape valve allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, particularly necessary for professional divers operating from diving bells. As its name suggests, the watch is water resistant up to 300 meters. The 41 mm versions production run is limited to 11,007 pieces. The 36mm version is limited to 3,007 pieces.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

The OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronograph “London 2012”

Commemorative Editions. In commemoration of the 2012 London Olympics, OMEGA has released two Aqua Terra Chronograph watches.

The OMEGA Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronograph “London 2012” is available in two versions. One features a bicolour polished and brushed case crafted from 18 Ct red gold and stainless steel and presented on an integrated dark blue leather strap. The other is a stainless steel edition with a matching bracelet. The cases of both watches is 44mm in size, with a water resistance rating of 150 meters.

The dials are a PVD-coated blue with the characteristic vertically striped teak-pattern dial. Blue is the color OMEGA chose to commemorate the 2012 Olympic. The teak-patter is the is a trademark design of the OMEGA Aqua Terra family.

The dials have a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and a date window at the 4:30 position. The chronograph has 30-minute recorder  at 3 o’clock and the 12 hour recorder is at 6 o’clock. The Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronographs  central hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands treated with white Super-LumiNova to make them readable in low light conditions.

The casebacks of the watches are stamped with the “London 2012” Olympic emblem.

Movement. Inside the case the is self-winding OMEGA caliber 3313, an officially-certified chronometer equipped with a Co-Axial escapement on three-levels and free sprung-balance. The OMEGA caliber 3313 movement produces 25,200 vibrations per hour and has a 55 hour power reserve. The Co-Axial escapement is designed to reduce friction and wear and tear on the watch movement, to reduce regular maintenance and ensure a longer service life. You can find out more about how Co-Axial technology works at this link.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

OMEGA Olympic Collection 2012: OMEGA Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition

1948, the Seamaster and the London Olympics. Omega, the official timekeeper of the 2012 London Olympics has released three watches in commemoration of the event. For history buffs, the most interesting of these three watches is OMEGA Seamaster 1948 Co Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition

The very first OMEGA Seamaster was launched in 1948. Coincidentally enough, 1948 was also the last year London last hosted the Olympic Games. In order to commemorate these milestones OMEGA has launched a new limited edition Seamaster which commemorates the launch of the OMEGA Seamaster line, the 1948 London Olymipics and the 2012 London Olympics.

OMEGA executes this with  redesign of OMEGA's first automatic Seamaster in the form of the The Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition. 

OMEGA Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition. At first glance one would mistake the The Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" Limited Edition as one of OMEGA's classically inpsired De Ville watches. The Seamaster inscription of the dial says otherwise. The mistake is not hard to make because the Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial "London 2012" takes its inspiration from the original Semaster designed in 1948 and not the more contemporary designs people associate today with the Seamaster line.

The Seamaster 1948 is built arround a 39 mm a polished and brushed stainless steel case. The case is water resistant to 120 meters. At the back of the case, a 18 Ct yellow gold medallion embossed with the London 2012 Olympic Games logo is fixed in the caseback.

On one edge of the case back is the number 1948, which commemorates the year the Seamster was first launched, the holding of the 1948 Olympics and indicates the production run of this watch is limited  1,948 pieces. The watch is delivered in a special London 2012 presentation box.

Dial and movement. The Seamaster 1948 has an opaline silver dial with a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, harking back to classic Pre-War and Post-War designs. The small seconds sub-dial features a blue steel small seconds hand, the color which OMEGA is using to highlight its entire 2012 Olympic Edition. The OMEGA logo as well Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock and hour markers at the other positions are all made 18 Ct white gold. 

Inside the case the is self-winding OMEGA caliber 2202, an officially-certified chronometer equipped with a Co-Axial escapement on three-levels and free sprung-balance. The OMEGA caliber 2202 is heavily modified an ETA 2895 movement. The movement which produces 25,200 vibrations per hour  and has a 48 hour power reserve. The Co-Axial escapement is designed to reduce friction and wear and tear on the watch movement, to reduce regular maintenance and ensure a longer service life. You can find out more about how Co-Axial technology works at this link.

Over the next two days we will look at Omega's other offerings, but whether you are a Seamaster or Olympics fan, this is the commemorative watch to get.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M SKYFALL Limited Edition

For nearly two decades now, with each new James Bond, we can expect a new limited edition James Bond watch from Omega. Omega has announced its seventh James Bond watch, the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M “SKYFALL” Limited Edition, to coincide with the new James Bond Movie.

The new limited edition watch is based on the 42 mm Planet Ocean. At the 7 o’clock position, the watch has a 007 logo and the bracelet is engraved with “007”. Inside the watch you have the OMEGA's Co-Axial calibre 8507 with SKYFALL 007 marking is rotor in black-varnished engraving. The movement is visible through sapphire crystal caseback. 


The watch is a contemporary divers watch with a rotating bezel which is used for measuring elapsed periods of time. The watch comes with a decidedly attractive matte structure dial with applied indexes and hands coated with white Super-LumiNova emitting a blue light as are the polished. The minute hand emits a green light, as does the dot on the diving bezel is a nice touch. This quickly identifies the starting point of the time being measured, as well as prevents the second hand from being confused with the hour and minute markers. 





The Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M SKYFALL wristwatch is being produced in an edition limited to 5,007 pieces and is delivered in a special presentation box.

BaselWorld 2012: OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Ceragold

Ceragold. Ceragold is a process that allows the decoration of ceramic watch parts with 18 Ct gold. A nine-step process used to create a ceramic bezel with gold numbers and scaling results in a finished product that is absolutely smooth to the touch. At BaselWorld 2012, OMEGA announced the first watches to use this new manufacturing technology. OMEGA has a thorough explanation of the nice step process. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Forming of the ceramic ring:

• A specific mixture of zirconium oxide and bonding materials (called “binders”) is prepared in a granular form the form of granulates; the raw material is referred to as the feedstock.
• These granules are then heated to their melting point, resulting in a paste which is injected into a mould containing the desired ring shape. This moulded part is called the “green body”.
• The binders that were initially used to stabilize the parts in their injected form are then removed from the ring using a chemical/thermal treatment. This process is called debinding.
• The rings are finally subjected to a high temperature treatment process called sintering. At this stage, the ceramic granules are joined together to form a "fired" – or "sintered" – part with the definitive properties of ceramics, including hardness and resistance. 
  During the sintering process, there will be a shrinking effect that results in the reduction in size of the rings by approximately 30%.

2. Preparation of the ceramic ring:

• Sintered rings are machined to obtain their final geometry. Thickness, diameters, special shapes (e.g. bevels) or the hole for the SLN capsule are obtained by machining with diamond tools.

3. Engraving of the scaling:

• The scaling is engraved on the top of the bevel using a laser beam. A depth of 0.15mm is reached with successive removal of very thin layers of ceramics.     

4. Micro-drilling:

• To improve the adhesion of the decorative gold elements, micro-holes are drilled through the rings from the bottom of the engraved cavities. These holes will be partially filled with gold during electroforming process, forming bonding points and increasing adherence.

5. Sandblasting:

• A short cleansing operation is necessary to remove burnt ceramic material resulting from engraving and drilling. This operation is done with a sandblasting process that also smoothes the edges and standardizesthe  surface aspect.

6. PVD:

• The final decorative gold elements are obtained by an electroforming process. It requires a surface which conducts electricity to allow the growth of gold (galvanic process).
• As zirconium is an isolator, it is necessary to deposit a conductive layer on the top of the bevel. This can be done either by PVD technologies (successions of conductive nano-layers) or by electrolysis (a single conductive layer).

7. Electroforming:

• Engraved cavities from the scaling are filled with gold, with galvanic growth. Ceramic rings with an additional conductive layer are plunged into a bath containing gold particles. An electrical current is then applied and gold particles are directed onto the ceramic rings and fixed at the surface. After a certain time a thick crust of gold is formed, covering the ring’s entire bevel.
• The color and thickness of the electroformed gold are guaranteed by adjusting sensitive parameters in near-continuous assessment.    

8. Removal of surplus gold:

• Most of gold deposited onto the surface of the ring must be removed to recover the ceramic surface and to leave a solid gold layer in the scaling.
• The gold is removed mechanically with an abrasive material.

9. Final finishing:

• Residual gold on the ceramic material is cleaned with fine machining process; a tight line is given to the bevel.
• Rings are then polished to give a perfect shiny aspect to ceramics.
• Finally, the gold scaling is circularly brushed to improve its contrast with the ceramics.

OMEGA has released two Planet Ocean watches using the new Ceragold technology. One is a 45.5 mm Chronograph and the other the 42 mm White Planet St. Moritz.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 45.50 mm Chronograph Ceragold.  Focus on this watch will surely be the polished black zirconium-based ceramic bezel ring with the Ceragold diving scale sitting on top of the 18 Ct red gold case. But  no less impressive is the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 9301 which powers the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph Ceragold, the same movement used in the De Ville Chronograph OMEGA. This movemnts features a unified 60-minute and 12-hour counter in a single dial at the 3 o'clock and the ability to adjust the hour hand independently of the minute hands

The watch also has the feature you expect to see on a premium deep sea divers watch, with a 600 meter water resistance rating and a helium gas escape valve.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Ceragold 42 mm White Planet St. Moritz. The OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean Ceragold White Planet St. Moritz combines a 42 mm 18 Ct red gold case and a white ceramic bezel with a Ceragold diving scale. Inside is the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8501movement.

Interestingly enough, the watch is dedicated to the Swiss mountain resort town of St. Moritz where each winter, a venue for world’s most prestigious bobsleigh races. A chrongraph may have a more appropriate watch to dedicate to St. Moritz.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2012: De Ville Chronograph OMEGA

The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA. The De Ville represents the OMEGA's classical line of watches. OMEGA added another watch at BaselWorld 2012 to its De Ville line-up. The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA has a 42 mm diameter case which is available in 18 Ct rose gold or stainless steel. 

The watch has several features not common on your typical watch. The dial of the watch features two sub-dials at and a date display. The sub-dial at the 9 o'clock displays continuous seconds. Most chronographs display running seconds in a sub-dial leaving the large second hand free for use with the chronograph function. 

For measuring elapsed minutes and hours, the typical chronograph has two sub-dials, one for measuring minutes and the other to measure hours.  The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA instead uses a single  sub-dial (at the 3 o'clock), which has two small hands for the same purpose.

The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA is powered by the Co-Axial calibre 9300/9301 which is quipped with OMEGA’s Si14 silicon balance spring. The more interesting feature of this movement is that you can change the hour hand without affecting the minute and second hands. This makes it easier to adjust between time zones. This is a feature you find in dual time watches, but which is not common in watches which display a single time zone.

This new De Ville Chronograph is available with either a 18 Ct red gold case on a brown or blue leather strap, or with a stainless steel case on a stainless steel bracelet or on a black or blue leather strap. The dial is available in opaline-silver or blue for the 18 Ct red gold models and opaline-silver or black or blue for the De Ville Chronograph in stainless steel.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2012: OMEGA Speedmaster Racing

Icon. The OMEGA Speedmaster, the companies iconic Moonwatch, has remained relatively unchanged since its release 55 years ago. It has evolved into a variety of models with cases sizes ranging from 35.5 mm to 44.25 mm. It has been built from a variety of precious metals and come up with every type of conceivable dial you can imagine. This chronograph watch has seen its functionality expanded with dual time features and the splits second complication. It even spawned a modernized branch, the Broad Arrow. It has housed manual winding and self winding movements. And still, after 55 years, if you want one that is pretty much identical to the original Speedmaster, you can still get one.

BaselWorld 2012, saw the announcement of two new Speedmasters: the Omega Speedmaster "First Omega in Space" Numbered Edition chronograph and Speedmaster Racing.

OMEGA Speedmaster Racing.  The new OMEGA Speedmaster Racing design is geared toward motorsports. The OMEGA Speedmaster Racing has a 40 mm stainless steel case with a matte black aluminium tachymetric ring on its bezel. It is offered in a choice of grey, grey/yellow or grey red tachymetric scaling. The case is water resistant to 100 meters.

The watch is a chronograph. The main second hand is used in conjunction with the chronograph function, while continuous seconds are displayed in a sub-dial at the 9 o'clock position.  The 30-minute and 12-hour counters, at the 3 and 6 o'clock positions, and the small seconds hand sub-dial are textured with a triangular “Clous de Paris” pattern. There is a date window at the 6 o’clock position. The hour and minute hands as well as the hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova.

Inside the Speedmaster Racing is the OMEGA calibre 3330, which has a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and is equipped with a Co-Axial escapement and an Si14 silicon balance spring. The Co-Axial escapement is a OMEGA innovation which is intended to reduce friction, and consequently the watch requires less maintenance. The movement is certified as a chronometer, meaning that it has been tested to have a deviation of not more than +4 or -6 second per day.

The Speedmaster Racing is comes with either a stainless steel bracelet or a black rubber strap.

Well, there you have it. Another Speedmaster. It really is OMEGA's policy to come out with a dizzying array of watches. At present there are over 60. On the one hand, it gives you a wide array of choices. On the other, a Speedmaster is not necessarily easily recognizable as such.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

BaselWorld 2012: OMEGA Spacemaster-33

Ana-digi. It is rare for manufacturers of luxury Swiss watches to release digital or quartz watches. The main draw of these watches are their Swiss mechanical movements. Brietling has several analog digital watches in its collection. Omega joins this small group with the announcement at BaselWorld 2012 of the OMEGA Spacemaster-33.

OMEGA Spacemaster-33. The watch is mates analogue timekeeping hands with two LCD windows. The OMEGA Spacemaster-33 can keep track of two time zones, has an alarm, chronograph function and a perpetual calendar. You can keep up to ten logs of periods of elapsed time you measured with the chronograph including the date they were taken.  Four pushers and the crown, allow full control over the array of digital features. While all these features sound impressive, for a digital watch they are not. Casio and Suunto have digital watches with far more impressive features. This watch has no compass, barometer or altimeter. It has no GPS, cannot keep track of average speed traveled over time... you get the point.

The case itself is not impressive. It's water resistance rating is just up to 30 meters, so this takes this watch out of any serious sporting activities.

Don't get me wrong, I like innovation. But a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer was to enter the realm of digital watches, it should try to provide something a cut above the rest. Brietling has an Emergency transmitter built into its digital offering, which a built-in micro transmitter broadcasting at the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency. Following a crash or a forced landing, the user can broadcast a signal on which rescuers can home in. 

The OMEGA Spacemaster-33 gives you nothing special on the digitial end of the spectrum, and being a digital watch, defeats the very purpose why people may choose to buy an Omega in the first place.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

 

BaselWorld 2012: OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT

  

OMEGA unveiled at BaselWorld 2012 a new variant of its Seamaster Aqua Terra, the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT. As indicated by its name the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT is a dual time watch which can keep track of two different time zones.  The main hour, which rotates at the usual rate of once every 12-hours, is used to keep local time. A second hour hand with a red and white triangle head which completes one rotation every 24 hours, is use to keep track of the second time zone. Since it is reports "military" time it will also allow you to keep track of whether it is day or night in the second time zone.
 

OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT. The Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT dial has the attractive "Teck Concept" dial, which is highlighted with vertical lines to resemble wooden decks on luxury boats. This new dial was first seen with the refresh of the Aqua Terra line-up in 2008. The case is 43 mm in diameter and available in 18 Ct red gold, stainless steel or, in a bicolor version in 18 Ct red gold and stainless steel. The watch is available with either a bracelet in the same metal as the watch case or with a black, brown or blue leather strap.

First dual time co-axial watch. The Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT is powered by the self-winding Co-Axial calibre 8605/8615 movement. This is the first of OMEGA Co-Axial movement to be equipped with a GMT complication. The movement is rated as a chronometer, meaning it was to tested to deviate by not more than +4 second or -6 seconds per day. A sapphire crystal on the screw-in caseback allows a clear view of the movement from the back of the watch.

The Co-Axial escapement in the OMEGA calibres is designed avoids the disturbing effects of contact between the balance-spring and the index pins. The result is reduced friction which means that there is almost no need for lubrication which results in Co-Axial calibres have long service intervals.

About OMEGA SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

 

BaselWorld 2012: OMEGA Speedmaster "First Omega in Space" Numbered Edition chronograph.

50th Anniversary. OMEGA announced at BaselWorld 2012 the Speedmaster "First OMEGA in Space" Numbered Edition chronograph. The watch us a near replica of the watch worn by Mercury Astronaut Wally Schirra on his October 1962 spaceflight. Schirra's Mercury Atlas 8 mission fifth U.S. manned spaceflight Schirra was the first astronaut to wear an Omega watch in space, more than two years before NASA adopted the Speedmaster as its approved timepiece. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Speedmaster to orbit the earth, OMEGA has created the Speedmaster “First OMEGA in Space” in honor of Schirra.

OMEGA Speedmaster "First OMEGA in Space" Numbered Edition chronograph. The watch has a 39.70 mm stainless steel case with the dial protected by a sapphire crystal. I am sure that the choice of the sapphire crystal, instead of the more historically correct Hesalite crystal will  disappointing to some. Other will be happier with the choice of sapphire crystal which resists scratches much better than Hesalite.

 

The dial has the 30-minute and 12-hour counters located at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively, and a small seconds sub-dial is at 9 o’clock. Inside is the now legendary manual-winding calibre 1861 movement.  

The watch has a screw-in stainless steel caseback which is embossed with OMEGA’s original seahorse emblem, the words “THE FIRST OMEGA IN SPACE” and “OCTOBER 3, 1962”, the date of the Mercury Atlas 8 mission. The Speedmaster “First OMEGA in Space” is a numbered edition and its number is engraved on the caseback.

The Speedmaster “First OMEGA in Space” chronograph comes on a brown leather strap.

About Omega SA. The forerunner of OMEGA was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name OMEGA was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.

Omega Baselworld 2012 video preview

Omega has released video teaser of its upcoming products at Baselworld 2012. Something to pass the time while waiting for the show to start.

SIHH 2012: A new Omega Speedmaster Limited for 2012

2012 Omega Speedmaster Limited Edition. In a way, a new Omega Speedmaster for limited edition is not really news. Omega has released a large number of limited edition Omega Speedmasters celebrating milestones in space exploration. Back in 2010 Omega even released the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz 35th Anniversary watch. A 35th Anniversary is something which you don't normally expected a limited edition watch to be released for.

In 2012, Omega has a good reason to release a limited edition Omega Speedmaster. This year is the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's flight piloting Friendship 7 into orbit around the earth, the first Astronaut ever to do so. I think it is a fairly good guess that Omega would not let such a historic occasion pass without a limited edition Speedmaster to commemorate the event. 

About Omega SA. The forerunner of Omega was founded 1848, by Louis Brandt. The name Omega was first used in 1894. It was used as the name of one of the Louis Brandt brother’s watch movement calibers.