Japanese Omega Automatic Replica, Discount Omega Automatic Replicas

Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial Spectre (233.32.41.21.01.001)

Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial Spectre (233.32.41.21.01.001) Watch is beautiful, but if you have arthritis or other difficulties with your hands - the dial is quite difficult to work with.

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by laurie kamer, From Netherlands Rotterdam-hoogvliet

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronometer Black (2254.50.00)

Picture does not do justice! Beautiful Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch that people confuse with fine jewelry watch Choppard. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by RICHARD A. RODRIGUEZ, From United Kingdom Redcar

Omega Aqua Terra 150m Master Co-Axial Silver Dial Brown Leather Men's Watch 23113392102003

Omega watches are simply fantastic! This watch specifically The watch is one of the best looking watches you can buy for under 100 dollars anywhere. I get stopped all the time and asked what kind of watch it is, and where I got it. This watch is one of the best purchases I have made in a long time. Thanks!

---- [Rating: 5 / 5 stars]

Review by haylee loney, From USA Rhinelander

Joel Dicker. Harry Quebert. Baltimore. These are all names that ring a bell among fans of literature and many others too. The 30 year-old writer from Geneva is now the ambassador of the DS car brand that partnered GMT magazine for its 15^th birthday party held at HEAD Geneve. Joel Dicker is adding another string to his bow by serving as director and starring in the DS web series leading up to an exclusive novel.

Although he's not a watch connoisseur as such, Joel Dicker is certainly not unappreciative of the classic, complex or innovative timepieces produced by the watch industry. The young author already translated into more than 30 languages shared a few thoughts on the topic with Worldtempus. 

Which was your first watch?
I was given my first watch at the age of four: it was a Flik Flak with a blue strap! I later had a classic Swatch steel watch, but I don't remember the exact model....

 Which model would you like to wear now?
The one I have at the moment suits me just fine: an Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon. I like its sporty and classic nature: black, discreet and yet original.

And what kind of watch would you like to give your sweetheart?
Not a watch from a specific brand. On the contrary, if I could, I'd create a watch from scratch for my girl!

What does time represent for you?
Money! Just kidding. Time… embodies the ambiguous relationship between past time and the time we have left to carry out our plans and to live. So time is ambiguity.

What does Swiss watchmaking mean to you?
Pride in having a national product that is universally appreciated abroad! It's a benchmark, a guarantee of quality and of excellent workmanship. That has an impact both on the image of watchmaking in general and on Switzerland itself.

When you are touring abroad, do people talk to you about Swiss watchmaking?
Not about Swiss watchmaking in particular, but about all the things that symbolise Switzerland, including watches. The latter are of course a reference in terms of Swiss excellence in this domain. Afterwards, people also talk to me about banks and chocolate of course.

What kind of books do you enjoy reading?
I read all manner of things, although I wouldn't personally be capable of writing any and every kind of literary genre.

How about a thriller?
No! Murder, blood and torture are definitely not my scene. I'm a romantic…

The notion of time is bly present in your books. Can you tell me a bit more? 
Yes indeed, all my books have a bly embedded concept of time. There are constant flashbacks to the life of the main protagonist, a lot of waiting, a sense of protracted duration. There is always a tie with past, present and future time, so it definitely underpins various situations.

What was your latest literary crush?
A bookseller recently recommended a book written by a pair of little-known authors and the title was also unfamiliar. I loved its unexpected side. It was a very different genre from anything I'd previously read. by John Robert and Evan Wright is all about the New York mafia, murder, cocaine… I highly recommend it!

In a bit of a surprise move, Peter Speake-Marin recently announced that he had signed well-known actor Pierce Brosnan as the ambassador for the Speake-Marin brand. It's rare for a small, independent brand to have an ambassador.
"It wasn't planned or searched for, it was the result of meeting on the filming of the movie 'Survivor' and becoming friends," explains Speake-Marin, who worked as a watchmaking consultant on the film. "Pierce started posting pictures of himself and his watches on Instagram and it seemed like a natural thing to do to ask him if he was interested in taking it to another level.

"He is classical with a twist as is my work; he is also in his own right an artist as well as an actor," Speake-Marin continues. "When we first met we became friends within minutes, in a slightly surreal way. We are kindred spirits from different worlds. We both love what we do and we both live in creative worlds."

Brosnan has had an incredible career, appearing some of the biggest movies made, including playing James Bond four times, while sporting an Omega, of course. Now, whenever he has a chance, Brosnan will wear his Speake-Marin. "Pierce has worn a Speake-Marin in the last film he made, called 'IT' and will do likewise in a new movie starting in the coming months," Speake-Marin details. Currently, Brosnan wears the Resilience timepiece (), the same one he wore in "Survivor."

Does an ambassador really pay off, especially for a small brand that struggles for recognition? Having a recognizable face of the brand certainly can't hurt. "Speake-Marin is a small company and we are slowly growing from year to year at a steady rate," Speake-Marin says. "This year was exemplary, which I believe was due to Pierce but also the evolution as a whole within the collections and the growing awareness of my work. Each year we are alive we grow."

Speake-Marin sees the association with Brosnan as a sign of future success. "Business is good, but I have no illusions, life for a small company in a competitive industry life can be challenging, but we are growing at a time when many companies are shrinking and making cutbacks," he says. "For the industry as a whole it is forever changing as it has been for the last 30 years with peaks and troughs, there is no longer a genuine sense of stability but this brings in its own way a need for creativity and originality to adapt to the new and changing world we live in.
"For Speake-Marin, I am more optimistic today than I have ever been due to the reality of our situation with growing sales, knowledge and maturity as a whole," he continues. "Also, I have a freedom for development now that I have never had before, due to a growing team to whom I have been able to delegate the daily activities of running the business."

When asked whether Brosnan will have a hand in the design of any Speake-Marin watches, Speake-Marin is tight-lipped. "For that you will have to wait and see," he says.

It's called the Cosmic Watch and it is Swiss Made, but ironically it is not yet available as a watch. Having crossed the desks of the executives at Omega (too digital) and Google Switzerland (not functional enough), the project arrives on the market not as a wristwatch but as an application running on iOS and Android or as a luxurious desk clock or high-end touchscreen display that would make the perfect addition to a boardroom or hotel lobby. It is the world's first interactive astronomical clock in the digital era, and it's Swiss Made!
The Cosmic Watch builds on the centuries old tradition of the astrolabe as a means of displaying the rotation of the heavenly bodies in our solar system. But whereas the historical astrolabes were objects intended as decoration just as much as they were for education, the Cosmic Watch is geared much more towards the educational aspect, capitalizing on the ubiquity of smartphones and tablets around the world.

A new appreciation of time

One of the cornerstones of this approach is adding the dimension of time, which can be overlaid on any of the views in the form of a circle around the equator with an optional digital read-out if desired. Intuitively, the time can also be read against the selected location and the shadow cast by the sun gives an instant overview of where on earth it is night and day.

A "time travel" function lets you move forwards or backwards through time at varying speeds, from a sedate two minutes per second to a dizzying year per second. As you move forwards or backwards you see the trace of the movement of the planets and you can pause at any point to see the exact configuration in the solar system at that point. Furthermore, significant astronomical events such as eclipses are highlighted along the way.
Five different guides (horizon, compass, planet names, connections, celestial rings and equatorial grid) can be toggled on and off to assist with astronomical observations. Simply activating the horizon and compass, for example, then aligning north on the compass with north on the horizon, lets you easily identify the planets at a glance. On a cloudless night in mid-May I was able to pick out Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury from my balcony in a matter of minutes.

The future

As with any smartphone application, the advantage of the technology is that it can regularly be updated. The developers are already working on adding new features such as real-time weather, a world-time display and equation of time function. With such features on board, the application could in future easily replace three or more existing types of application (world time, sky chart, weather). All this at a cost of just 4 Swiss francs!

The Cosmic Watch also comes packaged as two high-end luxury objects, the Vision and the Eclipse. The Vision is an interactive table clock and the Eclipse is a custom-built interactive astronomical "wall time device" using the very best touchscreen technology available.
 

The Cosmic Watch can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

The Winston Cluster is one of the House of Harry Winston's most coveted jewelry designs. In these jewels, fancy-shaped diamonds are set with minimal metal at varying angles to each other, resulting in a cluster of pear, marquise-shaped and round brilliant diamonds that has depth and remarkable brilliance. Transformed into highly dimensional sculptures, diamonds appear to float in their settings, emphasizing the inherent beauty and fire of each different shaped diamond.

At the the Omega - De Ville Prestige 'Butterfly' launch on October 2, 2014 in Seoul, Nicole Kidman was wearing a Wreath diamond necklace, a Winston Cluster diamond bracelet, a diamond Links bracelet and a Qipao diamond ring.

Yesterday in London's chic New Bond Street, Sotheby's auction house undertook what was certainly its most high-profile auction of the year: selling the horological remains of George Daniels' life.
At precisely 2:30 GMT, the elite of the horological auction world crowded into Sotheby's posh auction room to witness - or possibly bid on - the 137 items left in Daniels' collection at the time of his death in 2011.
 

Daniels can rightly be viewed as the first independent, a talented watchmaker who practically led this movement of the mechanical renaissance by example. He was revered by the other independents - as F.P. Journe's platinum Chronometre Souverain (lot 27) gift to him shows - and inspired them in their own work. "This auction will set the precedent for other independents' work," Geoffroy Ader, head of Sotheby's Geneva, remarked.
Daniels is best remembered for inventing the co-axial escapement, which was industrialized and is now in serial use by Omega, though as his protege and only apprentice Roger Smith pointed out, "He made everything by hand, every part of the watch." His 37 unique pocket watches remain so one-of-a-kind because they were indeed manufactured by his own two hands and because each one represented a new technical experiment.

Daniels was a collector of automobiles, cameras, and timepieces. As an expert in the history of horology, he also traded in very high-end vintage timepieces and was an adviser to Sotheby's for much of his career. Much of the proceeds of the auctions surrounding these objects will benefit the George Daniels Educational Trust, a charity he set up before his passing to benefit the higher education of pupils studying the disciplines of horology, engineering, medicine and building construction. Financial aid from the trust is granted to students nominated by City University London and jointly the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and The British Horological Institute.
Auction results
Many pieces in the auction were highly anticipated, and the top lot performed as expected, which is probably why it did not elicit applause from the polite gathering of aficionados: the Space Travellers Watch, a large Lepine-style pocket watch complicated beyond belief and ahead of its time in terms of added technology. Smith explained that Daniels had created it in honor of man's first landing on the moon (hence the name). The bidding on it was spirited and included a prominent local London retailer, who dropped out before it crossed the one-million-pound mark. Bidding topped out at 1,150,000 pounds before commission.

The second most expensive lot came in at 1,100,000 pounds before commission: an ebony-encased striking table clock by Joseph Knibb from 1677. It has royal provenance, which is probably what at least partially spurred the heated bidding for it. As expected, Daniels' own pieces did remarkably well, with the Grand Complication wristwatch hammered at 780,000 pounds before commission.
Anther notable lot was an Urban Jurgensen wristwatch modified by Daniels to include a slim version of the co-axial escapement, which was sold to the Jurgensen Museum via telephone for 50,000 pounds before commission. And, naturally, the Journe piece was notable for the above-mentioned reasons. It sold for 36,000 pounds before commission.
The Sotheby's team and other notables present at the auction were pleased with the results, totaling 8,285,139 pounds after commission (and beating the pre-sale estimate by more than 3 million pounds). About 8 million pounds of that will go to the George Daniels Educational Trust.
 

When Daniel Craig reprises his role as James Bond in Skyfall, he will be wearing an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M 42mm with a black dial and a matt black ceramic unidirectional rotating divers' bezel. Bond fans and Omega enthusiasts will know that the world's favourite secret agent has been wearing Seamasters since 1995 and the Planet Ocean has been his choice since Casino Royale in 2006.

James Bond's choice
For Skyfall, Bond's choice is the steel on steel Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Omega Co-Axial Chronometer, whose design features can be traced directly back to the classic Seamasters of the 1950s. Inside the case it's a different story: the watch is driven by the Omega Co-Axial calibre 8500 whose revolutionary Co-Axial escapement and free sprung balance deliver long-term stability and precision, dramatically reducing the need for servicing. Also equipped with an Si14 silicon balance spring, the watch is delivered with a four-year warranty.
The hands and indexes have been treated with Super-LumiNova and are legible in all lights and conditions and offer a stark contrast to the matt black surface of the dial. The Super-LumiNova on the indexes, the hour hand and the seconds hands emits a blue light; the luminescent material on the minute hand and the dot on the bezel appear green. This contrast means that divers can tell at a glance how much time has elapsed when they are underwater. Even the sweep of the luminous orange-tipped seconds hand can easily be read in the dark. There are Arabic numerals at 12, 6, and 9 o'clock with a date window at the 3 o'clock position on the dial.

A professional divers' watch
A professional divers' watch, the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Omega Co-Axial Chronometer is equipped with a helium escape valve. The stainless steel bracelet features a diver's clasp which allows its length to be extended to fit around a wetsuit. As its name suggests, the Planet Ocean 600m is water resistant to a depth of 600 metres (60 bar / 2000 feet).
Omega and the world's most stylish spy
James Bond has worn an Omega Seamaster in every film since Goldeneye in 1995. Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming first introduced Bond to Omega. She described Bond as a naval man and a discreet gentleman of the world, so the Seamaster was the obvious choice. Omega couldn't agree more!

Renaissance
Pocket Watch
1981

It is the fisrt pocket watch intergrating a Tourbillon and complications in the history. The Renaissance features the Hours, Minutes and Seconds (from the Tourbillon). It also is a Perpetual Calendar with all of its traditionnal information. Plus it proposes an automatic striking mechanism, the 12 zodiacal signs, the sunrise and sunset stars, the equation of time and a thermometer. The Renaissance is still today privately owned by the same familly who originally bought it.
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Capriccio - Piece No 2
Pocket Watch
1983

The functions are the Hours, Minutes and Seconds (from the Tourbillon). Its hand winding movment perfectly fits the special shape of the case, inspired by a paintor's color palette. The power reserve is of 8 days. It is regulated by a tourbillon and a detent escapment.  The Capriccio is the property of the Omega museum.
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Montres des Sables - A Faces
Pocket Watches
1985

The deserts' nomads inspired Dominique Loiseau for the creation of these 6 unique Montres des Sables (Watches of the sand). Every movement's flying Tourbillon is placed in the center of each watch. These pocket watches have pendant integrated in their case so that they look like stones on the desert.
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Rose des Temps
Table Clock and automaton
1983-84
 

Unique Complication rebus table clock celebrating the arrival of the 3rd millenary. The timepiece is made of 16 modules all interchangeable between them and totalizing 32 functions. To name a few these functions are : Automatic Striking Mecanism, Minute Repeater, a 6 bells (gongs) Westminster Carillon, Perpetual Calendar, the sky in New-York, Sydney, Buenos Aires and Bern, the 4 seasons indicator, Year 2K automaton, a Chronometer, a Thermometer and of course Hours and Minutes.
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Cobra
Pocket Watch
1986-87

Unique pocket watch. Besides the Hours, minutes and seconds (from the Tourbillon) it features a flying Tourbillon and a power reserve indicator.  The Cobra is privately owned.

The Omega Black Dial Constellation Calendar watch was gifted to Elvis' longtime friend and confidante Charlie Hodge, a musician who played with Presley and who was honored at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Hodge recalls, "… several times I told Elvis how beautiful his watch was... and he took it off his wrist and gave it to me."

The self-winding, center-seconds, water-resistant, stainless steel and pink gold-capped chronometer wristwatch with black dial was produced circa 1960. The winner of this watch, expected to sell for $10,000 - $20,000, will receive a letter of attestation signed by Hodge.
Few watches owned by Elvis remain from this era and considering his professional relationship with Hamilton watches and sizable collection of Hamilton and Rolex watches, this Omega is truly unique.
"This is an important piece of history sure to appeal to Elvis fans, collectors of music memorabilia and watch aficionados," says Evan Zimmermann, President and CEO of Antiquorum.
The Omega Constellation is one of 269 remarkable timepieces, including rare Patek Philippe, Piaget, Ulysse Nardin and Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatches, to be featured at the auction. A Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 in 18K yellow gold with a custom grey dial is estimated to fetch $450,000 - $ 650,000 and a limited edition Jaeger Le-Coultre Gyrotourbillon in platinum is expected to sell for $ 250,000 - $ 350,000.
The collection will be previewed in New York from June 9 - 11.
www.Antiquorum.com

These five watchmakers are endowed with spirits of curiosity, technical supremacy and progressive thinking. They lead the mechanical industry by example: exploring theunknown while ensuring that stability and accuracy remain the prime elements of their creations. Meet five examples of horological brilliance as different as day and night—all bound to write their own chapters of watch history.
 

Jean-François Mojon
Shooting star Mojon maintains an uncompromising, engineering approach to his movement designs and this is logical, for he not only studied watchmaking technology at the Technicum in Le Locle, but also mechanical engineering. "Technology in general fascinated me as a child," he explains.
His career has been broad: starting out in electronics, he worked in quartz and LCD. He also worked in the aviation industry and for Omega for six years. In 1995, he acted on the desire to learn German and get really involved in the watch industry, so he sent an application to IWC, where he worked under Gunter Blumlein and became the head of quality control (...)

The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph Ceragold has a generous 45.50 mm 18 Ct red gold case. Its most striking design element is its polished black zirconium-based ceramic bezel ring which offers a stark, dramatic contrast to the Ceragold diving scale.

No less impressive is the Omega Co-Axial calibre 9301 at the heart of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph Ceragold. Launched last year, it was the first chronograph in the brand's proprietary family of Co-Axial movements. The movement has a special luxury finish including an 18 Ct red gold rotor and balance bridge; the screws, barrels and balance wheel are blackened. With the Omega Co-Axial calibre 9301 it is possible to adjust the hour hand without affecting the performance of the minute or seconds hands, allowing for easy adjustments for travellers changing time zones. The movement is equipped with a silicon balance spring and like all Planet Oceans, the watch comes with a full four-year warranty.
The lacquered black dial presents both the 60-minute and 12-hour counters on the same subdial at 3 o'clock so reading the elapsed chronograph time is particularly intuitive. The small seconds sub-dial is at 9 o'clock.
The Seamaster Planet Ocean Chronograph Ceragold is presented on a black leather strap secured by an 18 Ct red gold foldover clasp.

So much has been written about the rigorous testing that led to the Omega Speedmaster's being the only watch qualified for every manned NASA mission that it is easy to forget that the very first Omega worn in Space was the Speedmaster that astronaut Wally Schirra wore during his Mercury Atlas 8 mission in October of 1962. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Speedmaster to orbit the earth, OMEGA has created the Speedmaster "First Omega in Space" in honour of Wally Schirra and his historic wristwatch.

The Omega Speedmaster "First Omega in Space" edition recalls the watch that Schirra bought at a jeweller in Houston more than half a century ago. Inside its 39.70 mm polished, brushed stainless steel case is the legendary self-winding calibre 1861, which earned its reputation as the movement in the legendary Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. There is a black aluminium bezel ring with a tachymetric scale.
Visible through its box-form, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is the classic varnished black dial that for 55 years has made the Speedmaster the world's definitive chronograph: the 30-minute and 12-hour counters are located at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock respectively and the small seconds sub-dial is at 9 o'clock. It has white transferred indexes; the hour markers and hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova.
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 Omega Speedmaster "First Omega in Space" chronograph is presented on a brown leather strap with beige stitching. The watch is water resistant to 5 bar / 50 metres/ 167 feet. This classic Speedmaster is a fitting way to celebrate the beginning of an adventure that would ultimately lead to six lunar landings and half a century of space exploration.

OMEGA celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first James Bond film with the launch of two commemorative limited edition watches, a press conference and a showcase of props from every James Bond film at its new Westfield Stratford (England) boutique.

The event was opened by OMEGA president Stephen Urquhart, who welcomed media and guests and talked about his brand's relationship with the film franchise. He said, "James Bond is unmatched as a cultural icon and we are excited to be celebrating half a century of great adventure films featuring the world's favourite spy. We are also happy to have the opportunity to display items from every one of those films. I know that the showcase will bring back a lot of cinematic memories." Stephen Urquhart was joined by OMEGA's vice president and head of product development, Jean-Claude Monachon, who introduced two Seamaster Diver watches that OMEGA has released to commemorate the milestone. Released in two sizes, the new Seamaster Diver is distinguished by a red "50" on its diving bezel, a reminder that it is celebrating a special anniversary. Also at the press conference was Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning costume designer who chose the OMEGA Speedmaster as 007's watch in GoldenEye in 1995. Asked about her selection of the OMEGA Seamaster with the blue dial, she said "I was convinced that Commander Bond, a Naval man, a diver, and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear this watch as opposed to the one everyone expected me to use."

She added, "I had also known contemporaries when I was in my twenties who were military and naval, and some who worked in field of energy and electricity, who all swore by their Omegas. Therefore, as one of the early tasks in designing the new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, I went to a props and hand props meeting and argued for the use of Omega, which I had of course first investigated to make sure they would be interested in placing their watches on Bond!" Bond film props and gadgets on display The showcase which opened on Wednesday features props from all 22 previously released Bond films. The Parahawk from The World is Not Enough is displayed outside the boutique; it attracted considerable attention from shoppers in the mall who were pleased to enter the boutique to see a wide range of props that includes a Dom Perignon champagne bottle from Dr. No, a flask bomb used in A View to Kill, super-villain Jaws' teeth from The Spy Who Loved Me and Bond's piton gun from GoldenEye.

The showcase continues through Friday February 24th at the OMEGA Boutique at the Stratford Westfield Mall and is open to the public.

This year's edition of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament boasted a stellar roster that included three of the world's four top-ranked golfers. The stars didn't disappoint: at the end of the third round, Rory McIlory, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, who entered the tournament ranked second, third and fourth in the world respectively, were in the leaderboard's top ten. But it was Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello who won by a single stroke over Westwood and Scotsman Stephen Gallacher.
Cabrera-Bello, who had been a stroke behind Westwood overnight, birdied the 17th hole and was able to hang on to his lead.
Cabrera-Bello was presented with the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic trophy by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Raynald Aeschlimann, Vice President and International Sales Director, OMEGA, the tournament's title sponsor, in the fiercely contested European Tour event.
The prestigious 18 Ct red gold an OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar was presented to Cabrera-Bello along with the tournament trophy, following a tournament that saw one of the most dramatic European Tour finishes of the season.

"We are particularly proud to present this timepiece to a winner as worthy as Rafael," said Aeschlimann. "I know that when he wears it, it will bring back memories of his extraordinary performance at this tournament." 
The watch presented to Cabrera-Bello is an OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Annual Calendar with an 18 Ct red gold case and a brown leather strap. The date only needs to be adjusted once a year, on March 1. It is delivered with a four-year warranty and is water-resistant to 15 bar/150 metres/500 feet. The exclusive Co-Axial calibre 8611 is a member of the mechanical watch movement family that has signaled a revolution in the way mechanical wristwatches are being made.
OMEGA is one of the most prominent watch brands in the world and has long promoted golf as a global sport. Its title sponsorships include the OMEGA European Masters played each September in Switzerland and the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Master hosted every December in Dubai. In 2011, the brand entered into a partnership with The PGA of America and will serve as official timekeeper to The PGA Championship, one of golf's four "Majors," and the Ryder Cup when it is contested in the United States. OMEGA is also among the world's leading sports timekeepers and in 2012 will assume its Official Timekeeping role at the Olympic Games for the 25th time since 1932.

OMEGA has renewed its commitment to helping grow the game of golf around the world. This Seamaster Aqua Terra "Golf", with the distinctive green elements on its dial, fashionably identifies itself with a truly global sport.

The watch, which features a 41.50 mm brushed and polished stainless steel case and a polished bezel, has a black dial with the vertical lines that define OMEGA's popular Aqua Terra Collection. The indexes are crafted from brushed and polished 18 Ct white gold and there is a date window at 3 o'clock.

With its green transferred "Seamaster" name and the numbers on the minute track (60, 5, 10, 15, etc.), the watch recalls the verdant courses where golf's great events are contested. The central seconds hand is also distinguished with a green tip.

The Seamaster Aqua Terra "Golf" is powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial caliber 8500, the movement that, when it was introduced in 2007, signaled a revolution in mechanical watchmaking. Equipped with the first practical new watch escapement to be introduced in some 250 years, the Co-Axial movement delivers outstanding chronometric performance which will be maintained over a longer period of time than those with a traditional Swiss lever escapement.

As a result there are longer service intervals and OMEGA guarantees the timepiece for four years. The hour hand can be changed independently of the minute and seconds hands allowing travelers to adjust the time easily when they change time zones.

The Seamaster Aqua Terra "Golf" wristwatch features OMEGA's patented screw and pin stainless steel bracelet and is water resistant to 15 bar / 150 metres / 500 feet.

With the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT, OMEGA introduces a new member of its exclusive Co-Axial family of movements. The OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8605/8615 is the first of OMEGA's proprietary movements to be equipped with a GMT complication, meaning that along with the central hour, minute and seconds hands, there is a GMT hand which completes one rotation every 24 hours, making it possible to keep track of the time in two time zones.
The 43 mm case is available in a choice of metals: 18 Ct red gold or stainless steel or, in a bicolor version in 18 Ct red gold and stainless steel. The sapphire crystal on the screw-in caseback allows a clear view of the extraordinary Co-Axial movement inside. 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.

The dial is distinguished by the teak pattern associated with the Aqua Terra collection. The vertical lines are reminiscent of the wooden decks on luxury boats. The applied 18 Ct gold brushed and polished indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova and the facetted hands are crafted from 18 Ct white or red gold. Like the indexes, they are coated with white Super-LumiNova which allows ease of reading in all light conditions. The GMT hand's red arrow makes it easy to distinguish the two time zones.
At the heart of the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT is the Co-Axial calibre 8605/8615. It is part of the family of movements OMEGA introduced in 2007 built around the first practical new watch escapement to be developed in some 250 years. The Co -Axial escapement in the OMEGA calibres is used in conjunction with a free sprung-balance and its function differs considerably from that of a conventional lever escapement with index. The watch's rate can be adjusted by modifying the moment of inertia of the balance by means of two gold regulating micro screws embedded in the circular balance. This design avoids the disturbing effects of contact between the balance-spring and the index pins and therefore ensures that the stability of rate offered by the Co-Axial escapement is maintained over long periods of use. The result is reduced friction which means that there is almost no need for lubrication; the Co-Axial calibres have long service intervals and the Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT, which is also equipped with a silicon balance spring, is delivered with a four-year warranty.
The OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8605/8615 is the first in the family to be equipped with a GMT complication. Its GMT hand has a diamond-polished red arrow, making it easy to track time in a second time zone or GMT display. Intriguingly, the GMT hand can also be used for compass orientation: when the watch is held parallel to the ground with its hour hand pointed in the direction of the sun, the GMT hand, when it is adjusted to the same time on the 24-hour GMT display, will indicate north in the northern hemisphere.

One of the major introductions from Baselworld 2011 was, of course, Omega's new chronograph caliber. I was therefore quite disappointed when a Swatch Group scheduling glitch occurred and I missed my chance to see it. "These things happen," I thought and did my utmost to try to get down to the factory in the ensuing months - to no avail. I just seemed destined to miss out on seeing what I suspected was going to be a truly excellent product. In October, my chance suddenly appeared: my French-language colleague at Worldtempus Louis Nardin had arranged a test period with just this watch (

read his story here). Sometimes I am amazed at the way things work out.
 

The legend
Despite a reminiscent resemblance to Rolex, the Speedmaster has been able to carve out a fixed place for itself in history thanks to the legendary journey it took to the moon on the wrist of Neil Armb in 1969. Back then this watch originally introduced in 1957 ran on a manually wound Lemania that Omega called Caliber 321.
It's hard to mess with a legend and come out on top, but Omega has done an admirable job of it. This beefed up version of the Speedmaster measures a full 44.25 mm in diameter. It is perhaps this large size that gives it such a different feel and look as compared to the previous versions, which were either 38 or 39 mm.
 

The obvious
Aside from the size, aficionados will notice a few obvious differences between this new version and previous, more classic versions. The chronograph totalizers are bicompax rather than tricompax, a date window has been added to the 6 o'clock position and the ten-minute/stop-second numerals have been left off the new dial design. These three design elements alone have been enough to raise the hackles of collectors, leading some to even ask me outright while I was wearing the watch, "Is this a proper Speedmaster?"
While this is a question that can only be answered individually, my answer to this question would be a resounding, "Yes, it is a proper Speedmaster." A dial - which is the most important and doubtlessly the deciding factor in any wristwatch - is always a question of balance and proportions. While the dial has been slightly transformed, this was necessary because the entire size of the case had changed, making it more contemporary. 
Also, in my estimation, the changed elements serve to clean up the dial a bit and make it fresher and cleaner. This, naturally, precludes that it loses a bit of its instrument character, but then so be it. The end look is attractive and compelling, a fact that I came to appreciate more and more as I wore this flawlessly functioning chronograph.
Also, and this is important for me, the changed proportions, cleaner dial and bicompax chronograph totalizers make it appear less Rolex-y than its predecessors. I know I risk some backlash with that statement, but it has always been a detracting factor in my eyes. The transformation is a good one.
 

The caliber
The original Speedmasters ran on Lemania movements, which were not created specifically for this model. This new Speedmaster, which is officially named Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Chronograph (Reference 311.30.44.51.01.002), is the first to be fitted with a movement that was created specifically for it. Omega Caliber 9300 is automatic, column wheel-controlled, and contains a co-axial escapement with a free-sprung silicon balance spring and two serially operating spring barrels for 60 hours of power reserve. Though I did not time the chronograph on a Witschi (that is not what our Worldtempus tests aim to prove), I can say that the caliber was extremely accurate and that 60 hours of power reserve is really excellent - you can put it down over the weekend and not have to wind it again on Monday morning. As I am not a watchmaker, I wouldn't want to venture a guess as to whether the co-axial provides more accuracy that a regular Swiss lever escapement with the same attributes. In my estimation, it is at least as precise.
One collector asked me during the test phase if the date changes exactly at midnight: a valid question. The answer is no, it's not an instantaneous change. The changeover lasts about ten minutes or so - not a bad balance.

The bottom line
At $8,700 this stainless steel sports watch is not necessarily overpriced. Comparable Rolex models are commensurate in price: the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date in stainless steel currently costs $8,000.
The updates to this model are justified and well executed; after all, a simple reproduction would be ultimately boring, like hearing a cover version of a song that hasn't been changed at all except for the fact that a different group is performing it. In fact, the changes contain new codes that correspond to our era and our generation. Welcome to 2011, Omega Speedmaster. 
 

Álvaro Quirós was introduced to the game of golf at the age of nine by his father, who later persuaded him to focus on his golf game rather than his other passion, football. At the age of 19 Alvaro had a handicap of +1 and won a scholarship to the Joaquin Blume Center for High Performance in Madrid where the top Spanish athletes go to study. During this time he was selected for the Spanish under-21 golf team that won the European Masters title. After turning professional in 2004, he achieved his first significant win at the Morson International Pro-Am Challenge in 2006. This win was followed by the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2007, the Portugal Masters in 2008 and the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in 2009. His most recent and important victories came in the 2010 Spanish Open, and in the 2011 Omega Dubai Desert Classic - his fifth European Tour title which featured a memorable hole-in-one during the final round.

At 6'3", Quirós is the longest hitter on the European tour and has topped the driving distance category in the Genworth Financial Statistics for three consecutive years - 2007, 2008 and 2009. As a youngster, Alvaro was taken under the wing of the great player and teacher Pedro Tineo who sensed the boy's talent and devoted many hours to helping him hone is technique. Quirós is now coached by former Ryder Cup player and four-time European Tour Champion Jose Riverso, whom Alvaro credits with having the best influence on his career performance to date. When asked recently to describe his sports philosophy, forged through experiences that include many successes but also unexpected setbacks and injuries, Alvaro said, "Uno de mis objetivos en la vida es disfrutarla en todo momento aunque no sea facil. Tener exito en mi trabajo y tener buenas personas a mi alrededor. ("One of my goals in life is to enjoy every moment even when things are not easy. I naturally wish to be successful in my job and to have good people around me.")

Such a statement clearly reveals that behind this rising golf star lies an eminently approachable young man with a pleasant demeanor who is deeply grounded in family values. As he explains, "I know my father, mother and brother are always there for me and they are my platform, the center of my universe". Quirós currently resides in Cadiz near his birth town of Guadiaro. He enjoys music, spending time with friends, and is an avid sports fan with a longstanding devotion to the Atletico Madrid football team. Determined to maintain a balanced approach to his life and his sport, he says: "I would like to be remembered as a long-hitting champion with many titles, but most of all as a good and fair human being."

Concord is genuinely proud of this promising new affiliation with Álvaro Quirós, who "likes the design of Concord watches because they are very elegant while still young and fresh." He will be ably representing the brand on golf links around the world - and at various press events where he will be able to share his enthusiasm for his discipline with golf aficionados around the globe.   Both partners in this association are engaged in fields where patience and perseverance are matched by boldness and inventiveness - and this winning match between the worlds of watch-making and golfing appears set to bring some exciting results. Watch this space…

Apollo 15 was the fourth of NASA's six missions to land on the Moon. It was the first to feature a long duration stay on the lunar surface and there was a greater focus on science than there had been on previous missions. Most notably, it was the first mission where the Lunar Roving Vehicle was used.

The Apollo 15 mission began on July 26, 1971; the crew landed on the Moon four days later and they wouldn't splash down until the 7th of August. The adventure had lasted more than twelve days!

Omega commemorates a successful mission
Omega has created the Speedmaster Moonwatch "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary Limited Edition to commemorate this important and successful mission.
It is a classic Moonwatch: it has a polished and brushed stainless steel case and bracelet, a black aluminum ring with a tachymeter scale on the bezel and a domed shatterproof hesalite crystal with O etched inside. Its three subdials are arranged in true Speedmaster Professional fashion on the black dial: the small seconds at 9 o'clock, the 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock.
Some distinguishing features
There are also some features which distinguish the "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary model from the classic Speedmaster Professional. This Limited Edition timepiece has a minute track in blue, white and red - the three colors of the Apollo 15 patch. There is a blue ring around the small seconds subdial; there are white and red rings around the 12-hour and 30-minute counters respectively.
The screw-in caseback is embossed with an image of the Lunar Rover and the words "APOLLO 15" and "40th ANNIVERSARY". The outer circle of the caseback is black chrome engraved with "THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON", "JULY 30, 1971" and the limited edition number.
An iconic movement
At the heart of the Speedmaster Moonwatch "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch is the classic Omega caliber 1861, the same manual-winding chronograph that equips the legendary Speedmaster Professional.
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch "Apollo 15" 40th Anniversary was created in an edition limited to 1,971 pieces.

WORLDTEMPUS - 23 mai 2011

Last week, Omega impressively showed its latest Seamaster Planet Ocean models on the small island of Capri in the bay of Naples. A boat sailing around the historic island entered one of the legendary blue grottos, where a mermaid emerged from the water to hand one of the new orange Planet Ocean Chronograph to this reporter. The colorful diver's watch was not a present from a beautiful sea creature, but rather Omega's creative way to present a new watch to the press on board the chartered vessel.
This diver's watch, water-resistant to 600 meters, of the Seamaster Planet Ocean collection - which was originally launched in 2004 - is a sporty Omega. The line includes a three-hander (in both 42 and 45.5 mm case diameters) and 45.5 mm chronograph model in addition to a slightly more feminine 37.5 mm version for women: all are fitted with the latest in-house mechanical co-axial calibers 8500/8501, 8520/8521 or the new 9300 (chronograph). 

The chronograph, available in stainless steel with an orange aluminum bezel, a black ceramic bezel or in titanium with a blue ceramic bezel and Liquidmetal markers, displays the 12-hour and 60-minute chronograph totalizers on the same subdial at 3 o'clock. This is the same set-up found on the new Speedmaster Moon. All the new movements are furthermore fitted with a newly developed Si 14 silicon balance spring, which is apparently incredibly reliable: Omega offers a four-year factory guarantee on it.

No more quartz

"We produced 420,000 co-axial movements in 2010," Omega president Stephen Urquhart explained as he showed the new collection at a scenic beach club located on one of the rocks where sirens allegedly lured sailors with their seductive song.
"That is more than half our total production . Within the next three years we will fit all our watches with our own movements," he claimed, indicating the end of quartz as going forward all models will contain mechanical movements, including the women's lines. Though it was pointed out that some women would rather spend their money on a diamond bezel or a precious metal case than a mechanical movement, Urquhart was insistent that Omega "needs to be consistent."

Being a direct neighbour to world famous boutiques of Louis Vuitton, Omega, Van Cleef & Arpels, the distinguished customer may, since May 2nd, see, listen and feel some 50 handcrafted master-pieces in a space of 68 m2.

Traditional music boxes, contemporary design objects, singing birds, personalized gifts - 150 years of traditional swiss craftsmanship are here to proof that this traditional manufacturer from the Swiss Jura has established itselfs at the top of individual luxury brands.

OMEGA has created a special watch - the Hour Vision Blue - in support of ORBIS International's fight against preventable blindness. Working closely with OMEGA on the project is actor and brand ambassador Daniel Craig.

The elegant Hour Vision
The OMEGA Hour Vision Blue wristwatch is a special edition of the stunning Hour Vision. It has a 360° see-through case-body which is set in a robust 41 mm stainless steel outer case.
The Hour Vision Blue is equipped with OMEGA's Co-Axial calibre 8500, the movement that signalled a revolution in series-produced mechanical watchmaking. The self-winding watch is an officially certified chronometer, a testimony to its precision and performance. Its Co-Axial escapement on three levels means that the hour hand can be adjusted independently of the minute and seconds hands - ideal for travellers who regularly need to change time zones.
The Co-Axial movement can be observed through sapphire crystal in the polished, screwed caseback. The Hour Vision Blue is water resistant to 10 bar / 100 metres / 330 feet.
Adding distinction to the timepiece is its sun-brushed blue dial designed especially for the appropriately named Hour Vision Blue. It has 18 Ct white gold facetted hour, minute and seconds hands and features a date window at 3 o'clock. The OMEGA Hour Vision Blue is presented on a black leather strap.

OMEGA and ORBIS International
OMEGA will donate a minimum of a million dollars to ORBIS International over the next four years and looks forward to its partnership with a remarkable organization that has carried out programs in 88 countries and trained some 250,000 health care professionals while delivering quality eye care to more than 12 million individuals around the world.

In recent decades, women have been an increasingly important force for social, political and economic change. They are opinion shapers and leaders in business, in politics, in lifestyle and in the media.
In designing the Ladymatic, OMEGA set an audacious challenge for itself: the aim was to create a watch which would integrate the brand's most innovative technology with dramatic, eye-catching design. The Ladymatic dramatically meets the challenge.
Subtle elegance
This elegant member of the Ladymatic collection features a polished 34 mm stainless steel case with a distinctive white ceramic ring between an outer decorative wave and the inner case body. The polished screw-in crown is set with a brilliant Omega cut diamond. Its bezel is dramatically paved with snow set diamonds.
The face of the Ladymatic is highlighted by the supernova pattern emanating from the centre of the extra-white mother-of-pearl dial. There is a diamond-polished date window at the 3 o'clock position and the other hours are marked by diamonds. The polished alpha-shaped hands have been made from 18 Ct white gold and are treated with white Super-LumiNova, making them readable in any lighting conditions.
The polished caseback has a sapphire crystal that reveals the Co-Axial calibre 8520, the best women's mechanical watch movement in the world. At the heart of the movement is the Co-Axial escapement, the component that in 1999 signalled a revolution in how mechanical wristwatches are made. Each movement is equipped with OMEGA's exclusive Si 14 silicon balance spring, an innovation that makes it more resistant to external shocks and environmental disturbances.
The OMEGA Ladymatic is water-resistant to 10 bar/ 100 metres / 330 feet.

A four-year warranty
The OMEGA Ladymatic is an officially certified chronometer, a testimony to its outstanding timekeeping performance. The remarkable stability and performance of the Co-Axial calibres equipped with silicon balance springs makes it possible for OMEGA to deliver each Ladymatic wristwatch with a four-year warranty.

The face of the Ladymatic is highlighted by the supernova pattern emanating from the centre of the dial. The extra-white mother-of-pearl features a diamond-polished date window at the 3 o'clock position.

The OMEGA Ladymatic is presented with a stainless steel bracelet 3-row featuring OMEGA's patented crew-and-pin design with a butterfly clasp.

Omega has announced that it will work in cooperation with actor and brand ambassador Daniel Craig to support Orbis International and its Flying Eye Hospital in the fight against preventable blindness.

A special watch - the Hour Vision Blue - has been created to celebrate the partnership, and Omega has guaranteed that at least one million U.S. dollars from its sale will be donated to Orbis, an organization which delivers eye care to some of the world's most remote and developing regions.  
 
Omega president Stephen Urquhart spoke of his brand's commitment saying, "Omega is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to Orbis' remarkable mission. It's particularly gratifying to be working with Daniel in support of an organization whose work we all believe in."
Daniel Craig is arranging a visit to Orbis' Flying Eye Hospital with Omega this year. "I think that it's important to do all that we can to draw attention to the invaluable work that Orbis is doing. By visiting them in the field and seeing their team at work, I hope we will be able to make more people aware of the issue of preventable blindness and to let them know how much of a difference they can make. I'm delighted that Omega feels as bly about this initiative as I do."

 
Since it was founded in 1982, Orbis has carried out programs in 88 countries to provide medical training, tools and technology for local partners to address the tragedy of avoidable blindness in their communities. As a result of Orbis' support, more than 12 million individuals have received medical care and more than a quarter of a million eye care professionals have been trained.  
 
"We are tremendously excited about our new partnership with Omega", stated Dr. Robert Walters, Chairman of Orbis, "and are looking forward to working closely with Omega and Daniel to heighten the awareness of preventable blindness in the developing world. With Omega and Daniel's support, Orbis will reach and treat even more people, reducing the global burden of blindness and ensuring productive lives for many".
 
The Hour Vision Blue wristwatch is a special edition of the elegant Hour Vision. It has a classic 41 mm stainless steel case and is equipped with Omega's Co-Axial caliber 8500, the movement that signaled a revolution in series-produced mechanical watchmaking. The movement can be viewed through the sapphire crystal on the caseback.

Adding distinction to the timepiece is its specially designed sun-brushed blue dial. It has 18 Ct white gold facetted hour, minute and seconds hands coated with white Super-LumiNova and features a date window at the 3 o'clock position.

In January 2011, Tech-Airport received from Duty Free News International the Product Award 2010 in the category "Best new store" for its Hour Passion Boutique at Geneva International Airport.

At a special event in Hong Kong, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, in her capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), introduced her husband, Grammy Award-winning singer Keith Urban in a private concert to benefit the organisation.

The event, organized by luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega, raised more than US$175,000 for programmes to advance gender equality and women's empowerment in China.

Commenting on the event, Omega president Stephen Urquhart said, "Nicole and Keith are two of the world's great entertainers, but more than that, they are true humanitarians. We are proud to count them among our friends and are delighted that we can make a meaningful contribution to an organization as worthy as UNIFEM."

Nicole Kidman, who is also a brand ambassador for Omega, added, "I feel passionately about support for UNIFEM because the work to empower women and advance their human rights is so important. Together with Omega we are in Hong Kong to raise awareness and also vital funding for UNIFEM's projects in China."

The proceeds from the fundraiser will strengthen UNIFEM's work in China, which has a b focus on ending violence against women. The funds will support shelter and legal protection for survivors of violence. They will also advance programmes that focus on training and education as well as women's political participation at the local level.

"This Hong Kong benefit for UNIFEM highlights what we can do together to build support for effective programmes that help women live free from violence and realize their rights," said Joan Libby-Hawk, Public Affairs Chief, UNIFEM. "Together we can show what an impact a global community can make."

WORLDTEMPUS - 25 June 2010

I remember walking down Washington Street in downtown Boston, that city's "jewelry district," and seeing a white-dialed Breitling Premier shining under the lights in a shop. This was during my Hamilton period, and the $1,200 that they wanted for the watch was more than I could imagine spending at the time. I remember being impressed by how smoothly the chronograph pushers worked and how great the dial and case looked. I later enjoyed owning both the white and black dial versions of the Premier. I feel compelled to note that Breitling offered many interesting chronographs in the 1990s and early 2000s—such as the Spatiographe, which displays the elapsed minutes in digital format on a wheel, exactly the way most watches display the date except that it was the chronograph minutes that were displayed. The Montbrillant Eclipse and the Navitimer Twin Sixty are other models from the 1990s that are quite interesting and now rare.

One of the most iconic watches of our generation is the Chronoswiss Opus. It was seeing this watch on the cover of Wristwatch Annual in 2000 that made me buy the book. I never did buy the watch, but that copy of Wristwatch Annual, which I perused so many times that the binding fell apart, really accelerated my watch collecting by exposing me to countless new brands and models. The Opus is aptly named and the watch could serve as a fine holy grail, though—amazingly—it is not priced like most other horological hall-of-famers. Note to self: buy the Chronoswiss Opus to celebrate writing my first articles for Worldtempus.com!
Alain Silberstein offers singularly styled watches, almost always with interesting complications (like his Smileday, which allows you to display your mood with various emoticons in an aperture on the dial—long before "emoticons" was even a word). I love how he playfully blends all of the colors and uses curvy hands. The Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus with complete calendar was always on my radar, but, alas, never my wrist.

Finally, my own personal mother of all gaps is the IWC Portuguese Automatic Chronograph in steel (reference 3714). I have probably tried it on 50 times and never pulled the trigger. This watch with silver dial and rose gold hands and markers is the best looking watch of all time. In my formative collecting years, I found it too difficult to choose between the black dial and silver dial…so I bought neither. I've gone on to own watches much more expensive, but none more beautiful than the Portuguese. Every time I see one, its beauty gives me pause. There must be some reason I never returned to fill that gap. Maybe, just maybe, that watch is my personal Alpha and Omega.
In my estimation, it is a rare collector that has collected for any length of time and does not have similar gaps in his or her own collecting history. I invite you to look back over your own experience and spend a few minutes remembering the watches that you yearned for, but never owned. It's never too late. And if you have been collecting for a while, you may find that the watches that you regret never owning are now discontinued. This just makes filling in those old gaps more fun as you can look forward to some excellent adventures. Late-night detective work online is always fun, as are visits to local watch stores, flea markets, yard sales and maybe even travelling to watch shows: in pursuit, and hopefully conquest, of filling in those gaps. Good luck and good hunting.

The Museum, which opened in January of 1984, is the oldest museum dedicated to a single watch brand. Located just opposite Omega's headquarters in Biel, it features items representing the brand's entire history, including the watchmaker's bench used by Louis Brandt when he began to make watches more than 160 years ago.

Omega president Stephen Urquhart likened the period of renovation to an archaeological dig. "Not only did we renovate the whole Museum but we also restored many of the period features of this listed building. The project gave us a chance to review our entire collection. Some of the objects displayed are being presented to the public for the first time, including things which we didn't even know were hidden in the archives."
One of these is a pocket watch used by Albert Einstein, a man whose work is closely identified with time.
Omega's history is vividly recreated with displays presenting all the brand's most important stories. Visitors will have a chance to examine the equipment OMEGA has developed and used in its timekeeping role at the Olympic Games since 1932.

The brand has been closely involved in NASA's manned space programme for more than 45 years and Omega Speedmasters were worn on all six lunar landings. The Museum exhibit highlighting the role of the Speedmaster in space features four watches which were worn on or near the Moon.
One of the new sections of the Museum is dedicated to prototypes - watches which were developed by Omega but, for various reasons, never introduced into commercial production.
Some of the timepieces on display have been long time favourites of visitors to the Omega Museum, including the wristwatch worn by author/adventurer/spy T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and the watch worn by John F. Kennedy at his inauguration when he became 35th President of the United States.

OMEGA's re-designed Constellation line
In 1982, OMEGA launched the first Constellation to feature the radical and enduring "Griffes" or claws, which immediately placed the watch line among the ranks of the world's most instantly identifiable timepieces. OMEGA redesigned the entire Constellation family last year and in 2010 is proud to introduce two of its newest members.

In timeless white
This white Constellation Ladies Quartz 35 mm timepiece with a polished 18 Ct red gold case and a white alligator leather strap is an ideal accessory for any wardrobe. Adding to its allure are the eleven single-cut diamond hour markers which are graduated, increasing in size on each side of the dial from the round facetted date window at six o'clock. Its dramatic brushed 18 Ct red gold bezel features Roman numerals coated with white Super-LumiNova.
The silver lacquered dial features a supernova pattern which explodes from the Constellation star.

Shades of black and grey
Another of the year's dramatic offerings is the Constellation Ladies Quartz 35 mm with a black alligator leather strap and a shaded grey dial. This striking watch has a bezel paved with 34 full-cut diamonds. Its eleven single-cut diamond hour markers, which are increasingly graduated from the round facetted date window at six o'clock, are in sharp relief to the supernova pattern on the dial which emanates from the Constellation star.
Both the shaded grey and the white models are powered by OMEGA's quartz calibre 1532. Their vertically-brushed casebacks are embossed with the Constellation Observatory medallion. Their polished facetted hour and minute hands are coated with white Super-LumiNova, which makes them easy to read in all light conditions.

Two classic Constellations
The "watch with the claws" has been turning heads for 28 years. These diamond-enhanced 35 mm timepieces are among the stars from the redesigned Constellation line, blending timeless black or white with the eternal popularity of diamonds.

In 1970 OMEGA launched the Seamaster Professional 600, the so-called "Ploprof" (the first letters of plongeur professionnel - the French words meaning "professional diver"), one of the most rugged, robust and seaworthy divers' wristwatches ever manufactured.
Last year we introduced a completely updated version of the divers' classic. Equipped with a Co-Axial calibre 8500, the new Ploprof 1200M is, as its name suggests, water resistant to an astounding 1200 metres (4000 feet, 120 bar) and it is an artful union of its ancestor's legendary features and OMEGA's state-of-the-industry Co-Axial technology.
The OMEGA Seamaster Ploprof 1200M in white!
This year OMEGA presents its white version of the Ploprof. It has all of the features professional divers have come to expect from OMEGA: a white bi-directional locking bezel with chrome-coated Arabic numerals, an automatic helium escape valve and water resistance to 1200 metres (4000 feet, 120 bar). The watch, with its timeless white bezel and dial, is presented with either a white rubber strap or a brushed mesh "Sharkproof" bracelet.
The Ploprof's case cannot be mistaken for that of any other watch: the screwed-in crown is located at 9 o'clock under a protective buffer. Its unique positioning allows freer wrist movement and prevents any inadvertent manipulation.
Designed for divers
At the 2 o'clock position is the Ploprof's characteristic bezel-release security pusher with an orange anodised aluminium ring. Pressing the pusher allows the bezel to be rotated in either direction and then locked firmly in position, ensuring that it cannot be accidentally shifted during a dive. The Ploprof has an automatic helium escape valve located on the side of the case at the 4 o'clock position. This feature allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, and is particularly useful for professional divers operating from diving bells.
The Seamaster Ploprof 1200M has a polished, lacquered white dial with an applied polished OMEGA name and logo. The oversized minute hand, which plays such an important role for divers, is crafted from orange anodised aluminium for legibility and is coated with white Super-LumiNova.
Respecting the past, defining the future
The OMEGA Seamaster 1200M in white is a perfect expression of OMEGA's pioneering spirit: a classic divers' watch which combines state-of-the-industry innovation with timeless design excellence.

Following publication of sales figures on January 20, 2010, we now present the unaudited Group key figures. This advance information will be followed by the distribution and discussion of the detailed annual report at the press conference scheduled for March 11, 2010.
•   Group gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, on comparable basis (excluding 2008 divestmentsof Sokymat and Michel) -6.3% at constant exchange rates and -8.1% in total lower than in the record year 2008.
•   Watch segment sales with a decrease at constant rates of -5.5% largely outperform Swiss Watch Federation export sales (-22.3% in 2009), gaining market shares for the Group in practically all price segments and markets.
•   Operating profit reaches CHF 903 million or 17.6% on net sales (versus 21.2% in 2008), with a very b performance in the second half-year (EBIT margin of over 20%) despite currency losses of CHF 105 million versus 2008.
•   Net income amounts to CHF 763 million, -8.9% less than in 2008, with 14.8% of net sales exactly the same as in the previous year.
•   Substantial equity of CHF 6 billion or 77.6% of total balance sheet (versus 75.3% in the prior year).
•   Dividend 2009 proposed: CHF 0.80 per registered share and CHF 4.00 per bearer share.
•   At the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors will propose reelection of its current members and in addition the election of Jean-Pierre Roth and Georges Nicolas Hayek as new Board members.
•   A good start so far in 2010, January sales representing the second-best month of January in the history of the Group, with an excellent outlook for the Group for the rest of this year.
 

Group Overview
 
In a very challenging year 2009 with a worldwide recession, the Swatch Group recorded gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, a decrease of -6.3% on a comparable basis (at constant exchange rates and excluding 2008 divestments of Sokymat and Michel) compared to the record year 2008. This performance is substantially better than the export figures published by the Swiss Watch Federation (-22.3% in 2009), which means that the Group has once again increased its market shares in practically all price segments and markets. Foreign currencies negatively impacted sales by CHF 105 million or -1.8%, mainly in the second half of 2009. The month of December 2009 showed a very positive sales trend in the watch segment (+28.8% versus December 2008), with clear signs of market normalization.
 
After a temporary setback in the first half of 2009, the Group's operating margin improved considerably in the second half year and achieved 17.6% (21.2% in 2008) for the full year. The main driving force was the watch segment, with a very convincing operating margin. Taking into account that foreign currencies as well as the gold price, an important raw material for the Group's watches, did not develop in our favor, this represents a very positive achievement. In addition, the Group preserved jobs for its employees, maintained b marketing activities and kept investment at a very high level.
 
Net income decreased by 8.9% to CHF 763 million compared to CHF 838 million in the previous year, and, at 14.8%, the net margin remained at the same level as in 2008. The Group's balance sheet is still solid, with an improved equity ratio of 77.6% as at December 31, 2009 compared to 75.3% in the previous year, and also a much higher cash position. The average return on equity was a remarkable 13.3%.
 
The Board of Directors of the Swatch Group will propose the following dividend for 2009 to the Annual General Meeting on May 12, 2010: CHF 0.80 per registered share and CHF 4.00 per bearer share. Furthermore, besides the planned reelection of the current Board members, Jean-Pierre Roth, former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, and Georges Nicolas Hayek, Group CEO, will be proposed for election as additional Board members at the Annual General Meeting.
 
Outlook for 2010
The Board of Directors and the Executive Group Management Board are very confident of achieving further organic sales growth and improved margins in 2010. The main reasons for this positive outlook are the excellent start in 2010, increasing order entries as well as the improving economic environment and market confidence worldwide. In addition, the Group's positioning in all market segments and its broad geographical presence represent important success factors in the watch industry. The solid balance sheet and the improved capability to generate cash flow will bring the Group in an even ber position than before the financial crisis.
Omega's mission as official timekeeper at the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, starting at the end of this week, is one of many positive factors that will improve sales in 2010. Furthermore, the opening of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel mid 2010, during the World Exhibition in Shanghai, will represent another milestone for the Group. In order to gain further market share and strengthen its worldwide presence, the Group will also take advantage of interesting opportunities in the different markets.
 

· Third-best year in the Swatch Group history with Group gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, a decrease of -6.3% on a comparable basis (at constant exchange rates and excluding 2008 divestments of Sokymat and Michel).
· Significant rebound in sales in the second half of 2009, with a phenomenal record month of December, which also was the best month in 2009.
· Watch segment sales with a decrease at constant rates of -5.5% largely outperformed Swiss Watch Federation export sales 2009, gaining market shares for the Group in practically all price segments and markets.
· Production segment with sales decrease mainly due to order cancellations and a change in product mix.
· Electronic Systems segment sales -14.5% lower than last year (excluding 2008 divestments of Sokymat and Michel), but steadily improving in the fourth quarter 2009 with increasing order inflow.
· Improved operating profit margin and net income compared to the first half year expected; Group very confident of further increases in sales and margins in 2010.
· Omega's mission as official timekeeper at the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver and the Swatch Art Peace Hotel opening mid 2010 in Shanghai are two of the highlights to come, as well as significant developments of new products in most of the brands and new production systems in Switzerland.
Group Overview
After the known market decline in late 2008 and early 2009, with a worldwide recession and a sharp drop in consumer spending, most markets recovered from the financially stressed environment in the second half of the year. The last months of 2009 showed a very positive development, with clear signs of market normalization and increased consumer confidence. To some degree, the economic crisis 2009 has separated the wheat from the chaff. This applies especially to the watch industry, where values such as brand awareness, tradition, history and high-quality products count more than ever. Consumers are looking for value and quality.
The Swatch Group, with its large range of products in all price segments, increased its market share in most markets and regions. In this challenging year, the Group achieved gross sales of CHF 5 421 million, a decrease of only -6.3% on a comparable basis (at constant exchange rates and excluding last year's divestments of Sokymat and Michel). This still represents the third-best result in the Swatch Group history. While the first half year saw a significant decline, sales picked up in the second half and just exceeded - in local currencies - sales of the second half of 2008.
b Christmas sales clearly beat expectations and December turned out to be the best-ever month of December in terms of sales. The fourth quarter 2009 - expressed in Euro terms - performed at +7.1% at actual rates and +11.1% at constant rates. Foreign currencies negatively impacted sales by CHF 105 million or -1.8%, mainly in the second half of 2009. Especially the Euro, the British Pound and the Russian Ruble negatively impacted sales compared to previous year rates. The US Dollar had practically no impact, while the Chinese Yuan and the Japanese Yen influenced sales positively. Increasing watch demand in several markets compensated decreases in other markets and helped the segment Watches & Jewelry to achieve a remarkable result in 2009. The Production and Electronic Systems segments, on the other hand, were confronted with weaker demand and realized lower sales than in the previous year.
 
Expected earnings 2009 and Outlook 2010
The Group expects that the operating profit margin and net income for the full year 2009 will improve compared to the first half of 2009. This improvement will be visible predominantly in the Group's core business, the segment Watches & Jewelry.
With the prospect of a continuous recovery of the economic environment and the new developments realized in the last months, the Group is very confident that further solid organic sales growth will be achieved in the year 2010. A promising trend can be identified, based on the excellent sell-through figures in January 2010 as well as the order entries for the months to come. The positive outlook is also backed by the Group's positioning in all market segments and its broad geographical presence. Consumer spending is expected to see a steady increase in most countries, with a growing middle class mainly in the emerging markets supporting this trend.
A positive impact on sales is also expected from Omega's mission as official timekeeper at the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, starting on 12 February 2010. Omega has been appointed the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games until 2020. Furthermore the opening of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel mid 2010 during the World Exhibition in the fantastic place of Shanghai will represent another milestone for the Group. The increased positive results of the Group's research and development activities will also contribute to further sales growth.

 
As the OMEGA clock counting down to the start of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games has just reached the minus 100 day mark, OMEGA is releasing two special limited edition watches to commemorate the milestone. The OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition will be produced in 41 mm and 36.25 mm versions, each in a release of 2010 numbered pieces and featuring the OMEGA Co-Axial caliber 2500.
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition is equipped with professional diving features: it has a unidirectional rotating bezel, a helium-escape valve and is water resistant to a depth of 300 meters. The caseback is embossed with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games logo which features "Ilanaak", the symbol of the Games. It represents the figures made of piled stones which the Canadian First Nations people created to serve as greetings to anyone moving through their territories. The logo's name, Ilanaak, was taken from the word for "friend" in Inuktitut, the name given to the variety of Inuit languages spoken in Canada. The caseback is engraved with the Limited Edition number (0000/2010).
OMEGA will be serving as Official Olympic Timekeeper for the 24th time at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and will be carrying on a legacy dating back to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition watches ideally commemorate the Winter Games in Vancouver and OMEGA's long relationship with the Olympic Movement.
The striking watches feature white lacquered dials and red-anodized aluminum bezel rings. These bold contrasting colors recall the Canadian flag with its proud red maple leaf against a stark white background. The white dials are also reminiscent of the snow and ice which will play such an important role in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
The watches' connection to the Games in Vancouver is further reinforced by the colored Olympic rings on the counterweight of the red-tipped, rhodium-plated chro¬nograph seconds hand. Their hands and indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova which at night or in limited light conditions casts a soft blue reflection.

Les Ambassadeurs - Magazine No 5

In spring 2009 at Baselworld, attentive observers noted that the face of fine watchmaking was no longer uniformly circular. The vast majority of round dials was joined by a few amazing UFOs offering masterful variations on the theme of linear time read-off. From the incredible CC1 by Urwerk to Opus IX by Harry Winston and Eric Giroud, along with the splendid Meccanico dG by de Grisogono, Swiss watchmaking suddenly seemed eager to break free of its hands and circular dials in order to prove that sophisticated mechanical horology was not inextricably entwined with a cyclical perception of time.
All of which raises the fundamental question our own relationship with time.

Let's start by ignoring the issue of the nature of time. Neither scientists nor philosophers have ever been able to define it other than in reference to themselves or to a beginning and an end - the limits of which vary with each new discovery. The perception of time is a personal, cultural and historical matter. There are two major schools of thought in this area: that of time as a cyclical phenomenon, and that of linear time.
Any observation of nature spontaneously suggests a cyclical vision of time. The earth spins on its axis and around the sun with absolute regularity. Once this time has been subdivided into precise units, our entire short-term temporal world can be measured. The immutably regular cycle of seasons dictates the periods of activity and rest, of seedtime and harvest. The visible world can be summed up within this endlessly accurate and reassuring process of constant renewal.
Horology was born from this vision of the world and thus naturally adopted the circle as its fundamental element. The figure 12 that dominates all dials is at once and in turn the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. This mechanical rhythm of the hours can be extrapolated to define all the various subdivisions, providing the cadence of the movements enables such measurements.
However, when it comes to defining a perpetual calendar, things are not quite so simple. Despite watchmakers' impressive ingenuity, no existing mechanism appears capable of offering a guarantee of precision extending beyond a few hundred years without any maintenance or adjustment. Is that a question of human incompetence? Definitely not! So let's get back to cyclical time. As soon as we need to move beyond measuring the time the Earth takes to move around the Sun, we are forced to resort to an arbitrary measurement.

While the latter varies according to our culture and our religion, there is nothing at all cyclical about it. We thereby enter the world of linear time. By way of example, this article is written in the year 2009 AD, which means the year 1430 of the Hegira, or Muslim calendar, and the year 5769 of the Jewish calendar. Given the high degree of probability that the events on which these calendars were founded are not reproduced at regular intervals, this means that measurement of our long-term time is in fact linear.
Perhaps you have also noticed that combining a cyclical hour with a linear date results in a necessarily linear combination. Does that mean we must definitively conclude that the flow of time is linear and not cyclical? This is a fundamental question that has fascinated the world's greatest thinkers, from the Greek stoics through to Nietzsche, as well as Pythagoras, Kant and Schopenhauer. And none of them have come up with any conclusive answer!
Religions have enabled humankind to look beyond the units of measurements provided by the sky above them, but have also fixed a beginning and in some cases an end that restricted their horizons. Galileo and Newton pointed out the limits of these theoretical constructions, yet without finding a more global cycle that would encompass previous ones. In 1927, Monsignor Georges Edouard Lemaître provided the world with a whole new paradigm thanks to the Big Bang, which pushed the Alpha of the universe back in time by a massive 14 billion years. Other researchers subsequently came up with an Omega in the form of the Big Crunch, forecast to occur in around 50 billion years' time. All of which provides material on which to build a new linear calendar, but still no means of defining a new cycle summing up the others and anchoring our vision of the world in a lasting and reassuring reality.

Just as an ant is incapable of grasping the round nature of the earth, we will probably never know whether the cycles of our solar system are part of the cycles of our universe as a whole, and whether the cycles of our universe are themselves incorporated within other realities that elude us and always will.
Whatever our level of knowledge, our time will always be subject to a superior linear factor that we must build - a daunting enterprise on the scale of our capacities for thought, but one that is of little importance in our daily lives.
So the regular cycle of the hands on the dials of our mechanical watches will continue to reassure us for many years to come, enabling us to enjoy the illusion that life is an endless circle in which absolutely anything can happen at any moment. And we will therefore be relieved to note that the linear displays provided by contemporary horology are all founded, without exception, on a mechanical base that is quite naturally… cyclical.

Millions of nervous television viewers from all over the world watched in tense anticipation on the 21st of July 1969 as Neil Armb became the first human being ever to set foot on the Moon. At exactly 02:25:20 GMT, one of humanity's great shared dreams was fulfilled and the three Apollo 11 astronauts successfully laid the cornerstone for NASA's future lunar missions. However, the day didn't only make legends of Neil Armb, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins - for on that day the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional became the first and only watch to be worn on the Moon.

In celebration of the event, OMEGA, the Swiss luxury watchmaker will present its exhibition "The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing" at KaDeWe in Berlin from July 20th to August 24, 2009. A large number of watches and other items, all of them with a connection to NASA's lunar program, will be on display both in KaDeWe's show windows and in its Theme Hall.
One of the exhibition's highlights is a model of the first OMEGA wristwatch to be worn in space: the Speedmaster with the reference CK 2998, identical to the one worn by Walter Schirra during the Mercury Sigma 7 mission. Also on display will be the original Speedmaster watches astronauts Donn F. Eisele (Apollo 7) and Thomas Stafford (Gemini 9 and Apollo 10) had strapped to their wrists during their missions.

Along with the many different OMEGA Speedmaster "Moonwatches" on display at KaDeWe, visitors will have a chance to admire President John F. Kennedy's original OMEGA "Ultra Thin". The charismatic American president was a b proponent of the space program during his short term of office. On the 25th of May, 1961, in an address to the Joint Houses of Congress, he spoke publicly for the first time about the potential and significance of a lunar landing: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

President Kennedy himself would not live to see his vision fulfilled only about eight years after he made his challenge. The American historian Arthur Schlesinger, talking about the importance of the Apollo 11 Mission, "The 20th Century will be remembered, when all else is forgotten, as the century when man burst his terrestrial bonds." "And," as Stephen Urquhart, the president of OMEGA has pointed out, "he did it wearing a Speedmaster."