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Omega - Planet Ocean on Capri
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."
As much as this represents a changing of guard, it means that Omega's pricing will increase as well. However, it seems to be a clever move as the market with the biggest growth in Swiss horology belongs to a price segment around 15,000 euros, where it was between 2,500 and 7,500 only ten years ago. The entry level price for the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean collection today (with mechanical, co-axial, manufacture Caliber 8500) is approximately 4,600 euros on a strap. The former entry-level model, which did not include a manufacture movement, had a retail price of approximately 3,300 euros.
Scratch-resistant
Above and beyond the use of mechanical manufacture movements, Omega also justifies its price increase with innovative external developments, such as the blue ceramic bezel made of Liquidmetal, a scratch-resistant amorphous material. Combined with the high-tech ceramic bezel insert, the bezel comprising these two innovative materials will maintain its appearance indefinitely.
The bright orange bezel version, however, is not yet crafted in ceramic material, but rather aluminum. According to Jean-Claude Monachon, in charge of product development, the orange ceramic material turns beige when exposed to extreme heat. "We'll solve this problem eventually," Monachon is confident.New partnership and man from the moon
Omega announced a new partnership with environmental activist, photographer and filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand and his organization GoodPlanet. Together with Omega, Arthus-Betrand will produce a film named for the Planet Ocean watches about the earth's oceans. It will serve to remind viewers of the natural beauty that covers two-thirds of the planet's surface and to raise the awareness of what can be done to protect the oceans.
During the event, Urquhart introduced another friend of Omega: astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Aldrin, of course, who wore a Speedmaster when he landed on the moon in 1969, has been a decade-long ambassador of Omega. This particular evening, he wore a gold Omega De Ville Chronoscope - and of course an Apollo 11 pin in the collar of his immaculate blue suit.
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Omega - Constellation Ladies Quartz 35 mm
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.
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Omega - Sixth Boutique in Switzerland
Like the other OMEGA Boutiques, the new location features the brand's four main watch families, Speedmaster, Seamaster, Constellation and De Ville. In addition to the timepieces on which OMEGA has built its reputation since 1848, the Boutique at the airport in Geneva features OMEGA's Fine Jewellery and Fine Leather Collections as well as the new Aqua Terra Eau de Toilette pour Homme, OMEGA's first fragrance.
OMEGA will be adjacent to the Hour Passion Boutique established by its Swatch Group partner Tech-Airport, a leader in airport distribution for watches and jewellery. The Boutiques are in the Airport's Departure Transit Zone.
The OMEGA Boutique at the Geneva International Airport has a retail space of 35 square metres.
OMEGA also has boutiques in Geneva's city centre as well as in Zurich, Lucerne, Berne, and Interlaken.
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Omega - It was the night after Christmas
Christmas has come and gone. The gifts were exchanged - maybe last night, maybe this morning, depending on your culture or your own family traditions.
And now you have 364 days before it's time to do it all again. There are only about 8,700 hours to select, buy and wrap next year's presents - less, if you do your shopping early.
And the passing of time is tracked sublimely on the Omega wristwatch she found under the tree. Each glance at the watch reminds her of the best Christmas ever and the special person who gave it to her.
She will notice more of the 525,600 minutes between this Christmas and next than usual because she can't keep her eyes off the dial. And the Omega she received this year will be counting down the days perfectly. Who should be thinking about you each time she looks at her watch ?
©
Omega's holiday selections
To mark all the great moments this holiday season and in the years to come, Omega has some selections for 2009 including two dramatically detailed Constellations for ladies and an eye-catching Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronograph for gents or for women who enjoy wearing larger watches.
[Rating: 5 / 5 stars]
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