Fake Omega Stainless steel Watch, Discount Omega Stainless steel Watches For Sales

Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Ladies Quartz Diamond Bezel (212.15.28.61.51.001)

It is a very nice Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch which comes in a very nice case inside of a box to protect the case.Looks expensive, my wife is very very pleased with it as it was her Birthday present.

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

Review by Sagara Corporation, From Russia Stupino

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial 45.5mm Rubber (232.32.46.21.01.003)

When I recieved the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean watch I was so excited. It has a unique watch strap to it. Like no other watch that i have seen. Thats what makes this so different. I will diffinately being making more purchases in other colors. I would recommmend this watch.

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

Review by Abel Agarat, From Us Apo Ae

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial 38.5 Sedna Diamond (231.55.39.21.55.001)

It is a good Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial 38.5 Sedna Diamond (231.55.39.21.55.001) watch at a good price. The face is vey yellow so be prepare. It is a little heavy and big. It is easy to operate and read.

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

Review by Alan Tennent, From United States Colorado Springs

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!

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.

Omega, the Official Timekeeper of the London 2012 Olympic Games, celebrated the beginning of its Games-related activities with a press conference at the brand's boutique at the Westfield Stratford Mall adjacent to Olympic Park.

The press conference began as Omega's "Start Me Up" commercial played on two large TV screens and the speakers entered to the soundtrack provided by the Rolling Stones. Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, Nick Hayek, the CEO of the Swatch Group, Stephen Urquhart, the President of Omega and Peter Hurzeler, Omega Timing Board member addressed members of the international media and expressed their enthusiasm about the Games that will begin on Friday with a lavish Opening Ceremony.

Dr. Rogge praised the creativity and preparation of the London Organising Committee and said that he was looking forward to an outstanding edition in 2012. He said that the world was being exposed to the British way of constructing sport and that the country's unparalleled history of sporting competition. Asked about preparations for the Games, he said that it was a question that could only be comprehensively answered when the Games are over.

Nick Hayek said that Omega's long history of Olympic Games timekeeping was a source of pride and said that any company would envy the brand's opportunity to work with the IOC and local organisations. He said, "It's a long tradition that has touched billions of people all over the world. For eighty years, it's been part of our legacy. It really is a relationship of trust and long-term commitment."

Stephen Urquhart reminded the guests that when Omega first served as Official Timekeeper, all of the events at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games were timed by thirty chronograph stopwatches, comparing it with some 400 tons of equipment used today by the company's 450 timekeepers.

Peter Hurzeler talked about the evolution of sport timekeeping technology and compared the first starting blocks introduced by Omega at the London 1948 Olympic Games with their successors that are being introduced this year. The old ones, he pointed out, were mechanical while the modern equivalents are completely electronic, offering even better starting conditions for the athletes who use them.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Rogge, Mr Hayek and Mr Urquhart had visited the Aquatics Centre in the company of Sebastian Coe, the Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games with Peter Hurzeler.

The London 2012 Olympic Games are the 25th at which Omega has served as Official Timekeeper since 1932. Stephen Urquhart of Omega pointed out that his company was also in London in the same role in 1948, when the city last hosted the Olympic Games.

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 (...)

Omega is proud to introduce the Spacemaster Z-33. Inspired by the iconic "Pilot Line" case shape and equipped with a brand new multifunction quartz movement, calibre 5666 has been designed with modern pilots in mind and artfully combines its ancestor's legendary design with Omega's industry-defining innovation.

The Spacemaster Z-33's case shape cannot be mistaken for that of any other timepiece and in the tradition of Omega's great pilots' watches, it separates its day-to-day timekeeping from its professional functions ergonomically, using state-of-the-art technology.

Designed for pilots
Floating above the digital dial is a set of analogue timekeeping hands that are adjusted by the crown at 3 o'clock. Surrounding the watch are four pushers that, along with the crown, allow full control over the array of digital features. For keeping track of the time these include date, UTC and two time zones (in 12 or 24 hour display), an alarm and a perpetual calendar. Elapsed time is measured with a chronograph function and a countdown timer. Alongside these features are self-programmable professional pilot functions to log up to ten flights and visualise those logs with date-hour indications.

High-technology case, dial and hands
Continuing the high technology feel of the watch, the modern-sized case is manufactured from grade 5 titanium, and features brushed, polished and sandblasted highlights, reminiscent of Omega's pilot case design. The caseback features the polished Omega Seahorse, the O symbol, the word "Speedmaster" and the watch's serial number. The back is fixed in place with four screws and its "double wall" construction acts as a resonance chamber, thus amplifying the sound of the alarm. The Spacemaster Z-33 is fitted with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides to provide a clear view of the display regardless of the conditions. The watch is water resistant to 3 bar / 30 metres / 100 feet.

The Spacemaster Z-33 has a non-reflective matt black dial with white Omega name and logo and featuring the words "Spacemaster" and "Z-33" in white. The white indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova, as are the skeletonised hour and minute hands. The elements coated with Super-LumiNova emit a green glow in low light conditions.
The dial features two large display panels for the digital functions. These screens have black backgrounds with red digital segments and use transreflective LCD technology to provide easy reading in all light conditions.
The new design incorporates skeletonised hands to help the wearer view the digital displays below them. By simply depressing the pusher at the 8 o'clock position, the hands are disengaged to either 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock, allowing the wearer an unobstructed view of the digital information.

On your wrist in the cockpit
The Spacemaster Z-33 is supplied with a black rubber strap with the inscriptions "Omega" and "Speedmaster" in red. It is also available on a brown "Soft Touch" leather strap. The black rubber strap features a model-specific Titanium folding clasp (grade 5 for all the visible parts and grade 2 for the moving parts). The brown "Soft Touch" leather strap is secured to the wrist by a standard grade 5 titanium folding clasp (again with grade 2 titanium used for the moving parts of the clasp). Both clasps bear the Omega logo.
The digital displays is automatically regulated by their transreflective technology, which takes into account ambient light, allowing the digital data to be read as easily on night flights as in direct sunlight. This technology also helps conserve battery power. In dark conditions the Super-LumiNova provides a green glow for the analogue time measurement hands allowing them to be distinct enough not to interfere with the digital

A very special and highly useful additional detail that underlines the Spacemaster's professional heritage & distinction is the fact that its digital display can be read under all conditions, even for wearers with polarized glasses.
The watch is delivered in a special presentation box which includes a detailed manual.
Respecting the past, defining the future
The Omega Spacemaster Z-33 carries on the traditions of robust reliability and innovation that have always defined Omega's watches. Coupled with specific functions desired by professional pilots, Omega's new thermo-compensated quartz calibre 5666 is particularly dedicated to them, providing them with the combination great accuracy and functionality they need in the cockpit.
With the launch of the Spacemaster Z-33, Omega has re-introduced a professional pilots' watch, combining the legendary look of the past with cutting-edge watchmaking features.
It is sure to be one of the most welcomed and talked-about releases of 2012.

To celebrate fifty years of James Bond films, OMEGA is releasing a special update of the incredibly popular Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond watch which has been worn by 007 in every adventure since GoldenEye. The James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector's Piece has been created in two sizes, 41 mm and 36.25 mm.
The cases of the watches are made of stainless steel and they feature ceramic bezel rings with diving scales in matt chromium nitride with the number "50" in red as a reminder that the watch is celebrating a very special anniversary.

Each version of the watch is presented on a classic brushed and polished OMEGA-patented screwand- pin stainless steel bracelet.
The lacquered black dial features a 007 monogram. The 41 mm version has 11 applied indexes; the 36.35 mm watch has ten with a diamond index at the 7 o'clock position - a reminder that this watch was created to honour the film history of agent 007. The indexes are coated with white Super- LumiNova with a blue emission, allowing ease of reading in all light conditions. There is a date window at 3 o'clock.
Both versions feature OMEGA's calibre 2507 self-winding movement fitted with the revolutionary Co- Axial escapement, the component that has driven a revolution in mechanical watchmaking since it was launched in 1999.

The watch is a certified chronometer. Its screw-in case back is stamped with a gun-barrel design. There is a "bullet" decoration fixed on the rotor that can be viewed through a central sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside. The watch also has a unidirectional rotating bezel. A helium escape valve allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, particularly necessary for professional divers operating from diving bells. As its name suggests, the watch is water resistant up to 300 metres.
The 41 mm version is being produced in a limited edition of 11'007 pieces and the 36.25 mm version in a limited edition of 3'007 pieces.

While some of the advanced features will appeal particularly to divers, the James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector's Piece will prove irresistible to fans of 007 and to anyone interested in elegant, distinctive timepieces.
In 2012, EON Productions will release Skyfall, the 23rd film in the franchise, with Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond.

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.

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.

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."

Since their launch, OMEGA's Seamaster Aqua Terra watches have attracted a large, enthusiastic following. The line characterized by the distinctive "teak-concept" vertical lines on their dials has been extended with the release of the first models with an annual calendar complication.

The Aqua Terra collection is a perfect union of eye-catching design excellence and innovative 21st century watchmaking technology. The Annual Calendar models, in stainless steel or an elegant bi-colour blend of stainless steel and 18 Ct red gold, are a dramatic but logical next step in the mechanical watch revolution which has been taking place at OMEGA since the launch of the first Co-Axial calibre more than a decade ago.
The watches are powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8601/8611, a high-precision COSC-certified chronometer which features the additional functionality of an instantaneous jump annual calendar complication. This annual calendar automatically recognizes months with 30 and 31 days and needs to be manually corrected only once a year, on March 1st.

The Aqua Terra Annual Calendar timepieces are also equipped with OMEGA's exclusive Si 14 silicon balance springs. Silicon is non-magnetic so the performance of the Si 14 balance-spring is not disturbed by exposure to magnetic objects. While the performance of mechanical watches tends to deviate over time as a result of small everyday shocks, these disturbances have very little effect on Si 14 silicon balance-springs.

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.

GMT XXL - Summer 2009

THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON

The first manned lunar landing on the 20th of July, 1969 was the greatest, most dramatic scientific achievement in human history. Neil Armb stepped onto the moon's surface at 02:56 GMT on the 21st of July. Nineteen minutes later he was joined by Buzz Aldrin, who was wearing his OMEGA Speedmaster and a legend was born. An interesting footnote: the electronic timing system on the Lunar Module was not functioning correctly so Armb had left his watch aboard as a reliable backup. The adventure is celebrated through two OMEGASpeedmaster Professional Moonwatch Apollo 11 "40th Anniversary" Limited Edition watches: one in stainless steel and (7,969 pieces); the other in platinum and 18K yellow gold (69 pieces).

The distinctive timepieces are powered by OMEGA's caliber 1861, which shares its lineage with the caliber 321 used in the original Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. The stainless steel casebody is delivered with a stainless steel bracelet which has been upgraded to include OMEGA's patented screw and pin system. The black dial also recalls that of the Moon Watch but has some key differences. The small seconds counter (sub-dial) is a medallion which features an adaptation of Apollo 11's famous mission patch: an eagle descends to the lunar surface with an olive branch representing peace in its claws. In the distance, far above the horizon, the earth is visible. The patch, interestingly, was designed by Michael Collins who remained in the Apollo 11 capsule as Command Module Pilot while his colleagues Armb and Aldrin were in the Lunar Module and on the moon.

ONE SMALL STEP

Below the words "OMEGA Speedmaster PROFESSIONAL" on the dial, the legend 02:56 GMT - the exact time that Neil Armb made his "one small step" onto the moon - is displayed in red. The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition's dial is protected by Hesalite, the same robust, shatterproof acrylic crystal found on the original Moon Watch. Hesalite is ideally suited for use in space - there is no chance that it can break apart and send potentially dangerous fragments into the low-gravity environment.

The Apollo 11 "Eagle" mission patch is stamped on the caseback along with the words, "The first watch worn on the moon", the limited edition number (0000/7969), and "July 21, 1969", the date Armb and Aldrin first stepped onto the moon's surface at 02:56, the time which is printed on the dial. The "40th Anniversary" Limited Edition is delivered in a black presentation box which also includes a 42 mm sterling silver medal (the same diameter as the watch) featuring an engraving of the mission patch. Also in the presentation box is a certificate of authenticity and an envelope containing a black polishing cloth printed with information commemorating the historic space flight.

The story of how the OMEGA Speedmaster became the Moonwatch - the only wristwatch approved by NASA for all manned space flights - all began in the early 1960s when two NASA officials anonymously visited several Houston jewelry stores, including Corrigan's, which at the time was the city's best-known watch and jewelry retailer.

The solo-flight Mercury space programme was almost completed (in fact, Wally Schirra had worn his own Speedmaster on his Mercury flight on the 3rd of October, 1962) and NASA was preparing for the Gemini (twoman) and Apollo (three-man) missions. There were plans for the astronauts on these missions to move about in space outside the ship. One of their key pieces of equipment would be a wristwatch which could withstand the difficult conditions of space. Every time an astronaut suspended in the vacuum of space turned his wrist, the watch would suddenly come out of the shade and be exposed to the unfiltered rays of the sun and temperature increases of more than 100°C. On the moon, President Kennedy's and NASA's declared objective, things would be even tougher. NASA ordered two Speedmasters and two each of five other chronographs for "testing and evaluation purposes" on September 29, 1964 The men from NASA bought a series of chronographs of different brands, charged with the task of finding the best watch available for their astronauts to wear in space.

THE ONLY WATCH APPROVED

On March 1, 1965, the test results were complete. Three brands' chronographs had still been in the running. Of those, one brand's entry had stumbled on two separate occasions in the relative humidity test. In the course of the heat-resistance test it finally came to rest for good. The large seconds hand warped and was binding against the other hands.The crystal of the second brand's chronograph had warped and come away from the case during the heat test. The same unfortunate occurrence took place with a second model of the same make during the decompression test.

Only the Omega Speedmaster passed. At the time, NASA's testers wrote, "Operational and environmental tests of the three selected chronographs have been completed; and, as a result of the test, OMEGA chronographs have been calibrated and issued to three members of the GT-3 (Gemini Titan III) crews." What sounds like a reserved, sober announcement was, in fact, the official decree that from that time forward, the Omega Speedmaster would be the only watch approved for all manned space flights and would be become an inextricable part of the OMEGA legacy. As significant was a NASA communique dated March 1st, 1965 which said, "… the astronauts show a unanimous preference for the OMEGA chronograph over the other two brands because of better accuracy, reliability, readability and ease of operation."

ITS CASE IS QUITE SIMPLY UNMISTAKABLE

Omega's love story with the sea has been going on for years, as the world's great sailors and divers will readily testify. As early as 1970, Omega created a watch capable of withstanding the extreme pressures endured by divers working at great depths. This timepiece, the Seamaster 600m, also called "Ploprof" (an abbreviation of the French term plongeurs professionnels, meaning professional divers), is one of the sturdiest, most robust watches best suited to the underwater world ever produced. Equipped with the Omega Co-Axial Caliber 8500, the new Ploprof is COSC-certified and water-resistant to 1200 meters, ingeniously combining the legendary characteristics of its forerunner with the Omega Co-Axial technology.

The case of the Ploprof is simply unmistakable, with its screw-locked protected crown located at 9 o'clock - a unique position that frees wrist movements and avoids any accidental shifting during a dive. Another feature of the Ploprof is the bezel-release security pusher with an orange anodized aluminum ring at 2 o'clock: one press on this pusher enables the user to turn the bezel in either direction and then to lock it firmly into the chosen position. The Ploprof is also equipped with an automatic helium valve on the side of the case at 4 o'clock. This device enabling helium atoms to escape during the decompression phase is particularly useful for professional divers operating in diving chambers. The Ploprof 1200m is available with either a brushed mesh "Sharkproof" strap or a black or orange rubber strap, featuring a double-extension system and equipped with a new safety clasp enabling precise adjustment thanks to 18 different positions.