NEED FOR SPEED
Abig celebration is in store for Omega, whose iconic Speedmaster watch family has reached its 60th anniversary milestone. The Swiss watchmaker is also gearing up for BaselWorld 2017, which will be held later this month in Switzerland.
A sneak peek of the new novelties highlights two Speedmaster models, one with an iconic racing dial, the other a smaller chronograph with a coffee-colour scheme.
Named after its distinct hands, the original “Broad Arrow” timepiece debuted in 1957 as the world’s first chronograph wristwatch with a tachymeter scale on the bezel instead of the dial with this relocation serving racing car drivers who could easily read the elapsed time.
Besides the hallmark integrated tachymeter bezel, the new Speedmaster Automatic features a distinctive minute- track style, which first appeared on a 1968 model. The stainless steel reinvention boasts a matte-black dial, whose orange markings and bevelled 18K white gold arrowhead indexes are filled with white Super-LumiNova.
The polished ceramic bezel features a brushed Liquidmetal tachymeter scale, as well as orange wording that matches the colour of the varnished hands and tip of the seconds hand.
The orange accents make the chronograph easier to read. Likewise, subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock have been slightly expanded for improved readability.
The black leather strap also has a cool orangey element, with the micro perforations revealing the orange rubber inside. The strap’s perforated design enhances the sporty look while aerating the wearer’s skin.
Despite being an oversized timepiece, its 44.25mm case is thinner than previous versions thanks to the work done on the sapphire crystal.
With a Master Chronometer certification, the Speedmaster Automatic is driven by the Calibre 9900 that fulfils the Swiss watch industry’s highest standard of precision, performance and magnetic resistance, as approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Meteorology.
Another pre-Basel 2017 piece, the new Speedmaster 38mm has been nicknamed Cappuccino due to its brownish beauty, starting with a tachymeter scale designed on the brown aluminium ring. The bezel sparkles with diamonds that add elegance to the sporty model matched with a taupebrown leather strap. Located at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, oval subdials are further dressed in brown while resembling Omega’s logo.
The elegant chronograph is housed in a stainless steel and 18K Sedna gold case, whose back is stamped with the signature Seahorse medallion. The alloy is also used for creating the baton hands and indexes. Performance is as important as aesthetics, and the chronograph is powered by Omega’s Co-Axial Calibre 3330 featuring a silicon balance spring. Besides the Speedmaster Automatic and Speedmaster 38mm, more novelties will be unveiled at BaselWorld 2017 watch and jewellery show. Throughout the year, the 60th anniversar y celebrations will put the spotlight on other series under the Speedmaster family, such as Moonwatch associated with space exploration, including the historic first manned lunar landing in July 20, 1969.