STARS OF THE CONSTELLATION

With a name like Constellation, it’s only fitting that the stars came out to celebrate the launch of the Manhattan timepiece, joins the iconic ladies in Shanghai

OMEGA’S CONSTELLATION TIMEPIECE has been a staple of the watch world since its debut in 1952. Decades passed and the watch underwent multiple facelifts, eventually adorning the wrist of Cindy Crawford 20 years ago and earning itself the nickname “Cindy's Watch”. Flash forward 66 years a clear night in Shanghai, where the stars align for the launch of the new Constellation Manhattan timepiece.

Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, Alessandra Ambrosio and Liu Shishi, dressed head to toe in scarlet, stepped out of the shadows of a backlit stage in Shanghai as smoke emerged from the glittery floor. I got goose bumps at the sight of these four stars, who wholly embodied what the Omega brand was all about – each representing the beauty, sophistication and excellence that the iconic watch stands for. Joining them on stage for this dramatic reveal was Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega, who announced their entrance: “The Constellation has always been admired by women all around the world. No matter the country, it has appealed to ladies of all backgrounds and styles. To celebrate that spirit, we've been lucky to have not one, but four of our closest friends here together. Having Nicole, Cindy, Shishi and Alessandra at one single event shows how much love there is for the Constellation.”

The venue was paved over in white and gold, with square beams of all heights emerging from the floor to simulate the skyline of Manhattan. Variants of the Constallation Manhattan were dotted throughout the sprawling space, with the standout being the jewellery watch with a 28mm case crafted in 18K Sedna gold, featuring bezels featuring subtle Roman numerals that are highlighted by 154 snowpavéd diamonds and iridescent dials made from Australian white opal, and adorned with 12 baguette-cut ruby indexes with triangular facets are inspired by the façade of the Freedom Tower in Manhattan. The most outstanding part of the design, in my opinion, is the bracelet. The diamonds set in the bracelet with clever claw placement to create a cascade of shooting stars make this piece one of a kind – and a first for Omega.

But enough about the gleaming watch and the state of starriness it left in my eyes in. The real stars of the night are the four exceptional women, three of whom I had the honour to meet with and discuss what time, life and aspiration meant to them.