Swiss watchmaker OMEGA has two significant milestones in its 170-year history. Its selection as the official timekeeper of the Olympics and its creation of a watch for the moon landings. Those high points are celebrated here with the release of two innovative models – a vintage-styled piece that harks back to OMEGA’s first involvement in the Olympics and a new take on the ever-popular Speedmaster. Both watches feature a breathtaking new movement that OMEGA describes as the most complicated calibre it has ever manufactured. Laying down the gauntlet for high-end watchmakers, the Olympic 1932 and Speedmaster Chrono Chime models include two of watchmaking’s most difficult-to-produce complications – a minute repeater and a split-seconds chronograph. One of these features in a mechanical watch is exceptional, but both in a single model is unheard of.
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OMEGA Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
You’re no doubt familiar with OMEGA’s popular watches – the recent auction of Daniel Craig’s Omega Seamaster gave its iconic diver’s watch another boost. But the brand isn’t as widely credited for its earlier innovations. That’s about to change with the release of its trailblazing Chrono Chime watches. The first, the Olympic 1932, is an astounding piece that successfully recreates the aesthetics of the groundbreaking OMEGA stopwatches used in that year’s Olympic Games. The watch design reflects the period, a time when men’s fashion was transitioning from pocket watches to wristwatches.
Indeed, the Olympic 1932 looks like a converted pocket watch and the amount of detail is almost overwhelming. The case is forged from 18K Sedna Gold and has a chime pusher at 5 o’clock and a split-seconds pusher at 11 o’clock. The vintage aesthetic continues with the enamel dial, which has a silver hand-made guilloché inner bezel and two vertical sub-dials featuring the brand’s signature acoustic waves pattern.
Of course, it’s the ridiculously complicated movement that steals the limelight. That’s why we’re here. Built by OMEGA’s Atelier d’Excellence – with the help of sister brand Blancpain – the movement took a staggering six years and 17 patents to perfect. Using 18K Gold gongs, it can chime the elapsed time and also features a split-second chronograph.
OMEGA Speedmaster Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
OMEGA’s Speedmaster also get’s the Chrono Time treatment. This time the movement has been flipped around to work with the established Speedmaster design and the gold case beefed up to 45mm. The look is sumptuous with the dial crafted from blue aventurine “Grand Feu” enamel and the movement visible through the exhibition back.
Both Chrono Chime models showcase OMEGA at its peak and demonstrate the brand’s ability to manufacture high-end timepieces. They’re not cheap and they’re going to be produced in very limited numbers. But for collectors interested in watchmaking history and contemporary innovation OMEGA offers a unique proposition.
OMEGA Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 16.9mm
Case: Sedna Gold
Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 1932
Strap: Alligator Leather
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 30M
Price: USD $420,000 Est.
OMEGA Speedmaster Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 17.2mm
Case: Sedna Gold
Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 1932
Bracelet: Sedna Gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 30M
Price: USD $450,000 Est.
OMEGA Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 1932 | Image: OMEGA
OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 1932 | Image: OMEGA
OMEGA Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime | Image: OMEGA
