Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz “35th Anniversary”

Press Release

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz “35th Anniversary”

OMEGA-Seamaster Planet Ocean

Steel-yellow gold on leather strap  

222.28.42.20.04.001

Technical Data

Crystal
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides

Case
Steel-yellow gold

Dial
Laquered white

Water resistance
600 m (2000 feet)

Size
Ladies
Diameter: 42 mm

Movement

Caliber: Omega 2500
Self-winding chronometer, Co-Axial Escapement movement with rhodium-plated finish
Power reserve: 48 hours

Steel on leather strap  

222.18.42.20.01.001

Technical Data

Crystal
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides

Case
Steel

Dial
Laquered black

Water resistance
600 m (2000 feet)

Size
Ladies
Diameter: 42 mm

Movement

Caliber: Omega 2500
Self-winding chronometer, Co-Axial Escapement movement with rhodium-plated finish
Power reserve: 48 hours

Steel on leather strap  

222.18.38.50.01.001

Technical Data

Crystal
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides

Case
Steel

Dial
Laquered black

Water resistance
600 m (2000 feet)

Size
Ladies
Diameter: 37.5 mm

Movement

Caliber: Omega 3313
Self-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement for greater precision stability and durability of the movement. Free sprung balance, with date, hour, minute and continuous small seconds hands, central chronograph hand.
Power reserve: 52 hours

Steel-yellow gold on leather strap  

222.28.38.50.04.001

Technical Data

Crystal
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides

Case
Steel-yellow gold

Dial
Laquered white

Water resistance
600 m (2000 feet)

Size
Ladies
Diameter: 37.5 mm

Movement

Caliber: Omega 3313
Self-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement for greater precision stability and durability of the movement. Free sprung balance, with date, hour, minute and continuous small seconds hands, central chronograph hand.
Power reserve: 52 hours

Omega Seamaster Vancouver 2010 Olympic Edition

Press Release

Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympics since the 1932 games in Los Angeles and recently signed an agreement with the International Olympic Committee to continue to time the Olympic Games through 2020. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 12th, will be the 24th time OMEGA has served as Official Olympic Timekeeper. OMEGA recently launched its OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition watch to commemorate the upcoming winter games. The watch comes in two sizes, 41mm and 36mm, and retails for $3,800. There were only 2,010 units of this watch produced, which hit OMEGA boutiques and retailers November 2009.

As the OMEGA clock counting down to the start of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games has just reached the minus one year mark, OMEGA is releasing two special limited edition watches to commemorate the milestone. The OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition will be produced in 41 mm and 36.25 mm versions, each in a release of 2010 numbered pieces and featuring the OMEGA Co-Axial caliber 2500.

The Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition is equipped with professional diving features: it has a unidirectional rotating bezel, a helium-escape valve and is water resistant to a depth of 300 meters. The caseback is embossed with the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games logo which features "Ilanaak", the symbol of the Games. It represents the figures made of piled stones which the Canadian First Nations people created to serve as greetings to anyone moving through their territories. The logo's name, Ilanaak, was taken from the word for "friend" in Inuktitut, the name given to the variety of Inuit languages spoken in Canada. The caseback is engraved with the Limited Edition number (0000/2010).

OMEGA will be serving as Official Olympic Timekeeper for the 24th time at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and will be carrying on a legacy dating back to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The Seamaster Diver 300m "Vancouver 2010" Limited Edition watches ideally commemorate the Winter Games in Vancouver and OMEGA's long relationship with the Olympic Movement.

The striking watches feature white lacquered dials and red-anodized aluminum bezel rings. These bold contrasting colors recall the Canadian flag with its proud red maple leaf against a stark white background. The white dials are also reminiscent of the snow and ice which will play such an important role in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The watches' connection to the Games in Vancouver is further reinforced by the colored Olympic rings on the counterweight of the red-tipped, rhodium-plated chronograph seconds hand. Their hands and indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova which at night or in limited light conditions casts a soft blue reflection.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean “Liquidmetal” – A Ceramic-bezel Planet Ocean

Watch fans! The word is out on OMEGA’s foray into ceramic components with new technology it calls “Liquidmetal” – the Seamster Planet Ocean Limited Edition “Liquidmetal” cermic bezel is here! This is undoubtedly a big deal for OMEGA and I expect this to be very, very popular amongst its fan base and well-received by watch enthusiasts in general. In other words, the new Seamaster Planet Ocean “Liquidmetal” is going to be one highly sought after watch! Powered by OMEGA’s co-axial Caliber 2500 and limited to 1948 pieces (the year that the Seamaster was first introduced by OMEGA).

Here is OMEGA’s description of “Liquidmetal”:

The Liquidmetal® alloy is an amorphous metal – a metallic material with a disordered, non-crystalline atomic structure. Its fusion temperature is half that of conventional titanium alloys but when it is cooled, its hardness is three times as great as that of stainless steel. Its amorphous structure allows it to bond seamlessly with the ceramic bezel.

The Liquidmetal® is a bulk metallic glass alloy consisting of five elements: zirconium, titanium, copper, nickel and beryllium. A bulk metallic glass can, by virtue of its low critical cooling rate, be formed into a structure with a thickness of more than a tenth of a millimetre. Zirconium is an important constituent part both of the Liquidmetal® alloy and of the ceramic material which is made of zirconium dioxide (Zr02).

The final, perfectly smooth bezel is particularly resistant to scratching and corrosion because of the hardness of the two components.

Here is some more information on how the union of ceramics and Liquidmetal is achieved:

First, ceramic rings are formed. The numbers and the fine lines of the minute scaling are then engraved into these ceramic bezel rings and polished. The alloy is heated and pressed into the cavities in the ceramic material after which any excess Liquidmetal® is removed. The Liquidmetal® can be manipulated at a lower temperature than metals normally used in watchmaking so the heating process does not damage the ceramic material.

The Liquidmetal® numbers and scales are then satin brushed. Because the ceramic is a harder material than the alloy, the satin brushing of the fine details can be done without affecting the ceramic bezel. The numbers and scaling then appear in bold, vivid contrast to the glossy ceramic background.

OMEGA’s Olympic Valentine

Press Release

Cindy Crawford comes to Vancouver

No one is more closely associated with the OMEGA Constellation family of wristwatches than supermodel Cindy Crawford, who has been a spokesperson for the brand’s fashion line with its famous “griffes” or claws since 1995.

She was in Vancouver and Whistler as OMEGA’s guest at the Olympic Winter Games and attracted an enormous crowd of spectators and members of the media when she and OMEGA president Stephen Urquhart posed for photographs in a sleek red OMEGA bobsleigh in front of the Official Olympic Countdown Clock in downtown Vancouver on Valentine’s Day.

Afterwards, she visited the OMEGA Boutique on the ground floor of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver directly across the street from the Countdown Clock and later was interviewed by international media on the 14th floor of the hotel. Following her interviews, she joined OMEGA staff, journalists and invited guests at a cocktail party.

The supermodel has had a busy week. She attended the Opening Ceremony for the Games with her family on Friday and went with them to Whistler on Saturday to visit the OMEGA Lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

Cindy said that she was delighted to be in British Columbia for the Games. "There’s an amazing atmosphere here – the people of Vancouver and Whistler and in all of Canada have done a great job preparing for the Games. I’m thrilled because I love to watch figure skating."

OMEGA is the Official Timekeeper of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It marks the 24th time the brand has served in the role since 1932. While no one knows which countries will be represented on the medal podiums in Vancouver and Whistler, one thing is certain: the athletes’ outstanding performances will have been timed by OMEGA.

OMEGA-welcomes a supermodel and an Alpine skiing legend

Press Release

Alberto Tomba gives Cindy Crawford a lesson in how to open a bottle of champagne

Supermodel Cindy Crawford and her family joined Italian skiing legend Alberto Tomba at a restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia on the first competition day of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Tomba, a five-time Olympic medalist, declared that he has two great passions: skiing and wine. He demonstrated his expertise with a saber when he easily uncorked a bottle of champagne with a single dramatic stroke. When he invited Cindy to try her hand, she wasn’t quite as successful. The skiing star effortlessly opened the next bottle with a quick slash from the small sword as the most successful cover girl in history laughed.

Alberto Tomba and Cindy Crawford then raised their glasses with OMEGA president Stephen Urquhart in a toast to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Tomba is in British Columbia as special correspondent for Sky Television and is also participating in some special promotional activities; Cindy Crawford is making several appearances on behalf of OMEGA for whom she has been a brand ambassador since 1995.

OMEGA is the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games, a role it is assuming for the 24th time since 1932.

OMEGA-Olympic activities in Vancouver

Press Release

OMEGA kicks off Olympic activities in Vancouver

IOC and VANOC officials celebrate with the Official Timekeeper

 

IOC President Jacques Rogge & President of OMEGA Stephen Urquhart

With its Countdown Clock confirming that only three days remained before the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, OMEGA, the Games’ Official Timekeeper, kicked off its Olympic activities with a press conference in front of the clock.

Stephen Urquhart, the president of OMEGA, was joined by IOC President Jacques Rogge, Vancouver Olympic Games Organising Committee President John Furlong and other officials and special guests including swimming legend Alexander Popov.

Stephen Urquhart recalled that he had stood on the same spot exactly three years earlier for the dedication of the clock. He expressed his enthusiasm for the venues in Vancouver and Whistler and reflected that this year’s edition of the Olympic Games is the third to be contested in Canada – all of the timed by OMEGA. Referring to OMEGA’s long relationship with the IOC, he said, “When we extended our agreement through 2020, both OMEGA and the IOC expressed how highly we value this association. The Olympic Games is the most prestigious sporting event in the world and we are very proud to be a part of it.”

Jacques Rogge echoed his sentiments and talked about how the IOC first came to work with OMEGA in 1932. Prior to that date, judges and timekeepers had brought their own stopwatches. “We needed someone who could give us harmonization of timekeeping,” Rogge said, “and we turned to OMEGA. We have trusted them ever since.” Rogge added that the Countdown Clock in every Olympic city plays an essential role. “It is a reminder of exactly when everything must be ready – we will never change the time of the Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games.”

John Furlong said that he was excited to see the clock counting down the final hours. “We are thrilled and delighted with our partnership with OMEGA. We need perfection and they provide it. It is a certainty that at some point in the days ahead, precise timing will determine the difference between a gold and a silver medal and we know that we can count on OMEGA to deliver the correct result immediately.”

After the ceremony, Presidents Urquhart, Rogge and Furlong posed in an OMEGA bobsleigh with Alexander Popov before crossing Hornby Street to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and visiting the OMEGA Lounge on the 14th floor of the hotel where they chatted with OMEGA staff and invited guests.

The Lounge features a scale-model of a bobsleigh run as well as displays of some of OMEGA’s historic sports timekeeping equipment, including some chronograph stopwatches used to time Olympic events and some early versions of the photofinish camera.

OMEGA is responsible for timekeeping, data handling and the display of results for each event at every venue. While no one knows in advance who will top this year’s medal table, one thing is certain: the winners’ outstanding performances will be timed by OMEGA.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional "Moon Watch" (3570.50)

I have a thing for durable watches. Finding a watch that can stand up to an active lifestyle, and still look good and keep great time over the period of many years, is surprisingly difficult. If you want a really robust watch, the conventional wisdom is to go with a Casio G-Shock if you're looking for a quartz or digital solution, and a Rolex if you want something Swiss and high-end. But Omega fans know there's another option which has one of the most interesting backstories in the history of horology.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional lands squarely between a high-end G-Shock and sport model Rolex in terms of price, looks fantastic, and has stood up to some of the most rigorous testing that any watch has ever been subjected to. Not only have Speedmaster Pros gone into space on many occasions, but they have actually been worn outside a space suit on the surface of the moon.

Before I get into the history of the Moon Watch, let's cover the specs:

Stainless steel case and bracelet.
Legendary Speedmaster bracelet with push-button release.
Caliber 1861 manual wind movement; rhodium plated for corrosion resistance; 48-hour power reserve.
Hesalite crystal (a type of plastic similar to Plexiglass -- very shock resistant).
Water resistant to 50 meters, or 167 feet.
Chronograph function (with "small seconds" at the 9 o'clock position), and tachymeter.
42mm case diameter.
As you can see, the Omega Speedmaster Professional isn't a fancy watch in terms of complications and features. It has to be wound manually, it doesn't have a date display, I wouldn't get it wet beyond a shower, and the crystal is relatively easily scratched. But what it does have is a combination of simplicity, build quality, and well chosen materials that make it one of the most robust and interesting watches currently on the market. Let's take a closer look.omega speedmaster moon watch
omega speedmaster moon watch  omega speedmaster moon watch  omega speedmaster moon watch

The Bracelet

This was my first experience with the legendary "Speedy" bracelet, and I'm hooked. I've handled a lot of stainless steel bracelets over the years, but I'm pretty sure this is my favorite. It's solid, perfectly machined and built, and completely silent (no squeaks). While it's robust, it's not so massive as to be a burden or feel like an anchor. The clasp design is simple and elegant, and the polished strips that cap the center links give it just a touch of class.omega speedmaster moon watch   omega speedmaster moon watch

The Movement

Yes, the movement has to be wound manually, and no, there's no date or day or moon phase or GMT hand, but there's something to be said for a simple design in terms of robustness. The Lemania 1861 movement has changed very little over the history of the Speedmaster, and for good reason. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It is now rhodium plated (which is the difference between the 861 movement, and the 1861 movement) for additional corrosion resistance, but that's about it. So how does it perform by today's standards? Mine is about 1.5 seconds fast per day -- as good or better than any other mechanical watch I've ever owned, including many that cost far more.

The Crystal

that practically scratch-proof synthetic sapphire is the standard in high-end watches, why would anyone want a throwback to the days of plastic? Two reasons. The first is simple aesthetics. Although sapphire is far more scratch resistant, some people simply prefer the look of the Hesalite (it tends to have a look which is more functional than classy, in my opinion). And the second is that although sapphire is very scratch-resistant, it breaks relatively easily. What do I mean by "easily?" Well, don't drop a watch with a sapphire crystal on a tile floor, and if you're going to be swinging your arm around with any velocity, make sure there's no chance your watch might hit anything of any substance. While the Hesalite crystal is certain to pick up minor scratch over the years, there's not a lot you can do to it to actually break it. The other advantage to the Hesalite is that it's very easily polished if the scratches start to bother you, and relatively inexpensively replaced if you really gouge it.

Water Resistance

Now that your typical Casio G-Shock is water resistant down to 200 meters (about 660 feet) and most of the big Swiss brands have watches with screw-down crowns that are rated to 300 meters (about 1,000 feet), 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) and even 1,220 meters (4,000 feet), why would you settle for a mere 50 meters, or 167 feet? Primarily because 50 meters if perfectly sufficient for most of us. If you're a diver or even a frequent swimmer and you don't want to change your watch, the Speedmaster certainly isn't for you. But if you just want to feel confident in a rain storm, rinse your watch off when it's dirty, take the occasional shower with it on, or not have to worry about falling into a pool, then 50 meters is perfectly fine. The Speedmaster has also demonstrated more than enough water resistance to function perfectly well in very humid conditions (more on this below).

The History

So what makes the Omega Speedmaster Professional such a legend? By now, most watch aficionados know that the Speedmaster was worn on the moon, but most don't know the details behind the story.

When the Speedmaster was introduced in 1957, Omega had no intention of sending it into space, but the combination of the chronograph and the fact that it is a manual-wind watch made it a great choice during some of the Mercury missions. Astronauts needed a manual-wind watch since automatic (or "self-winding") watches rely on a weighted rotor which doesn't work well in zero gravity, and they needed a highly accurate chronograph for timing rocket firing sequences. During the Mercury missions, astronauts could wear any watch they wanted, or even no watch at all, since watches were basically backups to the onboard clocks, but during the Gemini and Apollo programs -- which involved EVAs (extravehicular activities) which needed to be timed -- the right watch became far more important.

In 1962, NASA began searching for a more official piece of timing equipment to be worn by Gemini and Apollo astronauts. Several watches were purchased over-the-counter and subjected to rigorous testing including temperatures from 0° to 200° F, 12g's of acceleration, extreme humidity, and a violent vibration test. Some of the Mercury astronauts' instincts had been spot on: the Omega Speedmaster Professional was the only one to pass all of NASA's tests. In 1965, the Speedmaster was declared the official watch of the US space program.

The Speedmaster was subsequently worn by Edward White on the first America spacewalk in 1965, Buzz Aldrin in 1969 during his and Neil Armstrong's famous first lunar excursion, and it was used by James Lovell to time various burns during the ill-fated Apollo 13 flight since the onboard clocks were inoperable.

The Omega Speedmaster Moon Watch thus survived some of the most rigorous testing of any watch in the world as well as the harshest environments and conditions known to man, and even several political attacks by Bulova watch company who insisted that NASA should be using American technology rather than Swiss (the Bulova watches never passed all of NASA's tests like the Speedmaster did). The Omega Speedmaster became such an important and recognizable icon of the space program that Buzz Aldrin's Speedmaster -- the first watch ever on the moon -- was tragically stolen while being transfered along with other equipment to the Smithsonian for display.

Conclusion

At this point, there are several versions of the Speedmaster available. You can now get them with Co-Axial escapements, self-winding movements, sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coatings, date and day-date complications, display casebacks, 100 meters of water resistance, GMT functionality, and all kinds of variations in hand design, case and bracelet materials, dials, and straps. But Omega has continued to offer almost the exact same watch that was chosen by NASA in 1965 which I have now chosen as my first Omega all these years later.

While there are at least eleven different Speedmasters available today, there is only one true moon watch.

by Christian Cantrell 

watchreport.com