Omega Museum Complications Delight

xto · 2024-04-16T18:14:11Z

Explore the Omega Central Tourbillon with George Daniels co-axial escapement. Xto's museum visit reveals its unique escape wheel, sparking collector debate on aesthetics and technical mastery.

xto

WPS member · Omega forum

25 replies7910 views1 photos

In a recent post, WatchProSite contributor xto shared his personal encounter with an Omega tourbillon at the Omega Museum, highlighting a detail often overlooked: the George Daniels co-axial escapement with its unique escape wheel. Xto emphasizes that seeing this intricate mechanism in person, especially under a loupe, reveals its true horological genius. His experience underscores the importance of direct observation to fully appreciate Omega's technical mastery.

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Silly me, I had failed to notice that Omega has a tourbillon

And until I looked at it under a loupe in person I had no idea of its absolutely unique secret

Focus if you will on the tourbillon and you will see their version of the George Daniels co-axial escapement with its truly unique escape wheel

Only place I know that you can watch it dance in person - I highly recommend seeing it

Here’s their photo as I couldn’t do it justice with my iPhone

One of a kind, close up.

Key Points from the Discussion

The second-generation Omega Central Tourbillon with a blue gold dial, as recently acquired by Dje, is considered an aesthetic masterpiece that evokes the essence of time, surpassing even the technical advancements of the current manual-wind central tourbillon.
High-magnification macro photography, specifically with a Zeiss macro lens, is essential for capturing the intricate details of the Omega tourbillon's movement, revealing its complexity and artistry.
While appreciating the manual movement and finishing of the current Omega Central Tourbillon, some collectors find the tourbillon opening disproportionately small relative to the case size, and the new dial design to be austere compared to the guilloché work of earlier models.
The Omega Central Tourbillon is widely regarded as a highly desirable, almost unattainable piece of horological art for many collectors, with its beauty and technical prowess making it a coveted item.
The discussion playfully touches on the extreme desirability of the watch, with contributors joking about elaborate schemes to acquire it, highlighting its 'grail watch' status within the community.

The Discussion

Dr No

Apr 16, 2024

You knew . . .

. . . this was coming. [photo credits: Dr No, 2022] Images taken with a Zeiss macro lens a few years ago. And yes: if I could, I would. ;-)

xto

Apr 16, 2024

I also really respected the layout of the movement. The texture on the bridges is not sandblasted, he says it’s hand hammered.

MrkK

Apr 17, 2024

Art, given the choice would you pick this one or an older automatic?

I like manual movement and its finishing of the current model, but in my opinion toubrillon opening is disproportionally small comparing to case size. Plus the dial of the new one looks a bit austere to me, comparing to amazing guilloche of the original.

Dr No

Apr 17, 2024

Astute question! Yes, if I could have any Omega central . . .

. . . it would be the second generation blue gold dial variant that Dje recently acquired. [watch and photo credit: Dje, 2023] Aesthetically sublime; it evokes the essence of time like no other. The level of technical advancement the current manual wind central achieves is compelling in its own right, but if forced to have just one, it would be the aesthetic masterpiece. Art

smironov

Apr 18, 2024

Fully agree. The new dial has lost it.

hora12reborn

Apr 16, 2024

An outstanding Omega.