Since it was launched more than half a century ago, the
OMEGA Speedmaster has defined the classic chronograph. It is rugged and
reliable and has a timeless design. And since the day in July 1969 that
it was first worn on the lunar surface, it has been known by its
nickname, the Moonwatch.
Some distinguishing features This
year, an innovative new member of the family is being introduced,
equipped with the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 9300 – the Speedmaster OMEGA
Co-Axial Chronograph. While it shares some core elements with the
original Speedmaster Professional – the black dial, the Moonwatch-style
hands and the familiar black tachymeter on the bezel – it also has some
distinguishing features that will attract an even wider audience to the
world’s favourite chronograph.
The
Speedmaster OMEGA Co-Axial Chronograph has a 44.25 mm case in the
classic stainless steel that has always been associated with the
Speedmaster Professional. This model has a bevelled black dial with
white transferred elements and varnished white hands. It is offered on a
black leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet.
Only two sub-dials The
dial has two sub-dials instead of the three normally associated with
Speedmaster. This is made possible by the innovative placement of the
12-hour and 60-minute counters in the same sub-dial at 3 o’clock
allowing a comfortable and intuitive chronograph reading.
The
Speedmaster OMEGA Co-Axial Chronograph's elegant, slim body is the
result of a unique design concept: it has a box-form scratch-resistant
sapphire crystal not only on the front of the watch but also on the
polished screw-in caseback.
The latter, with anti-reflective treatment, reveals perfectly the beauty of the movement.
The first in-house Co-Axial chronograph The
OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 9300 is the dramatic next step in the revolution
in mechanical watchmaking that started in 1999 with OMEGA's launch of
the Co-Axial escapement. Not only does the new movement deliver superb
timekeeping performance, it is the first of OMEGA's exclusive in-house
Co-Axial calibres to incorporate a chronograph function.
The
innovative column-wheel chronograph has 12-hour and 60-minute counter
hands placed on the same subdial at 3 o'clock. This familiar arrangement
of the hands, which recalls the hour and minute hands on the main dial,
enables intuitive reading of the chronograph. It also has a central
chronograph seconds hand and a small seconds hand on the sub-dial at 9
o'clock.
The two chronograph control pushers function totally
independently – accordingly, there is no risk to the chronograph
mechanism as a result of inadvertent manipulation.
A silicon balance spring and a four-year warranty It
is also equipped with a silicon balance spring. Silicon is non-magnetic
so it is not influenced by magnetic fields. This quality combined with
the excellent resilient coefficient of silicon allows the balance
springs, which are etched on a silicon wafer, to deliver improved
chronometric performance. Silicon also has a very low fatigue influence
and ages slowly. The outstanding reliability delivered by the
combination of Co-Axial technology and the silicon balance spring is
such that OMEGA delivers its Co-Axial watches equipped with silicon
balance springs with a full four-year warranty.
The Speedmaster
OMEGA Co-Axial Chronograph is a welcome addition to the great
Speedmaster family. With its innovative movement and its legendary
family name, it will find an enthusiastic following among Speedmaster
fans who want to combine the impressive legacy of an iconic chronograph
with the best series-produced mechanical watch movement in the world.
not bad but the lack of the third subdial is what bugs me
By: georgeszaslavsky : September 16th, 2011-13:09
A bicompax dial like this one doesn't go well with a watch that has been a tricompax. For the same amount of money or less I owuld rather vouch for a breitling transocean b01 which has 7 more hours of power reserve, self centering hammers and on which the date can be corrected at any time.
New movement but the single chrono sub-dial is not new, new to Omega yes. IWC Yacht Club & PP-5980 already have single chrono dial. Actually I like the single dial to read 60 minutes & 12 hours, I am waiting for the Orange Dial Planet Ocean with the Orange Rubber strap, to match my Planet Ocean watch.