Omega went against the trend in Basel this year of releasing perhaps one or two new watches. They presented 105 new watches and six new Master Chronometer movements. I am confident that few of them are future classics and will be scooped-up by collectors.
The watch with the most buzz and possibly will be sold out before it even comes to the market is the Speedmaster CK2998. The original CK2998 was released in 1959 and has since become one of the most sought-after vintage Speedmasters in the world. With its Alpha hands, symmetrical case and dark bezel, it is desired by speedy collectors.
The first thing you'll notice is the striking use of blue. This color has been used on all three subdials, as well as the minute track and a polished ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale. The tachymeter scale is also coated in Super-LumiNova for increased visibility in dark conditions. There is a blue leather strap with beige stitching and a polished buckle.
Speedmaster Moonphase is also a stunning watch, especially the sun-brushed blue dial with ceramic bezel on stainless steel case, liquidmetal tachymeter scale, and rhodium-plated circles on the subdials. The moonphase is a high resolution image and under a loupe it reveals an astronaut's footprint.
Speedmaster Moonphase is powered by 9904 caliber, which is made up of 368 components. It has a nice blue leather strap, clasped with a foldover buckle.
Omega continues their Grey Side of the Moon (GSOTM) series with the Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon "Meteorite". It comes in a 44.25mm case and this is the first time that a tachymeter scale has been created using Ceragold (decorating ceramic watch parts with 18K gold).
The GSOTM "meteorite dial" sourced slices of the Gibeon meteorite that fell in prehistoric times in Namibia. The local Nama people once used it to craft tools and weapons. More recently however, the allure of this iron meteorite has been prized by designers for its classic Widmanstätten pattern.
The Widmanstätten pattern, named after the Austrian scientist who discovered it, refers to the ribbon-like flecks that are found in this kind of meteorite after an acid etch.
GSOTM come in a grey ceramic case, grey leather strap with a foldover clasp, and is powered by calibre 9300.
This year, Globemaster Annual Calendar returns with few changes. The case diameter has been increased from 39mm to 41mm. The polished hour and minute hands are blued and facetted, and they are coated with Super-Luminova, along with the blued indexes. The other touches of blue include the polished central seconds hand, Omega logo, Constellation star and writing on the dial. Completing this color theme, there is a blue leather strap equipped with a stainless steel foldover clasp.
The biggest change this year for Globemaster is that it has been fitted with the new Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8922, while the Master Chronometer certification card that accompanies the watch proves that the watch has passed the eight intensive tests established by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). Omega is heavily emphasizing on the METAS certification.
This year, the Seamaster Planet Ocean has also changed. All Planet Ocean watches have become Master Chronometers.
The Seamaster Planet Ocean 45.5mm Chronograph features an 18K Sedna gold and steel case and polished blue ceramic dial. It also includes a bi-color bracelet in stainless steel with a stripe of 18K Sedna gold. The deep blue of the ceramic dial and bezel is offset by Ceragold numbers and diving scale. It has the alveol design on the screw-in caseback and is powered by Master Chronometer 9900 movement.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5mm features rubber blended with ceramic, with orange rubber covering the first 15 minutes. Liquidmetal numbers and scales have then been used to stand out boldly for the diving and minute scales. The black ceramic dial includes new applied Arabic numerals, and if you turn the watch over, a stunning alveol pattern on the caseback creates a special wave effect. Completing the look of the stainless steel watch is the black leather strap with a black and orange rubber underside. It is powered by Master Chronometer 8900.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.50mm GMT features a polished bi-ceramic [ZrO2] black and white bezel ring. On the stainless steel case, the bi-directional rotating bezel separates night from day, with numerals and scaling in contrasting colors. If the color of night wins out on the black ceramic dial, the numbers and scales shine through. Further brightness is provided by the dot at 12 o'clock in white Super-LumiNova. The black leather strap with rubber lining is held fast with a foldover clasp in stainless steel. It is powered by Master Chronometer 8906 movement.
The watch with the most buzz and possibly will be sold out before it even comes to the market is the Speedmaster CK2998. The original CK2998 was released in 1959 and has since become one of the most sought-after vintage Speedmasters in the world. With its Alpha hands, symmetrical case and dark bezel, it is desired by speedy collectors.
The first thing you'll notice is the striking use of blue. This color has been used on all three subdials, as well as the minute track and a polished ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale. The tachymeter scale is also coated in Super-LumiNova for increased visibility in dark conditions. There is a blue leather strap with beige stitching and a polished buckle.
Speedmaster Moonphase is also a stunning watch, especially the sun-brushed blue dial with ceramic bezel on stainless steel case, liquidmetal tachymeter scale, and rhodium-plated circles on the subdials. The moonphase is a high resolution image and under a loupe it reveals an astronaut's footprint.
Speedmaster Moonphase is powered by 9904 caliber, which is made up of 368 components. It has a nice blue leather strap, clasped with a foldover buckle.
Omega continues their Grey Side of the Moon (GSOTM) series with the Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon "Meteorite". It comes in a 44.25mm case and this is the first time that a tachymeter scale has been created using Ceragold (decorating ceramic watch parts with 18K gold).
The GSOTM "meteorite dial" sourced slices of the Gibeon meteorite that fell in prehistoric times in Namibia. The local Nama people once used it to craft tools and weapons. More recently however, the allure of this iron meteorite has been prized by designers for its classic Widmanstätten pattern.
The Widmanstätten pattern, named after the Austrian scientist who discovered it, refers to the ribbon-like flecks that are found in this kind of meteorite after an acid etch.
GSOTM come in a grey ceramic case, grey leather strap with a foldover clasp, and is powered by calibre 9300.
This year, Globemaster Annual Calendar returns with few changes. The case diameter has been increased from 39mm to 41mm. The polished hour and minute hands are blued and facetted, and they are coated with Super-Luminova, along with the blued indexes. The other touches of blue include the polished central seconds hand, Omega logo, Constellation star and writing on the dial. Completing this color theme, there is a blue leather strap equipped with a stainless steel foldover clasp.
The biggest change this year for Globemaster is that it has been fitted with the new Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8922, while the Master Chronometer certification card that accompanies the watch proves that the watch has passed the eight intensive tests established by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). Omega is heavily emphasizing on the METAS certification.
This year, the Seamaster Planet Ocean has also changed. All Planet Ocean watches have become Master Chronometers.
The Seamaster Planet Ocean 45.5mm Chronograph features an 18K Sedna gold and steel case and polished blue ceramic dial. It also includes a bi-color bracelet in stainless steel with a stripe of 18K Sedna gold. The deep blue of the ceramic dial and bezel is offset by Ceragold numbers and diving scale. It has the alveol design on the screw-in caseback and is powered by Master Chronometer 9900 movement.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.5mm features rubber blended with ceramic, with orange rubber covering the first 15 minutes. Liquidmetal numbers and scales have then been used to stand out boldly for the diving and minute scales. The black ceramic dial includes new applied Arabic numerals, and if you turn the watch over, a stunning alveol pattern on the caseback creates a special wave effect. Completing the look of the stainless steel watch is the black leather strap with a black and orange rubber underside. It is powered by Master Chronometer 8900.
Seamaster Planet Ocean 43.50mm GMT features a polished bi-ceramic [ZrO2] black and white bezel ring. On the stainless steel case, the bi-directional rotating bezel separates night from day, with numerals and scaling in contrasting colors. If the color of night wins out on the black ceramic dial, the numbers and scales shine through. Further brightness is provided by the dot at 12 o'clock in white Super-LumiNova. The black leather strap with rubber lining is held fast with a foldover clasp in stainless steel. It is powered by Master Chronometer 8906 movement.
