Omega’s commitment to using state-of-the-art Master Chronometer Calibers in all its watches extends to ladies’ pieces, including jewelry watches, something that represents a step above the usual standard. While most jewelry watches from luxury brands still contain quartz movements, the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Jewellery, to be introduced in Baselworld this week, contains the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8807, a METAS-certified automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve.
Specifications:
Brand: Omega
Model: Seamaster Aqua Terra Jewelry
Dimensions: 38mm diameter
Case Material: 18k Sedna gold
Crystal/Lens: Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides.
Movement: In-house Co-Axial Master Chronometer Automatic Caliber 8807, anti-magnetic to 15,000 gauss. Hours, minutes, seconds.
Frequency: 25,200vph
Power Reserve: 55-hour power reserve
Strap/Bracelet: Red leather
Price & Availability: TBD
Analysis
This move to place an elite movement in a jewelry watch makes more and more sense given that the watch industry is in the middle of a new era of extreme chronometry. Precision is important, in-house movement manufacturing capability is important, and so is the ability to guarantee and service mechanical movements. If I am going to spend a lot of money on a jewelry watch –Top Wesselton diamonds or perfectly matched rubies don’t come cheap – I would expect nothing less than an elite movement inside the watch as well.
Like all of Omega’s Master Chronometer movements, the Caliber 8807 has a Co-Axial escapement, free sprung-balance wheel combined with a Si14 silicon balance spring, and it is approved by METAS. This means that in addition to the movement being a COSC-certified chronometer and thus rated for accuracy between -4 and +6 seconds a day, the watch itself has also passed tests approved by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), which assures a daily precision of between 0 and +5 seconds. The test, which replicates real-life wearing conditions, also guarantees the watch has up to 15,000 gauss magnetic resistance. This comprehensive testing offers a level of assurance that rarely accompanies a jewelry watch, which is normally purchased on the basis of aesthetics alone.
Summary
Not that the aesthetics are unimportant here. The bezel is set with diamonds, as is the dial, along with 12 perfectly matched marquise-cut rubies, which serve as hour markers. Both the case and hands are made of Omega’s proprietary 18k rose gold alloy, which the company refers to as Sedna. The dial is designed to resemble waves, using a combination of three different techniques: guilloché, wave-shaped gold appliques, and diamond-setting, using gems that are graduated in size to fit within the wave pattern. The result is a dial that demonstrates more effort and a lot more creativity than simply paving it with diamonds. To top it all off, the watch is water-resistant to 150m, another standard of assurance you don’t usually get in a jewelry watch. Stay tuned for more Baselworld 2018 coverage. We’ll be going hands-on with several of Omega’s 2018 novelties very soon. omegawatches.com
