BackOmega Globemaster: Frequently asked questions
Announced at BaselWorld 2015, it is the world's first Master Co-axial Chronometera wonderful, elegant, three hand watch with date
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Whoa. Beautiful watch. Is that the latest Omega?
Indeed it is. The Omega Globemaster. Announced at BaselWorld 2015, it is the world’s first Master Co-axial Chronometer. A wonderful, elegant, three hand watch with date. Which is superb by itself. But what is truly interesting is the unique movement that beats inside.
Hang on. hang on. One thing at a time here. What is a Master Co-axial Chronometer?
Excellent question. In fact, three excellent questions. Let us explore this one thing at a time. Starting with ‘Co-axial’. In the 1970s, Englishman George Daniels, a master watchmaker who literally wrote the textbook on the subject, invented a new co-axial escapement. We won’t confuse you with horological detail. But it was one of the most important innovations in watchmaking to take place in perhaps two centuries. Daniels patented the system in 1980, before Omega launched the first watch with a co-axial escapement at Basel in 1999.
Interesting. But why was this Coaxial escapement such a big deal?
The genius of the ‘Co-axial’ concept was that it helped to control three problems associated with the traditional, or ‘Swiss lever’, escapement in a watch. First of all, it reduced friction. Traditional escapements involved parts gliding along each other. The co-axial system reduced the contact between surfaces and had parts pushing each other, instead of rubbing. This meant that parts lasted longer and needed less lubrication. It also increased the efficiency of the watch by wasting less energy. This meant that watches ran longer and with greater accuracy. And finally, it was much more resistant to shocks than the traditional set-up. All in all, it was a huge improvement.
Awesome. So what is a Chronometer then? That is a fancy word for stopwatch right?
Ah! No, alas. You are thinking of a chronograph. A chronometer is basically a name given to a watch of very high precision. In Switzerland, you can only call a watch a chronometer if it has been certified by COSC, or the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Established in 1973, COSC runs watches through a series of rigorous tests before certifying them as ‘chronometers’. Mind you, this is both an expensive and challenging process. Less than 5% of all Swiss watches made each year are certified by COSC.
So what does that mean in terms of accuracy?
For a mechanical watch to be a chronometer, it must, on average, lose no more than four and gain no more than six seconds per day. Of course, standards are much more stringent for COSC-certified quartz watches.
Interesting. I get it now. A Co-axial Chronometer. But what is a Master Co-axial Chronometer?
So the COSC certification tests the watch for its ability to function in a variety of temperatures and positions. This means the the watch will work well if you wear it on your hand, or just leave it lying on a tabletop. Which is all very good. But what about resistance to magnetism? It was in 2008 that Omega first began working on increasing the resistance of their watches to magnetic fields…
Magnetic fields???!!! Really? That is really such a problem?
Sounds strange, right? But last year, Omega CEO Stephen Urquhart told us that magnetic interference was a huge problem for his customers. Especially in Japan, he said, where magnetic fields emitted by gadgets and devices were behind several watches being brought in for servicing. And this is a problem that is now increasing all over the world. Mind you, anti-magnetic watches have been around for some time. But they were always seen as a niche product meant for technical use.
Today, magnetic fields are no longer a niche problem. Which is why Omega began to tinker with its watches. In 2013, it launched the calibre 8508 movement that could resist magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss. In 2014, it industrialized this concept with the 8500 calibre. And all anti-magnetic watches with this movement inside are called a ‘Master Co-axial’. Over time, Omega wants to make this the beating heart of all its watches.
Finally. All makes sense now. So the new Globemaster is a Master Co-axial Chronometer…
Wait a second. There is more to the new Globemaster. Not content with the COSC certification, Omega has now designed a brand new METAS certification. This will subject the entire finished watch, not just the movement, to eight new tests, including one for magnetic resistance. These include water resistance, gravity and stability under various conditions. Making it perhaps the most rigorous certification system in the market today. Thus, the new Globemaster is both COSC- and METAS-certified. The idea is to make the METAS system open to any brand.
Awesome. So the watch can basically deal with anything you throw at it. Also, it looks pretty good, no?
It looks amazing. I love the fluted bezel and the pie-dish style dial. But most of all, I like the clean lines and minimal designs. It wears it technical sophistication lightly. What a good watch.
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