As a pre-Baselworld 2017 treat, Omega today announces a new flavor of Speedmaster with the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Automatic Master Chronometer watch that features a “racing dial.” With accents in sporty orange and the distinctive style of minute track associated with popular historical models, its vintage-inspired looks are backed up by a movement with Omega’s latest technology. It’s like a Moonwatch but with an auto racing twist.
The alternating pattern of the minute track comes first from a 1968 Speedmaster model and has since featured on many racing-related Speedmasters, but fewer modern ones. Some of the old Michael Schumacher Speedmasters come to mind for me, as well as the more recent Speedmaster MKII. It’s a charming touch, for sure, and shows that Omega knows and pays attention to its collectors.
The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Automatic Master Chronometer watch has a 44.25mm steel case that Omega says has a thinner profile due to “work done on the sapphire crystal.” Other subtle changes include the slightly enlarged subdials for improved legibility. We expect good legibility from Omega as well as a good lume experience, and white Super-LumiNova on the hands and the beveled 18K white gold arrowhead indexes should provide that. The orange accents on the dial extend to the orange wording on the polished ceramic bezel (with brushed “Liquidmetal” tachymeter) and then to the holes in the perforated leather strap that reveal orange rubber underneath. The varnished orange hands, though, are my favorite part.
The automatic caliber 9900 movement inside was introduced in the Omega Watches Grand Rapids Mi Replica Seamaster Planet Ocean last year at Baselworld 2016 and was the first chronograph movement with Omega’s new METAS certification. The 9900 operates at 4Hz with a 60-hour power reserve and the Master Chronometer designation promises that it is accurate to between 0 and +5 seconds per day, as well as resistant to magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. No caseback images from Omega for now of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Automatic Master Chronometer, but the 9900 movement is also fantastic to look at.
Brands are experimenting with the area of e-commerce in different ways like limited editions for sale online just – like this Panerai Luminor Submersible Automatic Acciaio PAM731 “E-Commerce Micro-Edition,” for instance. Chairman of this luxury brand holding band Richemont (that possesses Panerai) Johann Rupert recently also hinted at further such actions in the near future with statement which, moving forward, “a prime area of focus will be matching supply with end customer demand. “E-commerce is difficult for established luxury watch brands not since they’re stubbornly stuck in a few past century when clockwork was cutting-edge technologies, but since they’re heavily invested – fiscally, and in relation to the carefully curated images – in a sales and distribution system that’s being undercut by third-party online sales. The gradual move toward e-commerce in addition to lowering prices can be seen as a response to a few years of falling profits, however they are steps we have long contended for on aBlogtoWatch.Omega’s brand new e-commerce is not some separate website or even section, and rather the brand’s US website (omegawatches.com/en-us/) will now have “Add To Basket” buttons and the capability to move to checkout… the typical online shopping experience we’ve come to know and enjoy, with free shipping, familiar forms of payment, etc.. The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean “Michael Phelps” Limited Edition watch for the American athlete is being offered only online within promoting the statement. If you are out of the USA, you will understand the disclaimer: “Please be aware that shipping is restricted to USA addresses only. To purchase an OMEGA watch beyond the USA, please locate your closest boutique with our store locator. “As someone who has been closely watching the business activities of Omega for the past couple of years, their move into e-commerce (restricted to the USA for the time being, or otherwise) doesn’t surprise me. Omega may not be first into the game, but they correctly understood that a more controlled distribution for watches is among the vital things the luxury watch industry needs so as to return economical stability.
Omega says this is the next generation of Speedmaster, and we are getting the sense that they will be giving the line a lot of attention this year, as today’s announcements follow this Tuesday’s Omega Speedmaster “Speedy Tuesday” Limited Edition release. So stay tuned for more. Omega is confirming the price of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Automatic Master Chronometer watch and we will update the article as soon as we have that information. omegawatches.com