The timepiece worn by the fabled 007 agent James Bond is now available as a limited edition model. The Omega Seamaster 300 Bond Spectre Limited Edition 41mm is driven by the innovative Master Co-Axial calibre 8400. It has a revolutionary movement that is anti-magnetic up to 15,000 gauss. With a stainless steel case, this timepiece has a black ceramic bi-directional bezel ring with a 12 hour scale in Liquid metal.
This Omega Seamaster 300 has a James Bond NATO strap with “007” engraved on the strap holder. Rhodium plated hands have a vintage coating of Super-Luminova. It is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal covering with anti-reflective treatment.
Specifications
Case: Brushed stainless steel
Dial Color: Black
Case size: Diameter 41mm.
Band: Stainless steel NATO bracelet included
Between Lugs: 21mm.
Limited Edition of 7,007
Movement: Omega Co-Axial 8400
Driving system: Self winding
Power reserve: Approximately 60 hours
Co-axial escapement for greater precision and durability
Hour, minute, second hands
Bridges and oscillating weight are decorated with exclusive Geneva waves in arabesque
The Omega Seamaster 300m Diver Co-Axial 44m Mens Chronograph has a lacquered black dial with luminous dot hour markers, as well as hour and minute hands with luminous edges. It also has red inner seconds track. Back of case engraved with ETNZ logo and Challenger for the 34th America’s Cup.This Omega Seamaster’s movement features Omega’s Si 14 silicon balance spring contributing to outstanding shock resistance and durability. Its Caliber 3330 automatic movement has a column-wheel mechanism, a co-axial escapement, and a silicon balance spring.
Specifications
Case: Brushed stainless steel
Dial Color: Black
Case size: Diameter 44mm.
Band: Stainless steel bracelet included
Movement: Omega 3330
Driving system: Automatic chronograph movement
Power reserve: Approximately 52 hours
Co-axial escapement for greater precision and durability
Date window at 6 o’clock position within subdial
Hour, minute, second hands
30 minute counter at 3 o’clock position
Seconds hand sub-dial at 9 o’clock position
Helium escape valve and date corrector at 10 o’clock position on case edge
The Omega Speedmaster Anniversary Limited Series Mens Chronograph is in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission. The crew aboard Apollo 13 used their Speedmaster watches during historic perilous journey back to Earth in 1970. The NASA inspired “Moonwatch” has been refreshed with a white dial with Super-LumiNova Snoopy on the 9 o’clock subdial.
The iconic phrase, “Failure is not an option” has been transferred onto the dial along with “What could you do in 14 seconds.” The second phrase is a homage to the Peanuts comics, referring to 14 squares. The 42mm. polished and brushed case is made with stainless steel, while the polished black ceramic bezel ring features Super-LumiNova Snoopy on the tachymeter scale. This chronometer features the OMEGA Calibre 1861 and “Moonwatch” style hands. A crafted 925 Silver Snoopy medallion, like the award, resides on the reverse side with dark blue enamel.
Specifications
Case: Steel
Dial Color: White
Coating: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
The purchase of a high end luxury timepiece is a considerable investment. Luxury timepieces are designed with a certain prestige factor in mind. This page takes some factors into consideration when purchasing a luxury watch.
Assembly Time
Luxury timepieces are sought after for the sophistication and elegence of their design. Mechanical timepieces incorporate hundreds of moving parts and can take a significant amount of time to assemble. You should always ask, “How long does it take to build this watch?” The finest high end timepieces are hand made by master watch makers. The longer the build time, the more sophisticated the construction, and the more elaborate the aesthetic appeal.
Is Movement Made In House?
While many watch manufacturers outsource the movements powering their watches, a few high end timepiece builders are vertically integrated to assemble their own movements. Some top Swiss watch builders design their own with unique finishing touches to distinguish them.
Quality Build Materials
Fine watches are not only made from rare metals and embellished with precious stones, they sometimes include materials like ceramics to ensure durability. Some watchmakers like Grand Seiko utilize black zirconia ceramic to prevent scratching. High end watches are often made with significant amounts of 18 carat gold in their case composition, and might be adorned with diamonds.
Precious Stones
Gemstones in a luxury watch add value depending on their authenticity. Naturally occurring gemstones with superb cut, color, and clarity are far more valuable than lab made synthetic stones. Watchmakers that also create fine jewelry are more likely to have genuine quality gemstones in their timepieces.
Complications?
Luxury timepieces possess a sophisticated mechanical elegance. They include additional features including complications such as: chronographs, moon phases, perpetual calendars, and time zones. The more complicated the movement powering the timepiece, the greater the value. These timepieces might include a tourbillion mechanism to improve accuracy.
Limited Production Run
Some of the finest luxury timepieces are manufactured in commemoration of a historical event, or a created in limited quantities. This can improve the investment value of the watch. If the timepiece gains popularity after its release, limited edition holders maintain a level of exclusivity.
The high end luxury timepiece is far greater than just a piece of equipment to tell time. Its a lifestyle accessory, and an object of prestige. Luxury timepieces are manufactured of high quality materials, are often hand made with painstaking attention to detail, and sometimes in limited edition runs.
Following is a glossary of terms related to high end watches.
Aperture: Small window in watch face showcasing a complication.
Bezel: The circular piece which joins the crystal to the dial of the watch.
Calibre: Synonymous with movement
Case: The shell of the timepiece containing the movement, dial, and hands.
Chronograph: A type of watch with a stopwatch function included. These type of watches are used for measuring time windows such as for timing sports events.
Complication: An additional feature of a mechanical timepiece such as: chronograph, calendar, date display, time zone display, moon phase display. The higher the number of complications, the more prestigious the timepiece.
COSC: The Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres is the industry standard organization for the testing of Swiss timepieces for accuracy and precision.
Crown: Watch component used to change the time or wind the timepiece.
Crystal: The watch dial’s cover.
Dial: Is the face of the watch, or primary disk from which user reads time.
Escapement: Device in mechanical watches which checks and releases the train by a fixed amount, transfering energy to the timekeeping element of the timepiece.
Flying Tourbillion: Is a cantilevered tourbillion being supported by only one side instead of from both top and bottom.
Helium Escape Valve: Component on diver’s watches that releases pressure inside timepiece to prevent damage in extreme ocean depths.
Horology: The study or appreciation of the art and science associated with the measurement of time.
Lugs: Area where case of watch connects to the bracelet or strap.
Moon Phase: A complication which displays waxing or waning of moon in its cycle.
Movement: The engine of the watch enabling it to keep time. A watch movement can be either mechanical or electronic (quartz) based. Enthusiasts prefer mechanical watches in appreciation for the elegance and sophistication of their construction
Perpetual Calendar: It does not need to be adjusted for month.
Power Reserve: Indicator of time until timepiece needs winding.
Tachymeter: Feature of chronographs measuring speed over a fixed distance.
Tourbillion: A mechanism which counters effects of gravity to prevent errors in watch escapement. High end watches showcase this addition with a viewing window showing the movement.
Winding: Process of rotating the crown or winder to tighten the watches mainspring to power the movement.
– Birth of Grand Seiko company. 3180 caliber introduced, accurate to within +12 to -3 seconds a day. 45 hr power reserve. First Japanese watch to receive rating of excellence from Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres. Built in Suwa Seikosha, Nagano prefecture, Japan.
1964
– Grand Seiko Self Dater introduced. Emphasis on practicality with a calendar function and water resistance up to 50 meters.
1967
– 44GS manually wound 5 beat watch developed with highest level of accuracy. Grand Seiko design philosophy developed. 62GS first automatic Grand Seiko made.
1969
– 61GS V.F.A. high precision model introduced, to explore the furthest unattainable limits of accuracy possible, with a monthly rate of +/- 1 minute.
1970
– After accuracy, GS’s next objective was size reduction. The 56GS was automatic and self winding, just 4.5mm in height.
1972
– 19GS V.F.A. Highest precision women’s watch developed. This mechanical watch delivered accuracy rate of +/- 2 minutes.
1988
– 95GS First GS quartz watch. Accuracy of 10 seconds per year, many times higher than other quartz movements.
1989
– 8NGS First GS with 10 bar water resistance.
1992
– 3FGS Grand Seiko quartz model for women with 10 second a year accuracy.
1993
– 9F8 series. Quartz watch with backlash auto-adjust, twin pulse quartz mechanism, instance calendar change, and super sealed cabin within case.
1998
– 9S5 series. First new mechanical caliber in 20 years with cutting edge production technology backing it.
2002
– 9S56 series. First GS watch with fourth hand representing GMT.
2003
– Anti magnetic watch with 40,000A/m level of resistance developed.
2004
– 9R6 series. The advent of the Spring Drive caliber with accuracy of +/- 1 second per day.
2006
– 9S67 series. A mechanical caliber watch delivering superior power reserve level of 72 hours.
2009
– New hi-beat caliber, first for GS in 41 years. 9S8 delivers high precision and power reserve of 55 hours.
2014
– 9S86 caliber combines hi beat precision with GMT function.
2016
– Black Ceramic Limited Edition powered by Spring Drive developed with fully ceramic case. Spring Drive 8 Day power reserve.
Omega has earned the distinction of being the Official Timekeeper at the Olympic Games for at least 27 distinct occasions since 1932. They defined the very technology utilized to track world class athletes as history was being written. It was during the 1932 Olympics that for the first time, a single company was charged with the responsibility of timekeeping.
Before this time, several manufacturers would provide watches, only accurate up to 1/5th of a second. When Omega took over, they provided 30 chronometers which were accurate with split second functionality. The Chronocinema device was used to record finish times with up to 1/100th of a second accuracy. Unfortunately, it took hours to develop film to yield results.
Photoelectric cells were first used by Omega during the 1948 Olympic Games in London. At this tipping point, technology began to outperform humans with regards to accuracy and precision in timekeeping. The “Magic Eye” system provided a photo finish solution that performed like a dream. Race results could now be determined within minutes rather than hours.
Another historical device utilized by Omega during the 1952 Olympic Games was the Omega Time Recorder. This quartz driven chronograph mated with a high speed printer allowed both the keeping of time and printout of results with an extreme degree of accuracy. This timekeeping device was also portable and battery powered.
The Omega Photosprint was released during the 1968 Summer Olympic Games. This device linked race times to photography directly as the time was recorded onto the film strip. The film could be developed in under 30 seconds. The first false start detection technology was released by Omega during the 1984 Olympics.
It would display a runner’s reaction time, pin pointed to the moment the runner exerts a certain amount of pressure against the starting block. Omega would measure to verify that runners don’t takeoff prior to the starting signal. An auditory signal inside the starting blocks made all runners aware of exact race starting time.
In 1992, Omega provided even more accurate timekeeping with Scan ‘O’ Vision, which measured times to the nearest 1/1,000th of a second. It uses linear vertical recording with an integrated timer, making it a modern age photo finish camera used today. To the present day, Omega uses a wide range of time recording technologies including wearable technologies and photo finish cameras.
