Last night Omega decided to literally leave us speechless with the presentation of two totally unexpected new watches: the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and Speedmaster Chrono Chime.
These two new Omega Chrono Chime are powered by the same revolutionary new movement, the most complicated ever produced by Omega. This caliber contains an integrated minute repeater and chronograph.
This movement is what we could define as the real novelty of the Maison of Biel in terms of watchmaking excellence and which I would describe in one word: masterpieces.
Housed inside the new Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and the new Speedmaster Chrono Chime, this movement, which at first glance literally left me speechless for its beauty and complexity, was made from scratch and applied for 17 patents.
Last, but not least, are the aspects of the two new watches that can boast of having one of the most prestigious calibers ever made inside them.
I must say that I was particularly amazed by the new Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime, a watch that I would dare to call “Vintage Modern” given its early 1900s design combined with one of the most innovative mechanics of all time.
Dear friends of IWS, after having made you savor the main aspects of these innovations that the whole world is talking about, let’s discover the new Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and the Speedmaster Chrono Chime together with their revolutionary beating heart.
The protagonist of the two new models: Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 1932
It is a movement that Omega’s engineers and watchmakers have developed in six years of work, completely from scratch, which is not something to be taken for granted in the world of watchmaking.
This Co-Axial Master Chronometer 1932 caliber, featuring an integrated minute repeater and chronograph, was made without superimposing, reshaping or adapting new parts to old ones, but by merging the two functions into a single movement.
This peculiarity has earned this movement the title of most complicated Manufacture caliber ever produced by Omega”.
In addition to the commitment of Omega’s master watchmakers, the collaboration with Blancpain was fundamental.
Going to the even more technical side, this new caliber represented numerous watchmaking challenges in the making.
Indeed, before even starting, the watchmakers had to find a way to circumvent the built-in limits of Omega’s Co-Axial escapement. The system developed by the ingenious watchmaker Georges Daniels, is an essential component of all Omega movements.
The frequency for which it was conceived was an important constraint in the development of the new movement, which must strike at 5 Hz to show 1/10 of a second, like the pocket chronographs used to time the 1932 Olympic Games.
In addition to this challenge, the watchmakers of the Biel Maison had to add three chime cams to the already complex chronograph mechanism, furthermore including two safety functions to prevent manipulation.
Everything has been made even more crazy and fascinating by the split-seconds function.
Moreover, to be defined as a Master Chronometer, the caliber must withstand external magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. This further challenge was met by Omega’s watchmakers through the use of 50 non-ferrous components.
The realization of the new masterpiece of watchmaking required and obtained 17 patents relating to the operation of Caliber 1932, the anti-magnetic technology and the external parts of the watch.
The finishes of the caliber increase the beauty of this technical side of the watch, making the innovative movement a real work of art.
Its brushed and mirror polished surface is embellished with 46.44 grams of gold making this caliber a true marvel for the eyes. Well, talking about minute repeaters, the ears wants their share too and ultimately we can say that this watch is a masterpiece to listen to thanks to its decisive and harmonious sound.
According to Omega’s words, who defined it as “A cutting-edge caliber destined to write a new page in the history of watchmaking”, we too are sure that this movement will be discussed for a long time. Furthermore, we cannot help to wonder what new developments and surprises will bring this constant research from Omega’s engineers.
The new Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and Speedmaster Chrono Chime
Featuring two completely different designs, these two new watches share the same innovative movement and the same material from which their respective cases are made: 18K Sedna gold, an alloy composed of gold, copper and palladium with a unique pink-golden hue.
In addition to giving an original and fascinating aesthetic, this type of gold is functional to the complication of the minute repeater as it allows the two watches to produce a wonderful sound when struck by the two hammers.
These, in fact, equipped with a tempered steel insert, strike Sedna gold gongs perfectly hand-tuned by Omega watchmakers.
The gongs, fixed to the body of the case to make the chimes, are inspired by the bells used by Omega to signal the last lap before the finish line at the Olympic Games or other sporting events.
In terms of design, the elegance and retro classicism of the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime contrast with the main feature of the Speedmaster collection: sportiness.
For heaven’s sake, talking about sportsmanship when faced with a masterpiece of this kind could make someone turn up their noses but in any case, we could say that, beyond the complexity of the movement and the finishes given by gold, the sporting DNA and space always remains an integral part of this watch.
In fact, this numbered edition Speedmaster Chrono Chime openly draws inspiration from the second generation Speedmaster making it a full-fledged commemorative example, as the CK 2998 was the first watch to be worn in space 60 years ago, in 1962.
The Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime, on the other hand, represents a sonic tribute to the exceptional skills of the watchmakers of the Swiss Maison and, thanks to its design, it seems to have come to us directly from the past with a time machine.
Indeed, its shape and structure represents the synthesis between the first minute repeater wristwatch (designed by Omega in 1892) and the pocket chronographs used at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, which marked Omega’s debut as Official Timekeeper.
With this limited edition watch, Omega recalls an era of watchmaking that was one of creative ferment and innovation.
The “Grand Feu” enamel dial of the new Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime, in line with the vintage essence of the first wristwatches, guarantees that extra retro touch typical of the porcelain dials that are recalled by this watch.
Below the sapphire crystal protecting the dial of the new Speedmaster Chrono Chime, on the other hand, we always find a “Grand Feu” enameled dial but in blue aventurine.
Both of the two new watches feature a hand-crafted guilloché rehaut and counters with Omega’s exclusive “acoustic wave” motif.
This decoration is a clear visual representation of the sound waves produced by the clock striking.
The central hour and minute hands in Sedna gold and coated in blued PVD are positioned on the dial of the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime. The same finishes can be found in the hands of the small seconds counter at 6 o’clock and the 15-minute counter at 12 o’clock.
To ensure optimum readability of the information, the dial features a central seconds hand in blued CVD and a split second hand painted in red. The Arabic numerals and the small parts in black enamel represent a further reference to 1932.
On the Speedmaster, however, the hour markers and hour and minute hands are diamond-coated in 18K Sedna gold. A further pop of color to the dial is given by the hands with red painted tip on the dial and the counters in blued CVD.
Although the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and the Speedmaster Chrono Chime share the exact same movement, the positioning of the buttons on the case is different.
The minute repeater button, embellished in both models with a refined raised polished musical note, is positioned at 5 o’clock in the Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and at 8 o’clock in the Speedmaster Chrono Chime.
The split-seconds pusher, on the other hand, is positioned at 2 o’clock in the Speedmaster and at 11 o’clock in the Olympic 1932.
As for the winding crown, positioned in a rather “classic” way on the Speedmaster; in the Olympic 1932 it is located at 12 o’clock as in the old pocket watches that inspired Omega for the creation of this watch.
In the Speedmaster, moreover, Omega’s watchmakers had to adapt the caliber to the configuration of the case and the two counters.
In terms of size, we certainly cannot say that we are facing two watches that are easy to wear: 45 mm in diameter for both and 16.9 mm thick for Olympic 1932 against 17.3 mm for the Speedmaster.
Despite this, once you put one of these two masterpieces of the Maison of Bienne on your wrist, I am sure that you will be able to forget about the size and be fascinated by the design and mechanical complexity of the admirable caliber through the sapphire crystal caseback.
Completing these two watches are the 18K Sedna gold bracelet for the Speedmaster unlike the Olympic 1932 which is accompanied by a brown leather strap with an 18K Sedna gold buckle and the new patented quick-switch system.
Price and availability
Both watches, made in limited production, are sold in a walnut presentation box with a spruce sounding plate capable of amplifying the rhythm, tone, harmony and duration of each stroke of the clock.
The list price is approximately EUR 420,000 for the Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and approximately EUR 450,000 for the Speedmaster Chrono Chime.
Let us know in the comments what you think of these two new watches and, above all, of this new revolutionary movement.
To learn more visit Omegas official website and our dedicated section.
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