Tag: Omega

Categories
Omega Replica

OMEGA : Globemaster Master Chronometer AnnualCalendar

Basel2016OmegaGlobemasterAnnualCalendar9_zpsikssmfht

Basel2016OmegaGlobemasterAnnualCalendar3

At Baselworld 2015 Omega introduced the 39mm Globemaster in stainless steel, Sedna, platinum and bi-coloured version.s A year later and at Baselworld 2016 they launched a new Globemaster Annual Calendar to add to the family.

Movement-wise, it is a Co-Axial Master Chronometer powered by the in-house developed and manufactured Calibre 8922 (and 8923 for the limited edition model, which has a Sedna gold rotor). As it is METAS certified, it is labelled as ‘Master Chronometer’. For those who do not know, this newish certification was established by Omega and METAS (the Federal Institue of Meterology) because they wished to go beyond COSC-certification. Click on the link above for all details. Sixty-two references are now Master Chronometer certified and Omega hopes to certify nearly all its mechanical replica watches as Master Chronometers by 2020.

At a larger 41mm, it comes in stainless steel with a tungsten carbide bezel and blue dial, Sedna, bimetal (stainless steel and Sedna), and also a platinum version.

When the first photos of this came out the responses online were mixed, and these focused on the writing on the dial. There is little question that in terms of legibility, it leaves nothing to be confused about, but the placement and typeface of the writing caused a lot of animated discussion. As always, I had a response but not a definitive one, as replica watches are mostly objects about which it is best not to have a definite opinion until you can see them in the metal. I was in the camp of those who didn’t find myself drawn to the writing, and I wondered why they decided to do it that way. Sometimes, even if something is not to your taste, if you are able to ask why something was done and understand this reason, then things are different.

So when I got the chance to see them I asked the question. The answer was continuity; they wanted to have the text there and the choice of font was on the basis of it being the same as the ‘Globemaster’ text on the dial. Which is totally fair enough, having too many typefaces on a dial can get a bit tricky and messy. The month indicator hand on the dial for the calendar function is nice and discreet, and if the goal of the pie-pan dial’s design is legibility of functionality and to make it basically as foolproof as possible for someone buying it (bearing in mind that many who buy it may not be familiar with annual calendars) then it meets those goals. The one thing I would note is that it is interesting that the decision was not made to make the month indicator hand another colour, for contrast.

The platinum Globemaster Annual Calendar (shown at the top) has both a platinum case and platinum clasp and has some heft, as you can imagine. The platinum case and clasp are milled from an alloy of platinum (950Pt) and gold (20Au). The dial is also (sandblasted) platinum with 18 carat white gold markers filled with burgundy enamel. On the reverse you can see that the burgundy theme is carried through to a burgundy enamel Central Observatory medallion on the movement, which also has a Sedna gold rotor and balance wheel.

As mentioned at the outset, the new Globemaster Annual Calendar comes in stainless steel, Sedna gold, bi-metal (stainless steel and Sedna), and platinum. The platinum version is limited to 52 pieces only and comes on a burgundy leather strap which I was told is inspired by Chesterfield chairs. Australian RRPs are as $11,300 for stainless steel, $14,200 for the bimetal model, $31,150 for the Sedna, and $63,000 for the platinum edition.

Categories
Omega Replica

PHOTOS : Replica Omega’s White Side of theMoon

2015OmegaWhiteSide3

Two years ago the replica Omega Speedmaster went to the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ and last year, it went grey with a lunar dust theme. At Baselworld 2015 they launched their latest/ last ‘Side of’ variant the ‘White Side of the Moon’, which I described at the time as ‘The Dark Side x Alaska Project’ but which Omega somewhat more poetically describes as reflecting lunar radiance.

At any rate it’s white.

Very white.

In fact it is even more white ‘in the ceramic’ than it is in photos, as I discovered during the Sydney launch of some of this year’s new models.

It is also very shiny.

Their third Speedmaster ceramic model, the White Side has a dial and brushed and polished case made from zirconium oxide ceramic. The polished white ceramic bezel has a matte chromium nitride tachymeter scale. The polished ceramic pushers on the case function independently so there is no risk to the chronograph mechanisms as a result of inadvertent manipulation.

The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, treated with an anti-reflective coating on both sides, protects the dial with its 18K white gold hands and applied indexes. The centre chronograph seconds hand is rhodium-plated and with a red tip. The hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands, indices and two dots at 12 o’clock all have white Super-LumiNova. Engraved just above the centre of the dial is “ZrO2” as a nod to its material. There is a small white sub-dial at 3 o’clock that serves as a 60-minute and 12-hour recorder and a small second sub-dial can be found at 9 o’clock.

The Speedmaster White Side of the Moon comes on a rather shiny white leather strap with a white ceramic and Grade 5 titanium clasp.

The white ceramic case back is polished with bevelled scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, matte chromium nitride marks, and is engraved with the name of the replica watch: “White Side of the Moon”. Inside is the Co-Axial Calibre 9300 that was in the other ‘Sides’, COSC-certified and with a 60-hour power reserve. A handy thing about the movement is that there is an independently adjustable hour hand.

It’s 44.25mm in diametre and has a bi-compax layout like the Dark and Grey Sides. This format, as opposed to the original tri-compax dial, was first used on the Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph that was Omega’s first Speedy to use their in-house Co-Axial Calibre 9300 movement. As per that model, the sub dial at 3 o’clock for this new model is both 12-hour and 60-minute counters; it has two stacked hands, the longer one counting 60 minutes, the shorter 12 hours. The small seconds sub dial is at 9 o’clock.

The hour and minute hands are 18K white gold, as are the hands on both sub-dials, and indices. The centre chronograph hand is rhodium-plated and features a red tip for visibility against the black surface. There is also the use of Super-LumiNova on the dots at 12 o’clock, and the hour, minute and chronograph hands.

There have been a lot of Speedmaster models. In terms of the three coloured ‘Sides’ my vote is definitely still first with the Dark Side. The Grey Side was actually more attractive than I had expected it to be, but this white one feels less ‘tool replica watch’ and more ‘Statement Speedmaster’. Perhaps I am conservative, but the White Side of the Moon feels like a Speedmaster (and I am distinguishing it from other ‘all-white’ replica watches because to me, Speedys fall into a category of their own) that perhaps isn’t so much for traditionalists as for people who may not have previously taken to it but who are engaged by the ‘moon replica watch’ idea and like bold, shiny replica watches.

Categories
Omega Replica

Replica Omega’s DeVilleTrésor Review

2014OmegaTresor17

On the day during which I visited the Sydney Omega boutique to see the Speedmaster Mark II I had expectations only of the Mark II. What other replica watches I might see did not cross my mind. It was all about the Mark II.

What ended up happening is that I went in with one replica watch at the forefront of my mind but left with another dominating my thoughts and becoming not only my favourite 2014 release from Omega, but also one of my favourite replica watches so far for 2014.

I had read about the newly reworked De Ville Trésor but, mesmerised by the Mark II, I had only paid it cursory attention. More fool me.

The original Omega De Ville Trésor models was first launched in 1949, made for the South American market and called ‘Tesoro’. They were simple models, characterised by classic case styles, clean dials (some with a seconds sub-dial, some with a sweep seconds hand), and containing a 30mm movement.

The new Trésor screams a 1940s-1950s dress replica watch aesthetic, but that’s where the similarity ends. Inside is the manual wind Master Co-Axial Caliber 8511 (that includes a time zone function) with an 18k rose gold balance bridge, a Si14 silicon balance spring and Omega’s three-level co-axial escapement. The movement is a COSC-certified chronometer and anti-magnetic greater than 15,000 gauss and has a power reserve of sixty hours.

As for the case, that has also been glammed up, with the new 40mm Trésor available in yellow gold, white gold, or Omega’s Sedna gold. However, it is not the case or its metals that are the key to this replica watch, it’s the dial. Silvery opaline, domed and decorated with a Clou de Paris (guilloché motif of hollowed lines that intersect to form tiny pyramidal shapes) pattern, it is quite simply, stunning.

The visceral appeal of the dial/ case combination took me by surprise, and it was these aesthetics which made this overtake the Mark II as my favourite Omega release. Despite it very clearly harking back to Omega’s history, it does not look dated nor old-fashioned. It is deeply simple but deeply elegant, and its full effect is best seen ‘ín the metal’.

Hands and hour markers are made of 18k gold and arched to complement the curvature of the dial and crystal. The polished open caseback sports “ANTI-MAGNETIC,” “15,000 GAUSS,” and “Si14”.

Water resistance is to 30Mand on a black or brown leather strap with polished 18k gold buckle, it comes with a four year warranty and should be available worldwide from October 2014.

This may not have been the most hyped Omega release during Baselworld 2014, but this thoroughbred deserves as much attention as its other new siblings. The Australian RRP for the Sedna and Yellow gold pieces is $16,175 and the White Gold version is $17,575. Availability will be from appoximately March 2015.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON :Replica Omega Seamaster Planet OceanPlatinum

2014OmegaSeamasterPODiamondSetCeramic6

As previously blogged, earlier this year I had the opportunity to view the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Orange Ceramic. At the same time I also got to see its sibling, the Seamaster Planet Ocean Platinum with diamond-set ceramic and sapphire.

Made in a limited edition of eight pieces, the achievement highlighted by Omega with this replica watch is that of the development of technology that allows for the setting of diamonds into hard bodies such as ceramic and sapphire.

The patent is for the method of setting of the stones into the ceramic thanks to the use of Liquidmetal®. The process begins with the engraving, using a 5-axis laser. A 850-platinum Liquidmetal® alloy is then injected into the bezel/ caseback and the excess is removed, after which the case is polished. Diamonds are then set into the Platinum Liquidmetal® alloy using traditional diamond-setting technique. The result is an unlikely pairing of a hard body and diamonds.

This Seamaster Planet Ocean has a polished and brushed 43.50 mm case. Its brushed and polished rotating black ceramic bezel is bi-directional, and with twelve baguette diamonds to mark the 24-hour GMT. The case edges of the case are set with 69 trapezoidal baguette-cut diamonds.

If that’s not enough diamonds for you, there are a further 31 full-cut-diamonds set in the Omega logo on the sapphire caseback, for a total of 2.69 carats. Through this open caseback can be seen the Omega Co-Axial Calibre 8615 with an Si14 silicon balance spring and wit a power reserve of sixty hours.

The dial is polished black ceramic dial with 18K white gold indices, numerals and hands. There is a date window, and the GMT/ second time zone indicator is via a centre hand.

The Seamaster Planet Ocean Platinum is water resistant to 60 bar (600m) and comes on a black leather strap with platinum stitching and a 950-grade platinum clasp. It’s not as though any of the eight owners are likely to go diving with it, but there is also a that comes with a replica watch, as well as a strap changing tool.

As a ‘partner’ to the orange ceramic replica watch it more than pulls its weight, physically and otherwise. This is a beast of a replica watch to hold/ wear, but the diamonds and platinum pretty much reiterate that it is a replica watch created to show off innovation, not to wear as per any other Planet Ocean. Whether you like it or not is a matter of personal taste, but what they have done is fascinating.

My thanks to Mr. Gregory Kissling, Omega’s Head of Product Management, for showing me this replica watch and being a wrist model.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON : Replica Omega Speedmaster Mark IIRe-issue

2014OmegaSpeedMkII24_zpsfafc4f95
Earlier this year I blogged about the replica Omega Speedmaster Mark II re-issue. Today, Horologium brings you live photos of the two versions, with thanks to Omega Australia and the Castlereagh St boutique in Sydney.

To reiterate Omega, which not only has a rich archive into which it can delve for inspiration but also a longstanding loyal fan base for many of its historically important models, decided to release a modern version of their 1969 Speedmaster Mark II, a perennial favourite amongst Speedy collectors for both its distinctive case and dial, and because of its manually wound Calibre 861 movement.

For Speedmaster enthusiasts, as is the case with Rolex collectors of certain models, nothing is unimportant, and any modernisation of a beloved replica watch will be scrutinised within an inch of its font. So it has been with this one.

The remade Speedmaster Mark II is available in two versions, one reminiscent of the original racing dial, and one with a black dial as per the original. The original Mark II came in three main versions :

1. stainless steel case, black dial
2. stainless steel case, black dial with orange/ red/ grey along the minute track
3. gold case, gold dial with a maroon tachymeter ring

As mentioned in the previous post, a major point of difference in the modern version is that it contains the automatic Co-axial Calibre 3330 with a column wheel chronograph, as opposed to being a manual. Dedicated Speedy fans appear to be pleased with this, as it reminiscent of the Cal.321.

Speedmaster Mark II original (left) and the 2014 version(right)

Other changes are the additions of a date window at 6 o’clock, with its adjustment corrector at 10 o’clock, a printed (on the crystal) tachymetre scale that is illuminated by Super-LumiNova, and hour and minute marker, centre hand and hour and minute hands similarly lumed.

For the Speedy fans/ collectors who love the original Mark IIs, these are both quite traditionally styled. The low key black version has a black track on inner side of the crystal with a transparent tachymeter scale, and the other model is similar to the original’s ‘racing style’ with orange/ grey. The lume to the tachymeter bezel is subtly done and adds functionality, but not at the expense of the original design.

There are those (and I have expressed this view on Horologium) who ponder about the predilection of putting in date windows for modern re-issues of classic replica watches. I find myself asking “why?” a lot, feeling as though there has been something lost, from a purely visual point of view, by this addition, but as myself and my Speedmaster collector friend agreed after visiting the boutique to look at these new Mark IIs, we were pleasantly surprised. It works. My collector friend has an even more firm view about date windows in modern re-issues than I have, but we agreed that in this case, it doesn’t affect the symmetry of the dial and, most importantly, is unobtrusive.

Another difference is the text. On the originals, it says “Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark II”, whilst for the new versions, the new movement takes pride of place instead.

Apart from a centre minute hand, there is a small seconds at 9 o’clock, the aforementioned new date window at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute recorder at 3 o’clock and a 12 hour recorder at 6 o’clock.

Speedmaster Mark II original (left) and re-issue (right)

The predominantly brushed stainless steel case can seem more sleek than the original when viewed from the front, partly due to the combination of brushed and polished metal, but the 2014 version is in fact, larger.

It appears that one of the abiding concerns with the original for some is that it sits too largely on the wrist. Despite this new version being bigger, a very different bracelet means that it does not sit all that differently in ‘wrist comfort’ terms to the original, and in fact is pretty comfortable for a hefty replica watch. The new Mark II measures 42.40 x 46.20mm with a thickness of 14.85 mm. The original Mark II measures 41.75 x 45mm and is 14.55mm thick.

The question I have been most asked since I saw these has been whether I prefer the original or the re-issues. This is not a question with a simple answer. The ‘originalist’ in me will tend towards an original of anything, but I appreciate a well thought out and well made re-issue. As the Speedmaster collector who accompanied me to the boutique on that day says, “it is a very sensible and sensitive re-edition, with major design cues of the original, but improvements that do not detract from original design.”

These are very nice modern versions, and for owners of the originals, the additional of one of these to a Speedmaster collection would, to me, work very well. There have been many Speedy iterations over the decades, many commemorative models. To my mind, this Speedmaster Mark II re-issue is one of the most desirable ones.

A final thought for those who prefer new replica watches over vintage ones, wanting the assurance of current technology, warranties and the like. If you are looking for a modern/ retro Speedmaster to add to your collection, these are worth a look.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON: the replica Omega Marine

JHOmegaMarine14

Following on from the previous post about the very collectible Omega Cosmic is another vintage Omega, this one from an earlier period and perhaps even more rare, the divers replica watch known as the Omega Marine, first produced in 1932. The patent for this waterproof case was first granted on 10 March, 1930 (patent No. 146310), and the Marine, the great great etc grandfather of the modern Seamaster divers range, bears no hint of its descendants, with its Art Deco design rendering it a dress replica watch designwise, by modern standards. Considering its age, this example is in remarkably clean condition, the dial’s patina adding only to its charm.

The rectangular measures 24 x 40 mm (including lugs) and comes in interlocking parts that are released by a clip on the back that releases the outer case, sliding off to reveal the hidden crown as well as acting as a ‘waterproofing’ mechanism. Inside is the calibre 19.4 movement with 15 jewels.

The first experiments on the Marine replica watch were conducted in 1936 and involved immersing the replica watch into water at a temperature of 85° Celsius for several minutes and then plunging it directly into water with a temperature of 5° Celsius to test its resistance to extreme temperature variations. The Marine was the first replica watch to be tested at a depth exceeding 70 meters; in 1936 an Omega Marine was successfully taken down to a depth of 73 meters for 30 minutes in the Lac Léman; the temperature at maximum depth was 5° Celsius. I’m not sure I’d advise the same for this particular specimen.

After a series of trials undertaken by the Swiss Laboratory for Horology in Neuchâtel in May 1937, the Marine’s locking lever, which sealed the parts, was certified as being successfully being able to withstand a pressure of 13.5 atmospheres (135m) without any water intake.

The cream dial has black Arabic numerals with an outside minute track. To handle, it looks very small by current standards, but the design of the bezel gives me a bit of a ‘lift’ and aids in making it seem a bit bigger. It sits very lightly and comfortably on the wrist.

As was the case with the Omega Cosmic, the importance of this replica watch in Omega’s history has been commemorated by a faithful modern reproduction. In 2007 Omega produced a limited edition of the same design for the Omega Museum collection, and called it the ‘Marine 1932’. Limited to 135 pieces, the number commemorating the 1937 trials that certified the replica watch’s water resistance to 135m, and in 18 carat red and white gold with the classic sliding and removable case design. This modern homage contained a much more glamorous movement, the Calibre 2007 with a Co-Axial escapement and with a 48-hour power reserve. It is also significantly bigger, at 33.05 mm wide and 50.50 mm long.

This was and remains an important replica watch for Omega. The behemoth Omega book devotes quite a few pages to it, including fascinating photos of the advertisements. You will notice one marked difference between some of the models – the placement of the hidden crown.

This is a lovely example of a very interesting replica watch. Even for those not interested in vintage replica watches or vintage Omegas, this is fascinating from a historical perspective, and very desirable.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON : A vintage Omega Cosmic replica watch review

OmegaCosmic1

In 1947 Omega introduced their first calendar complication replica watch, the Cosmic Moonphase triple date calendar. It was produced, during the course of its existence, in both square and round cases, and with a variety of metals/ dial colours. It was the brand’s first replica watch that displayed the time and the date with hands and day, month and moon phase in windows. The square models were introduced in 1951, and it is one of these, in 14k yellow gold, that is the subject of today’s post.

This rare original Cosmic, which even has its box, has tear-drop lugs, domed sapphire crystal, alpha-styled hands. The dial is silver with applied gilt indices, outer minute divisions, a sub dial for the seconds which ‘overlaps’ with the moonphase indicator, windows showing the day of the week and month, and an ring with the days of the month in painted blue Arabic numerals. The movement is the manual Cal. 381, with 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator. It is 33mm x 33mm in size, very small by today’s standards, with a thickness 12.8 mm.

Such was the significance of this piece for Omega that they re-issued a limited edition (1951) modern version of the square Cosmic in 2002 as part of the Omega Museum Collection. The modern version was of the square model, retaining the original design features down to the lugs, but with a water resistance of 50m. A manual winding movement was replaced with an automatic Calibre 2601 movement with a 72 hour power reserve.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON :Replica Omega’s new Constellation Sedna and its new 18K rose goldalloy

OmegaSedna4

Following on from my posts about Omega’s new 2013 offerings of the Bullhead and the Speedmaster ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ is a third post about one of Omega’s other big announcements for the year, the new Constellation Sedna, made using a new 18k rose gold alloy.

Deriving its name from a trans-Neptunian object of the same name, Sedna™ is the name Omega has given to a new alloy of gold, copper and palladium that was developed by the Swatch Group. It has a minimum gold content of 75 per cent and its rose colour is a result of the balance of the metals in the alloy. The inclusion of palladium is to ensure that the red gold of replica watches using this alloy won’t fade over time. The surface of the orbiting object after which the alloy is red, hence the alloy’s colour.

OmegaSedna6

It has a polished case with a brushed bezel with Roman numerals, indices and hands also made of 18K Sedna gold, as is the clasp on its strap. The dial is a silver grained version of the famous “pie-pan” style of the early Constellations. All logos on the dial, including the Constellation star, are applied Sedna gold to match the case, as are the polished arrowhead markers.

The Constellation case has a wide bezel, four claws and whilst featuring this signature bezel, the contemporary Constellation Sedna case is, at 38mm, larger, thicker and more bold, clearly in the style of its predecessors. It is water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet).

OmegaSedna8

This new model uses the replica OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8501, visible through a sapphire crystal case back and with a rotor and balance bridge in solid 18k gold.

The Constellation Sedna will be produced in a limited edition of 1,952 pieces after the year of the Constellation’s debut. It comes in a special wooden presentation box with a rose-coloured lining.

OmegaSedna1

Of the three new Omega 2013 models that I have blogged about, the one that speaks to me the most is the Bullhead. The new Sedna will appeal particularly to Constellation (and pie pan dial fans); it is a beautifully made replica watch with a clean elegant dial. The case is attractively finished, especially the brushed bezel with four polished claws.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS-ON : Omega’s Speedy goes to the dark side of themoon replica watch

OmegaSpeedyDarkSideofMoon1

The Bullhead was one of Baselworld 2013’s most talked about releases from Omega and, in the run up to its appearance at boutiques and retailers, is still a hot topic of horological conversation. Running perhaps in a dead heat in the ‘Omega replica watch chatter’ stakes is the new all-black Speedmaster.

The 44.25mm sized swiss replica Omega Speedmaster “Dark Side of the Moon” derives its name from its black zirconium oxide ceramic dial and matching black ceramic case, the first time this material has been used for the ‘Speedy’. In fact the replica watch is nearly all ceramic – the case, bezel, chronograph pushers, crown, dial, and even the buckle.

When first launched, Omega’s iconic Speedmaster utilised a tri-compax dial format. The bi-compax layout used in this new model was first used on the Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph, the first Speedmaster to contain Omega’s in-house chronograph Co-axial Calibre 9300 movement. As per that model, the sub dial at 3 o’clock for this new model is both 12-hour and 60-minute counters. The small seconds sub dial is at 9 o’clock and the date is a window at 6 o’clock, where the elapsed-hours sub dial previously resided.

The hour and minute hands are 18K white gold, as are the hands on both sub-dials, and indices. The centre chronograph hand is rhodium-plated and features a red tip for visibility against the black surface. There is also the use of Super-LumiNova on the dots at 12 o’clock, and the hour, minute and chronograph hands.

As mentioned, the bezel is polished black ceramic. It features the Speedmaster’s familiar tachymeter scale, but this time in matte chromium nitride.

Omega’s Caliber 9300, visible through the case back, is COSC certified as a chronometer and has a 60-hour power reserve. A handy thing about the movement is that it means that there is an independently adjustable hour hand, although there is no quick set date.

The words, “Dark Side of the Moon” are engraved in matte chromium nitride above the caseback crystal (between the lugs on the right hand side in the photo above). Naturally, an all-black replica watch has to come with an all-black strap. In this instance, a sporty durable black Cordura® fabric strap with a black ceramic buckle.

It has the core elements of the classic Speedmaster Professional but looks really quite different. The ceramic dial is a deep, glossy black and the case and polished bezel in particular, were more shiny than I had expected. Not overly so, but noticeable. I mention this only because when it comes to ‘all-black’ replica watches, there often seem to be some quite strong ‘matte’ vs ‘shiny’ views expressed.

To wear it is quite light due to the use of ceramic, and I like the choice of a Cordura fabric strap. It’s sporty, casual, and suits the overall look of the Dark Side.

Is it a worthy addition to the Speedmaster range? Well it has a catchy and appropriate name and so far, the response has been positive even by many long time Speedmaster enthusiasts.

The “Dark Side of the Moon” has one notable advantage over the seemingly endless supply of ‘all-black’ replica watches. As a Speedmaster, a design which has managed to maintain a remarkable longevity even in its many iterations, it has a greater chance of managing to stay fresh and not look like a part of the ‘all-black’ fad that has been going on for a surprising number of years now.

There have been a lot of Speedmaster models. This is one that for me, works because it is faithful to the core design but modern, and for those who have wanted a Speedy but never quite managed to decide on which one, the “Dark Side of the Moon’ is different enough that it might just be the one for you.

This new Speedmaster will be available from later this year.

Categories
Omega Replica

HANDS ON : Omega’s 2013 Bullhead replica watch

OmegaBullhead9

Today Horologium brings you a post about a model that we wanted to mention when it was launched at Baselworld 2013 but were unable to do so due to the lack of press photos available. For me, this was the standout model of interest and the one I was most interested in seeing – the new Seamaster Bullhead.

The first Omega Seamaster Bullhead was introduced in 1969, and vintage Bullheads remain a sought after replica watch for collectors and enthusiasts. This year Omega has re-issued this collectable, with the design of the 43mm x 43mm stainless steel piece very similar to the original and having already generated positive feedback online from collectors for its fidelity to its roots.

The two-register chronograph dial and two crowns (one at 12 o’clock which sets the time and one at 6 o’clock for the internal bezel) in this new model are as per the original pieces but instead of the round pushers of the original pieces, the 2013 ones are flat. The original case was a bit smaller, at 41.5mm x 42mm, and of course a sapphire crystal is a new replacement.

These 2013 models have a fine-brushed finish, an outer ring with 12/ 24 hour numbering, and a fixed steel case back, inside which is another point of difference to the original model. The new Bullhead is automatic (the Co-Axial Caliber 3113 movement) whilst the original one was a manually wound Caliber 930. The presence of a co-axial movement (and its chronometer status) is noted on the dial at 3 o’clock adjacent to the date window.

One of the most noticeable aspects of the Bullhead is its bulk. 43mm replica watches are not large by contemporary standards, but this replica watch has a height of 14.85mm, which adds a fair bit of heft to it. It also makes it an interesting proposition for those who find thicker replica watches ‘ding magnets’ and would have to become accustomed to this height.

It is not a heavy replica watch, and as you can see from these photos it sits well even on a woman’s wrist (my thanks to the model), but if you fall into that category of replica watch wearer for whom ‘ding magnets’ are an issue, this is a piece best seen and tried first.

There are three iterations of the new Bullhead: black dial with a square guilloché pattern and black leather strap with red contrast stitching, white dial with a brown leather strap, and a silver dialled model with perlage on a black perforated leather strap with red contrast stitching.

There were only two models available on the day of my visit to the Omega boutique, so apologies to those for whom the white dialled version was the one that they were more interested in seeing. Based on the photographs that I had seen online during Baselworld 2013, I had been swaying towards the white and black dialled ones, the silver dialled one looking a bit too ‘raw machined’ for my personal preferences. In seeing it ‘in the metal’, it was not as ‘machined’ looking as I thought it would be, but given the choice between the two I saw, I find the black one more engaging both because I like dark dials and because the guilloché work makes it texturally interesting, with the play of light on the ‘studs’ of black giving it a shimmer. Hopefully, I shall get to see the white dialled version later this year when the Bullhead starts appearing at Omega boutqiues and retailers.

One aspect of note about the replica watch about which there was no information on the day of my visit was the straps. They are leather, but there appears to be some sort of treatment applied to it which gives them an almost rubber-like feel that is quite soft and moulds comfortably to the wrist.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post the vintage Seamaster Bullheads are much loved both amongst Omega enthusiasts and vintage replica watch collectors, so it’s great to see that this popular replica watch has been re-issued in a faithful way.

For those who don’t know why this replica watch (and in fact this style of case/ crown design) is called a ‘Bullhead’, it is named thus because of the configuration of the crown at 12 o’clock with the two chronograph pushers on either side, resembling a bull’s head with horns.