The Omega Speedmaster Racing Chronometer is on its method to a brand new era of followers. Throughout our final go to to the WatchTime archives under, we examined the newest Speedmaster with a retro-inspired dial and the newest watchmaking expertise beneath the hood.
The Omega Speedmaster Racing Grasp Chronometer might not have been to the moon, however it’s nonetheless an all-round convincing watch: Its sporty, elegant design gives pleasure with out polarizing; its parts are of top of the range with out excessively inflating the value; and the expertise of its clockwork might be described as ingenious.
The Speedmaster Racing we examined encompasses a distinctive minute circle on the sting of the dial, impressed by the checkered flags that sign the tip of a race. These “racing dials” with two-tone markings to point fractions of a second first appeared on an Omega mannequin in 1968. They turned well-known in 1969, the yr of the primary moon touchdown, when Omega launched the Mark II as a contemporary growth of the Speedmaster. The model revived the Mark II in 2014, adopted in 2017 by the Speedmaster Racing Grasp Chronometer, which we took an in depth have a look at on this take a look at.
OMEGA AND THE “RACING DIAL”:
Omega first launched the checkered flag design for the minute circle of this mannequin in 1968 and used the identical design for the Speedmaster Mark II in subsequent years.
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In the 1990s, special models were brought onto the market in collaboration with racing drivers. Pictured here is a model made for Michael Schumacher from 1996.
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“Master Chronometer”, the last words in the name of this model, stand for a latest generation Omega movement that combines various quality features and certificates. In fact, the manufacture chronograph Caliber 9900 offers so many technical advantages that it is not easy to summarize them all. Thanks to Omega’s own coaxial escapement, which has a particularly complex shaped lever and escape wheel, it runs extremely precisely. Two spring barrels connected in series ensure that this movement runs for 60 hours in a row without the addition of new energy. Thanks to a silicon hairspring, DLC-coated barrels, recalculated toothing of the gears, special lubricants and a rotor that slides on ceramic bearings, it runs with little wear. And the use of exclusively anti-magnetic materials ensures that this caliber remains unaffected by any magnetic fields that may occur in daily life.
Since the introduction of the manufactory line in 2007, Omega has gone its own special way when it comes to decorations, ensuring that its calibers prove their exceptional status at first glance. The rotor as well as the bridges on the back of the movement are not only plated with rhodium, but also with a special decorative pattern called “Côtes de Genève in arabesque.” In addition, the bridges have beveled and polished edges. These flat parts are held in place by blackened screws that match the color of the balance wheel and the two barrels visible along the periphery of the movement. In addition, the engravings on the bridges and rotors are filled with red lacquer.
Also not to be missed: all of the above technologies and decorations are housed in a very carefully crafted stainless steel case with a ceramic bezel and two domed sapphire crystals, and the entire ensemble costs only $8,450. Here, too, Omega spared no effort in development work with the support of its parent company Swatch Group. The tachymeter scale along the bezel is made of Liquidmetal, a patented material that is poured into the milled recesses while still molten, allowed to harden and then matt polished on the top. Ceramic has a higher surface hardness, so that no unwanted tool marks or other marks are left on the ceramic when polishing the liquid metal. This method allows Omega to give the bezel a completely smooth scale, made of both polished ceramic and matte metal.
If you look for a fly in the ointment with the high-quality, complexly shaped, partly polished, partly satin-finished case, you will come across the sunken crown, which can only be courageously pulled out with your fingernails. This problem could have been avoided if a screw-down crown had been used: after such a crown is unscrewed, it is automatically pushed out of the case by the pressure of a spring. If Omega had opted for a screw-down crown, this model might also have achieved a pressure resistance of more than just 50 meters.
The pushers, on the other hand, can be operated perfectly. They require some effort, but the pressure points are well chosen and fortunately the same for both keys. The secure folding clasp, which can only be opened on one side, is just as easy to use. This robust and functional component, which allows the wearer to adjust the overall length of the bracelet, completes the good impression that the high-quality leather bracelet and the watch as a whole leave behind.
Our test shows that the Speedmaster Racing definitely has what it takes to convince a watch lover who will definitely enjoy this new timepiece and will hardly ever be disappointed by its performance.
TECHNICAL DATA:
Manufacturer: Omega SA, Stämpflistrasse 96, 2504 Biel, Switzerland
Reference number: 329.32.44.51.06.001
Features: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph with concentric counters for 30 elapsed minutes and 12 elapsed hours
Movement: Automatic manufacture caliber 9900 with anti-magnetic components, chronometer, 28,800 vibrations per hour, 54 jewels, stop-seconds function, quick reset mechanism for the date display by repositioning the hour hand in hour increments, coaxial escapement with silicon hairspring and titanium balance wheel, column wheel, two barrels, fine adjustment via weights on the balance wheel, Nivachoc -Shock absorption, 60 hour power reserve, diameter = 32.5 mm, height = 7.6 mm
Case: Stainless steel, ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale made of Liquidmetal, curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, screwed fully threaded base with sapphire disc with anti-reflective coating on both sides, water-resistant to 50 m
Bracelet and clasp: Leather with secure stainless steel buckle that opens on one side only
Evaluate results (Deviation in seconds per 24 hours, fully wound/after 24 hours):
Choose +1 / 0
Choose +3 / +3
Crown to +1 / +1
Crown down +1 / +1
Crown left +2 / +2
Crown right +1 / +1
Largest deviation 2 / 3
Average deviation +1.5 / +1.3
Average amplitude:
Flat positions 261° / 265°
Hanging positions 246° / 246°
Dimensions: Diameter = 44.25mm, Height = 14.9mm, Weight = 107g
Price: $8,450
RESULTS:
Straps and closure (max. 10 points): Good workmanship characterizes both the leather strap and the robust, functional and secure folding clasp. 8th
Operation (5): The chronograph has good pressure points, but the deeply embedded crown is difficult to pull out. 4
case (10): The steel case with ceramic bezel and two curved sapphire crystals is well made, but can only withstand pressure to a depth of 50 meters. 8th
design (15): The version in grey, brown and orange looks chic and sporty and yet elegant, although the main hands appear a bit slim. 13
Readability (5): Matt dial, luminous material and hands of the right length ensure good readability day and night. A weak point becomes apparent in the details: the scale appears too overcrowded. 4
Comfort (10): The pleasant wearing comfort and the low overall weight (107 grams) contribute to a very good feeling on the wrist. 9
Movement (20): The in-house chronograph caliber is one of the best on the market. 19
Evaluate results (10): A gain of only 1.5 seconds on both the timing machine and wrist and only 2 seconds difference between the different positions 10
Total value (15): High-quality craftsmanship, innovative technology, a trustworthy seal of quality – all at an affordable price 13
Total: 88 POINTS
Original photography by Nik Scholzel. This feature originally appeared in WatchTime magazine.
