Omega

OMEGA presents the 1st Master Chronometer, Part 3: Globemaster Hands-On Review

 

The first watch ever to qualify for the METAS Master Chronometer standard (or is it the other way round? The first standard currently only applying to this watch ;-)?) is the OMEGA Globemaster:



The Globemaster immediately strikes us, thanks to its resemblance to 1950s Constellation watches with their immensely beautiful and 3-D 'pie-pan' dial:

 

The execution of the dial is extremely precise and really 'clear-cut' - amazingly sharp and precisely defined edges (as well as a sunray brushing finish):





Towards the 6 o'clock position we find a date, above the rather restrained 'Master Chronometer' inscription. Only for those who know... ;-)

The bezel is actually a bit more complicated than it looks at first sight. To start with, in the steel version seen here it is made of extremely hard tungsten carbide. Furthermore, the ridges are smoothened, giving the watch an unmistakable appearance.

The watch I was shown featured a steel bracelet which is attached with a dedicated end link. It can be replaced by a leather strap (which is the case in the gold version shown below):

  
The bracelet is of very high quality as I could attest on my own wrist. Precisely made and with superb wearing comfort, partly thanks to a very practical micro-adjustment mechanism. Bracelets in general I think are an area where tremendous but rather unnoticed progress has been made in the last couple of years.

Through a display back we can admire the OMEGA Cal. 8900 movement. A very modern, efficient motor with 60h of power reserve thanks to two barrels, a free-sprung silicon balance wheel and hairspring in a co-axial arrangement, and finally a antimagnetic resistance up to 15.000 Gauss.

 

The Geneva stripes are executed in OMEGA's unique 'arabesque' pattern. In the display's center we note another homage to the venerable Constellation watches, the observatory medallion:

 

I am a fan of blue-dialled watches in general, but somehow this one leaves me a bit cold. This might be caused by the bezel which always appears a bit 'greyish'. Overall, a very comfortable watch and certainly a pleasure to wear. And a certified top-perfomer, for sure!

 

A very loveable alternative is the version in 18 kt Sedna gold on a crocodile strap. Elegant, solid, with much charm (I also think the gold brings out the dial much better). Images provided by Oliver (small-luxury-world). It also reminds me a bit on the breathtaking Rolex Kew chronometers...

 

 

So, with these impressions I would like to close my report on the new Master Chronometer certification and the first watch to ever comply to this standard. I hope you enjoyed the report.

Thanks for reading,
Magnus