Omega

I spent some time at an Omega Press event in NYC

 

Hello Everyone…..

 

 

Well I was able to attend a NYC Omega press event on March 13th.  Purist Pro already reported on the event  January of this year.  The topic was creation of a watch that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 1.5 tesla (15,000 gauss). 

 

The presentations were excellent as were the presenters.   I took as many photos of the presentations as possible to share with you and I will comment accordingly.

 

Here we see the panel as the presentations are in session….from left to right : Thierry Conus , the Director of Research & Development at ETA , Jean-Claude Monachon, OMEGA Vice President and Head of Product Development (currently presenting at the podium), Stephen Urquhart CEO of Omega and Michel Willemin, CEO of ASULAB.

 

 

 

Mr. Urquhart kicked off the presentations talking about Omega.  It's history, past successes in timing, sports, introduction of the coaxial escapement and now tackling magnetism. He then turned the presentation over to Jean-Claude Monachon , OMEGA Vice President and Head of Product Development.

 

Here he is talking about Omega’s strong identity

 

 

 

Iconic watches from the past helped create Omega’s future.  Omega used the 1952 Constellation dial as the basis for the dial on the New Constellation Sedna.

 

 

As a Vintage Omega enthusiast I was very excited as Mr. Monachon talked about new products.  He more then just tips the hat to Omega’s past.  He states that “Inspiration comes from Omega Historical products”.  He also went on and said “ DNA from the Museum (Omega’s ) will be in future collections.”   I know this is not a new trend at Omega, personally some 4 years ago I met Mr. Urquhart at the watchmaker’s bench at the NYC Omega Boutique.  I happen to have my 1967 Omega Seamaster Date chronometer in 18k yellow gold.  He stopped what he was doing came over and picked it up off the bench and said  “ you know we based the Aqua Terra on this watch “.     

 

But my favorite quote from Mr. Monachon has to be “ Product has to be beautiful to be successful” !  

 

Display backs…. To showcase the movement….

 

 

 

If a display back is not employed the logo of the watch would be visible.

 

 

 

The Omega Ladymatic ...

 

 

He also states “Details makes the Difference’…..hands , markers, dial color nothing is overlooked.

 

Here is an exploded view of the Ladymatic

 

 

 

Mr. Monachon states that quality is priority number #1 at Omega Headquarters.  The Ploprof has a depth rating of 4000ft and Omega tested them to 5000ft before leaving the factory.   I remember reading thru an old technical bulletin on the original 600m Ploprof that each one was tested to 1000m before leaving the factory.  Once again some things do not change.

 

 

 

Omega’s achievement of launching the coaxial escapement, took 7 years to bring to the market.

 

 

Integrating the Coaxial escapement into the product lines…

 

 

As an outside observer to the evolution of Omega timepieces over the last 120 years, I was excited to be  at this event.

 

The Coaxial Escapement….

 

 

 

The Silicon hairspring introduced in 2008 is a major step towards an anti-magnetic movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The challenge in 2011 a new feature: A watch that is totally anti magnetic ….   Magnetic fields in the daily lives of everyone…

 

 

Omega’s legacy in this area

 

 

 

 

 

The classic Omega Railmaster in 1957.  The movement was housed in a mu-metal case to shield the movements sensitive hairspring and escapement from magnetic fields to the order of 900 Gauss.

 

He commented that most anti magnetic watches only had a resistance of 60 or 80 Gause.

 

But the project specifications were as follows

 

1)     Make use of all internal resources of the Swatch Group

2)     Use Coaxial Technology

3)     Watch has to be able to withstand greater then15,000 Gauss

4)     Sapphire display is a must ( no mu-metal inner cases ).

 

 

 

 

The new movement is over 15,000 gauss.   Not even an MRI could affect its timing ability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought the prototype looked great. 

 

The next presenter Michel Willemin , CEO of ASULAB gave a primer on Magnetic fields. I have included photos of most of his folios for your education.

 

 

 

 

typical magnetic fields found daily in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Showing direction of the current and the induction of the magnetic field.

 

 

 

 

 

MRI and the 15,000 G fields it can produce..

 

 

This is an industrial  induction furnace , but I can imagine a simple induction cooktop in a kitchen would also have a strong magnetic field.

 

 

 

No effect on leather ( non ferrous ) and then the example of a steel screw that is attracted to the magnet.

 

 

 

Mr. Willemin also demonstrated permanent and Transient magnetic effects on objects.

Permanent effect is demonstrated with exposing a screwdriver to a strong magnet and then taking removing the magnet. The screwdriver has taken on a magnetic charge of its own  you can see it by the way screws are attracted to the screwdriver. Until the screwdriver is “demagnetized”  it will remain in this altered state for a very long time.   A transient effect like on a compass that is brought near another magnetic source would swing and give misreadings until it is removed from the other magnetic source.

 

 

 

There was also a video showing watches exposed to high strength magnetic fields. All the watches either stopped and or kept erratic time after exposure except the Omega Anti- Magnetic Aqua Terra even when exposed to 15,000 Gauss, it kept on running and keep time.

 

The last part of the presentation was given by Thierry Conus , the Director of Research & Development at ETA.

 

 

This is the case with in a case solution.  This was used by the1953 RAF Omega pilots watch and later was commercially release in 1957 as the Railmaster .

 

 

As was previously stated …. The Railmaster could withstand up to 900 Gauss.

 

 

 

But that would not do for todays standard of having a display back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the presentations ended…

 

The presenters came down to have some fun with everyone.  A table was set up with some extremely strong magnets , a demagnetizer and Mr. Willemin ask for volunteers to give up their watch.  Basically he magnetized them and then tried the same on the Anti-mag prototype.  Of course the donor watch had to be demagnetized because it stopped and nothing happened to the Omega.   They even showed how a magnetic field effects a quartz watch.  The watch momentary stops when under the direct effect of the magnetic field but then resumes normal performance once the magnetic field has been removed.  There was some talk on later on making a quartz movement magnetic resistant , but not in the way you would think.  It would still be effected while under direct effect of a magnetic field but it will be able to “keep track of the duration” and once the field is removed the hands would “jump” to display the correct time…

 

Here are some candid pics of the presenters at the demonstration area .

 

 

 

 

 

 

That golden box is the watch demagnetizer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hands on with the strong magnetic were great , some of the press stepped back when the magnets came close to their arms ! Depending on the movement, it could be fatal ! and its always better to be safe then sorry with something like that.  I was glad that Omega provided a few “test” watches.

 

The question of when will it be available, I heard  “ the Fall”  I also heard October.  This is a real technical evolution as much as the nivarox hairspring was in the past.  This is a totally new and unique way to make a Anti-magnetic watch.  Since it not a special constructed  “case” but the movement itself. So once a product line is introduced with this next generation coaxial movement with its non ferrous components I can see just about any watch in the Omega line will inherit this new trait.

 

 

Please keep in mind this is just my opinion on this presentation, your mileage may very !

 

I also want to thank the people at Omega for letting me attend.

 

 

Looking forward to seeing these movements in production.

 

Good Hunting

 

Bill Sohne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This message has been edited by Dr No on 2013-03-25 09:58:28

Site Info.

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy