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Monday, April 21st, 2008

Omega Aqua Terra in the desert field test

The post on the Seamaster in the wild reminded me of a brief article I once wrote on the Aqua Terra's performance during a trip through the Sahara desert. I could not find that article neither here, nor on the thePuristS site, and considered it lost. However, a search via Google produced some links to it, and it apparently is buried somewhere among the old materials of the PuristS, but not here at PuristSPro.If you don't mind, I would like to republish it here:In 2002, I had the opportunity to test some wat...

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By Bill Sohne: Monday, April 21st, 2008-05:41 | comments (1)

Friday, January 11th, 2008

A 9 year story - The watch that almost got away!

Hello everyone....Back in 1999 I came across a odd looking Omega on ebay.   I was very interested in buying the watch.  I placed what I thought was a high bid for the watch.   The auction did not make its reserve price.  I  then proceeded to contact the seller.   We had a few back and forth emails but was not able to "close the deal".   i said to him please let me know if plan on selling in the future.   I would send an email every 6 months or...

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By Bill Sohne: Friday, January 11th, 2008-20:27 | comments (2)

Monday, August 6th, 2007

1960's Seamaster Chronometer with Day and Date

I first learned of this particular model a few years ago after speaking to several watch collecting buddies. Then after reading an article dedicated to this model in the October 2002 issue of WatchTime magazine, I decided to try and find a nice example for myself. After going through several different examples in solid stainless steel cases and gold cap cases, this NOS solid 18k yellow gold version with attached Omega bracelet came into my possession.The case on this Seamaster Chronometer is just fantastic....

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By Bill Sohne: Monday, August 6th, 2007-12:11 | comments (4)

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

The last of the manual wind time only chronometers....

Hi allAs Omega entered the 1960s the demand for manual wind watches was on the decrease.  The sales of automatic watches was on the rise, time only, time and date, and even chronometers. By 1962-63 Omega retired tbe 30 mm movement line.  They replaced it with the caliber 60x line.  The 600 series caliber is a stripped down 55x automatic.  Most Omega collectors hold the 552 as one of Omegas best calibers period.With all the above said the future of Omega’s manual wind time only chro...

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By Bill Sohne: Tuesday, July 31st, 2007-09:41 | comments (0)

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

The Right Stuff: Inside the Omega Speedmaster Professional Part 2

Like many watches that have a rich cultural as well as horological history (the Rolex Submariner springs to mind) it's very hard to actually see the Speedmaster as a watch rather than as a point of entry into the legacy of manned space flight which it represents.

 


 

But a watch it is.  Our particular Speedmaster, sold to its original owner in 1999, is the most basic model currently available – with largely the same dial that it had in 1970, when Jack Swigert was staring at the dial of his in the chilly, dark, cramped cockpit of the Lunar Module, waiting to count down the 14 seconds of engine firing that would correct their trajectory so as to keep them in their (very narrow) entry corridor.  The case of the Speedmaster, with the bombe lugs and at 40mm in diameter, was a large watch for its time but nowadays it seems positively gracile.  An eye jaundiced by overmuch consumption of 45mm and larger cases can hardly believe that such a modest looking device was for many years the astronaut's watch of choice (the Russian cosmonauts were fond of them as well) – one just expects something, well, more macho .  However, the Speedmaster was made to a different standard of aesthetics, and even today, the size of the case and the unnecessarily decorative twist to the lugs give the eye an immediately pleasant impression.  In its modest way, the case is even beautiful, sexy – not a bad thing, frankly, in a high stress flight environment; the voice used in modern jet fighters for warning recordings is seductively female (pilots have nicknamed it Bitching Betty – "Pull up, Pull up.  Dear." )...

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By Bill: Tuesday, May 8th, 2007-15:51 | comments (0) | photos(30)

Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

The Right Stuff: Inside the Omega Speedmaster Professional - Part 1

On November 21, 1962, President John F. Kennedy met with the (then) Director of NASA - James Webb and Webb's deputy in charge of manned space flight - Brainerd Holmes.  The meeting, according to NASA official Robert Seamans Jr. who also attended, was "one of the most dramatic" that he had ever attended and the subject was nothing less than whether the United States would pursue a lunar landing as the primary objective, not only of NASA, but of the entire nation.  The meeting, which was recorded on audiotape, shows a President determined to set a course for the moon as quickly as possible, and a Director equally determined to clarify that a moon landing, while politically desirable, should not displace considerations of basic science and safety.  Kennedy was aware of the risks, but remained adamant on the matter of beating the Soviets to the moon...

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By AnthonyTsai: Thursday, May 3rd, 2007-20:02 | comments (0) | photos(11)

Omega vs JLC Extreme Chrono (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4)

Omega vs JLC Extreme Chrono (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4)Extreme challenge..My Omega Seamaster Proffessional 1995 versus...??? omega.watchprosite.com Extreme test CONTINUES (Omega Seamaster Pro Chrono versus....) part2 omega.watchprosite.com Omega versus the JLC extreme test part3 omega.watchprosite.com Omega vs JLC Extreme Chrono Test results Part 4 of 4 omega.watchprosite.com ...

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By AnthonyTsai: Thursday, May 3rd, 2007-19:58 | comments (0)

Omega Central Tourbillon - Part 2: History of Development

Over the past 100 years the horological landscape has changed dramatically as consumer demand shifted from pocket watches to wristwatches.  In 1986, Audemars Piguet introduced the first production automatic tourbillon wristwatch and it was considered a technical marvel.  Even as demand for tourbillon mechanisms grew, they remained rare masterpieces of elite watchmakers due to the time required to expertly finish and meticulously assemble each tourbillon.
In recent years, watchmaking has evolved by fully incorporating computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) milling into the manufacturing process.  As a result of this modernization companies with little horological experience have been able to flood the market with new tourbillon wristwatches.  Many of these timepieces iterate simple interpretations of tourbillon or karrousel designs without new technical innovations.  Omega's version of the tourbillon wristwatch, however, merits special attention....

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By AnthonyTsai: Thursday, May 3rd, 2007-19:42 | comments (1) | photos(20)

Omega DeBord updated with NEW First Time ever published photos on the internet!

This has to be the first time in about a month that I was able to sit down and write an update on my research on boxed chronometres from Omega. I was keen on getting a Omega DeBord boxed chronometre about 9 years ago. One was on ebay but the ending time was during my sister inlaws wedding in Toronto ! My wife did not know it but I brought a laptop and a phone wire with me. I ducked out of the party went to the mtg office and set up and I lost it in the last seconds. I was bummed , but kept an eye out for another and about a year later another one poped up and to cut a long story short I got it....

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By AnthonyTsai: Thursday, May 3rd, 2007-19:35 | comments (1) | photos(21)

Friday, April 13th, 2007

Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary

Some quick pictures of the Speedmaster 50th Anniversary... Apr 13 2007,02:21 AM ...from BaselHi all,sorry for not having enough time to write anything - but at least here's some quick pictures of the white gold anniversary Speedmaster. The dial is absolutely strikingly beautifull - it's black enamel (yes, true fired enamel......for the base ) - all writing and indexing is calssically printed though.It's hard to take pictures which come only close to the actual effect of this technique - it's a very "livel...

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By AnthonyTsai: Friday, April 13th, 2007-07:56 | comments (0)

Sunday, April 8th, 2007

The Oscar-winning actor and director joins the prestigious watchmaking brand

The Oscar-winning actor and director joins the prestigious watchmaking brand to become its latest international ambassador Bienne, 15 March 2007. The prestige Swiss watchmaking company OMEGA renowned for its unparalleled reputation in the domain of excellence, precision and innovation, today announced that it had concluded a partnership agreement with the world famous American actor and director George Clooney, who joins the illustrious family of international brand ambassadors. Mr Clooney will feature ...

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By Bill: Sunday, April 8th, 2007-18:05 | comments (2)

Friday, April 6th, 2007

Omega Central Tourbillon - Part 1: History of Omega Observatory Trials and Precision Records

The Observatory trials were the "crown jewels" of Chronometry. The associated financial benefits gained by marketing these timing triumphs attracted large manufacturers as well as independent professional watchmakers throughout Europe. Even Japan was successfully represented by Seiko in some of these trials in the 1960s. Interestingly, only Patek Philippe and Omega participated every year in the Observatory trials. Omega's performances at these competitions garnered the company a reputation of precision and innovation. Following their repeated success in observatory trials, Omega utilized their expertise in COSC certified models until they headed the annual list of certified chronometers. For more than a decade (1958 – 1969), Omega was by far the largest manufacturer of COSC chronometers – mainly with their famous Constellation models. Never satisfied with their past achievements, Omega's quest for precision continues today with their development and incorporation of the co-axial escapement and adjustable inertial mass balance....

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By AnthonyTsai: Friday, April 6th, 2007-10:50 | comments (0)


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