OMEGA Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer and Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M.

UPDATE: For a quick overview of all the new models presented at Basel by Omega, click here.

We still have about two months till Baselworld, yet OMEGA is ready to share with us some details about two of their novelties, a Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph and a 39,5 mm Sedna gold Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M, both certified Master Chronometer and are powered by new movements.

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer

The Speedmaster is known as the watch that was worn on the Moon, and as such, to a moonphase is the perfect complication that can be added. Over the years, Omega did several Speedmaster chronographs with a moonphase complication, using the c.866 movement — a Lemania c.861 base with moonphase calendar complication. This time, they opted for a new movement, the calibre 9904, made up of 368 components. It is both a Master Co-axial and a Chronometer, hence the METAS certification as a Master Chronometer.

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer

It’s a Rhapsody in Blue: blue ceramic bezel with liquid metal tachymeter and a sun-brushed blue dial with a few strategically placed red accents, completed with a blue leather strap, clasped with a foldover buckle. Unlike earlier Speedmaster moonphase watches that had the moonphase indicator at 12, on the 2016 model, it replaces the date window at six o’clock. The image of the Moon is based on a high-resolution NASA photograph and OMEGA claims that a closer inspection will reveal an astronaut’s footprint. Around the moonphase indicator, there is a zero to 29,5, representing the number of days in a lunar month. While this is a challenging time span to manage for a standard gear train, the new Speedmaster Moonphase will need adjustment only after 10 years.

OMEGA Canada could not confirm the official price, but some European blogs are quoting a starting price of 9,400 CHF for the stainless steel model, and the MSRP will quickly go up, once you get into gold or platinum models.

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer

The second model, the Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer, combining the warm colour of the 18K Sedna gold with rich chocolate ceramic, is marketed as a ladies’ model. Other than the size, which at 39,5 mm it’s smaller than gents’ Seamaster Planet Ocean, based on the pictures, I don’t find it to be a strictly feminine watch. For my small wrists, this might just be the perfect diving watch…

The Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer is an innovative model for OMEGA for several reasons.  As a ladies’ watch, it is among the first models to have the METAS certification. It is powered by the new calibre 8801, which can be seen  through the sapphire crystal caseback.  Finally, it is the Planet Ocean model to use Sedna Gold — OMEGA’s patented scratch-resistant rose gold alloy.

Both the dial and the bezel are made from chocolate brown ceramic, for the numbers and the minute markers on the bezel, they used Ceragold — a technology developed by Omega allowing the decoration of ceramic parts with 18K gold.

It will cost 18,700 CHF when it will show up at authorized dealers later this year.

I was told that OMEGA will have a few exciting surprises prepared for Baselworld, and judging by these two, the first 2016 OMEGA models to be leaked, we are looking ahead to a fun year.

In the meantime, keep an eye on WatchPaper and www.omegawatches.com

Technical specifications

Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer is powered by the new calibre 9904

Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph Master Chronometer

Movement
– Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9904
– Watch officially certified by METAS
– Self-winding in both directions
– Jewels: 54
– Frequency: 28’800 A/h (4 Hz)
– Power reserve: 60 hours
– Exclusive features with:
o Magnetic resistant 15’000 Gauss
o Omega column wheel chronograph mechanism
o Moonphase indication
o Date via hand indication
o Silicon “Si14” balance spring
o Omega free sprung-balance
o Co-Axial Escapement, 3 levels
o 2 barrels mounted in series
o NIVACHOC
– Special luxury finish:
o Rhodium-plated rotor and bridges
o Geneva waves in arabesque
o Blackened screws, barrels and balance wheel

Display
– Central hour-minute hands, small-seconds and date hand at 9H, Moonphase indication at 6H
– Central chronograph seconds hand, 60-minute and 12-hour recorder at 3H

MATERIAL
– Case: Stainless steel case with blue ceramic [ZrO2] ring
– Strap: leather
– Clasp: stainless steel

CASE
– Diameter : 44.25 mm Height : 16.85 mm
– Water resistant up to : 10 bar (100 m/330 ft)
– Polished-brushed case
– Polished ceramic bezel ring with brushed Liquidmetal® tachymeter scale
– Polished crown and pushers, Ω embossed
– Box-form scratch-resistant sapphire crystals:
o Bezel-side: anti-reflective treatment on both sides
o Caseback-side: bevelled, anti-reflective treatment inside
– Polished screw-in caseback engraved with “100 m/330 ft”, “Liquidmetal®” and “Moonphase”

DIAL
– Blue sun-brushed dial, polished rhodium-plated indexes
– “Speedmaster” and date n°”1″ in red; white Super-LumiNova (green emission) on indexes and 2 dots at 12H
– Subdials enhanced by rhodium-plated circles

HANDS
– Diamond-polished rhodium-plated hands,
– Central chrono seconds and date hand with red tip
– White Super-Luminova (green emission) on H-M-chrono seconds handMOONPHASE

MOONPHASE
– Metalized mineral crystal disc microstrctured to obtain a high detailed moon that reveals an astronaut’s footprint

BRACELET
– Blue leather strap, on brushed-polished foldover clasp
– Fitting : 21 mm between lugs, 18mm on clasp

SPECIFICATIONS
– 4-year warranty
– Delivered with a Master Chronometer certification card, ensuring that the watch has passed the tests certified by METAS

OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer and the new 8801 movement

Planet Ocean 600M Master Chronometer

MOVEMENT
– Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8801
– Watch officially certified by METAS
– Self-winding in both directions
– Jewels: 35
– Frequency: 25’200 A/h (3.5 Hz)
– Power reserve: 55 hours
– Exclusive features with:
o Magnetic resistant
15’000 Gauss
o Time zone function
o Silicon “Si14” balance spring
o Omega free sprung-balance
o Co-Axial Escapement, 3 levels
o NIVACHOC
– Special luxury finish:
o 18K Sedna™ gold rotor and
balance bridge
o Geneva waves in arabesque
o Blackened screws, barrels and
balance wheel

DISPLAY
– Central hour-minute-seconds hands, date windows at 3H

MATERIAL
– Case: 18K Sedna™ gold with brown ceramic[ZrO2] ring
– Strap: Leather with rubber lining
– Clasp: 18K Sedna™ gold

CASE
– Diameter: 39.50 mm Height: 14.16 mm
– Water resistant up to: 60 bar / 600 m / 2000 ft
– Uni-directional rotating diving bezel; polished brown ceramic ring with Omega Ceragold™ diving scale; dot at 12H with Super-Luminova (green emission)
– Screw-in crown with Ω; helium escape valve embossed with “He” at 10H
– Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
– New alveol screw-in caseback engraved with “Planet Ocean” and “600 m /2000 ft”, sapphire crystal

DIAL
– Polished brown ceramic dial with 18K Sedna™ gold applied indexes, white Super-LumiNova (blue emission)
– New applied 18K Sedna™ gold Arabic numerals
– New transferred minutes track
– Dial engraved with [ZrO2] (under centre hole)

HANDS
– Polished facetted 18K Sedna™ gold hands with white Super-LumiNova
o Blue emission: hour & seconds hands & counters hands (in line with indexes)
o Green emission: minute hand (in line with the dot on bezel)

BRACELET
– New integrated brown leather strap with rubber lining
– Fitting: 19 mm between lugs, 18 mm on clasp

SPECIFICATIONS
– 4-year warranty
– Delivered with a Master Chronometer certification card, ensuring that the watch has passed the tests certified by METAS