EVENT: OMEGA and Time+Tide to host an intimate ‘Night of Omega Firsts’
Andrew McUtchen
On December 1st, 2014, at Vue de Monde restaurant in Melbourne, OMEGA in conjunction with Time+Tide will hold:
‘A NIGHT OF OMEGA FIRSTS’ – HOSTED BY OMEGA MUSEUM MANAGER PETROS PROTOPAPAS AND FEATURING 12 EXCEEDINGLY RARE TIMEPIECES
Direct from Bienne Switzerland, OMEGA Museum Manager, Mr Protopapas will take guests on a journey through time, introducing some astounding watchmaking milestones. Several of these irreplaceable timepieces will be transported from their permanent place at the museum for the event. To say that this is a rare opportunity to see them in Australia would be an understatement. This is the first and probably the last time that they will grace our shores.
Watches to be displayed, and available for inspection (out of cabinets and in the metal) will include the following. Commentary throughout by Petros Protopapas:
1) 1915 – Omega’s first wrist watch chronograph (cal. 18CHRO) – “Very rare.”
2) 1932 – First Omega ‘Marine’, the world’s first commercialized divers’ watch – “An extremely rare piece with its original 1932 folding clasp with divers’ extension.”
3) 1940 – Omega RAF pilots’ wrist watch, white dial (“The real ‘Spitfire’!”) with famous 30mm caliber.
4) 1947 – Omega’s first wrist watch-sized Tourbillon movement (one of the first in the world by 1947). “It is the rarest version encased in a silver wrist watch case.”
5) 1953 – Omega’s first implementation of anti-magnetic technology: special RAF pilots’ watch (with 30mm caliber), that featured the technology Omega commercialized in 1957 with the ‘Railmaster’. “It is a very special watch for our events, as the example I am bringing along was re-delivered to the RNZAF, the New Zealand Air Force back then!”
6) 1957 – The Collectors’ favourite: the “trinity” of Omega’s first professional line! Oh boy. “I will bring all three. The 1st Speedmaster, 1st Seamaster 300 and 1st Railmaster!”
7) 1969/1970 – Omega’s first deep/technical divers’ watch. “I will bring the original ‘PloProf’.”
8) 1974+1999 – George Daniels’ own original Co-Axial prototype wrist watch, the legendary personally purchased Speedmaster with cal. 1045.”He used it to hand-craft his first wrist watch-sized Co-Axial escapement in 1974! Plus I will bring the “zero edition” of Omega’s first commercial Co-Axial watch, a 1999 De Ville. This very watch was presented to G. Daniels as a gift and is engraved with a dedication to him by Omega.”
9) 1994 – First central tourbillon wrist watch (and still the only central tourbillon with automatic winding). “I will bring an early rare version with blue dial.”
The night of firsthand storytelling and fine cuisine high in the skies above Melbourne – 55 floors to be exact – will peak with the unveiling of a new OMEGA model, to be seen for the very first time in Australia. It truly will be a night of firsts!
We have a limited number of places to offer to Time+Tide’s most valued and passionate subscribers. A select number of entrants will be invited to join Mr Protopapas and members of the Australian OMEGA and Time+Tide teams at the event.
To register your interest, please tell us about the first time you encountered an Omega timepiece. Was it an early memory from childhood? A James Bond movie? A documentary about the moon-landing? The moon-landing itself?
Email your ‘Omega First’ personally to me at [email protected]
You are welcome to include any photographs or supporting evidence, though it is really your story that we are most interested in. Successful attendees will be notified by email on Tuesday 25th November.
The event is proudly presented by OMEGA in conjunction with Time+Tide, the Australian Watch Authority. More details of the evening to follow.
We look forward to reading your submissions and hearing about your memories.
With the very best of luck,
ANDREW McUTCHEN
On behalf of OMEGA and the Time+Tide Team