NEWS: The Omega Globemaster

Felix Scholz

The story in a second:

The Omega Globemaster, is one of Baselworld’s most talked about releases – it’s all about the high-tech movement, the vintage Constellation looks and that bezel.

Last night, in an art gallery far from the halls of Baselworld, Omega unveiled their star of 2015 – a brand new line called the Omega Globemaster.

The proposition of the Globemaster is excellent. It’s strongly inspired by one of the brands most significant historical collections and powered by Omega’s most advanced movement. A compelling concept, and one that doesn’t fail to deliver in the metal.

Let’s talk about the looks first. While the watch is not a vintage reissue of the Constellation per se, it is, as the Bard would say (if he were inclined to cover horological news), a rose by any other name. In fact the name Globemaster has a rich history, as early Constellations were sold under that name in the United States. But the stylistic link is even more explicit on the dial of the watch; which has the distinctive pie-pan shape, and features the Constellation star. The dial comes in opaline silver on all models, and the steel versions have a blue sun-brushed option.

The vintage theme continues to the 39mm case, which recalls the ‘C’ shaped Constellations of the ‘50s, and features a fluted bezel found on some early models. This fluted bezel is also rather more famously found on numerous Rolex models, a fact that surely can’t have passed Omega’s attention. Oh, and that bezel on the steel models is actually tungsten carbide – a material more scratch resistant than ceramic. The caseback also features a recreation of the observatory medallion. Recreating the vintage Constellations was inevitable, but Omega have avoided the easy route of a straight reissue, creating a blended design that may anger the vintage purists, but which still manages to be clean, elegant and commercial. The only sticking point for some is that contentious bezel.

But for all the cool vintage vibes this watch is giving off the really impressive thing about the Globemaster is the Co-Axial movement. The Globemaster is the first watch to be certified as a Master Chronometer, a new testing standard we told you about here. This certification is hardcore. To meet the METAS certification the whole watch (and not just the movement like current COSC testing) needs to meet the following eight criteria.

1. The function of the movement during exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss
2. The deviation of the running time of the watch in six positions
3. The deviation of the running time of the watch between 0 and 2/3 power reserve
4. The function of the watch during exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss
5. The deviation of the average daily precision of the watch after exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss
6. The average daily precision of the watch in tests replicating daily wearing conditions (six positions, two temperatures)
7. The power reserve of the watch (autonomy – functioning without winding)
8. The water resistance of the watch (tested in water)

The watch needs to perform within tolerances of 0 and +5 seconds a day to meet the Master Certification standards. Owners of every Globemaster will be able to see how their actual watch performed in the individual METAS tests – which is a nice touch of transparency.

The Globemaster is being offered in a total of nine different variations a platinum limited edition of 352 pieces, 18k Sedna or yellow gold models on leather, steel and Sedna or steel and yellow gold offered either on a bracelet or leather strap and a steel model on leather or bracelet.

Omega Globemaster Australian pricing

Stainless steel on bracelet – $9,000

Stainless steel on leather – $8,875

Stainless steel and gold (both Sedna and yellow gold) on bracelet – $14,075

Stainless steel and gold (both Sedna and yellow gold) on leather – $10,975

Solid gold (both Sedna and yellow gold) on leather – $25,325

Platinum on leather – $52,025