WORLD-CHANGING CALIBRE POWERS SWEET-SOUNDING MASTERPIECE

INTRODUCING OMEGA’S EXTRAORDINARY NEW OLYMPIC 1932 CHRONO CHIME, A RINGING TRIBUTE TO THE EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS OF THE SWISS BRAND’S WATCHMAKERS.

This striking new numbered edition links the world’s first minute repeater wristwatch – produced by OMEGA in 1892 – to the pocket chronographs used to time the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games, which marked OMEGA’s debut as Official Timekeeper.

Here is a power source unlike any other. As it was not possible to modify existing components, OMEGA’s watchmakers were compelled to create the calibre from scratch – and by hand. OMEGA’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 1932 is a fully integrated chronograph and minute repeater. Produced not by layering, tinkering or fitting new parts to old, but by fusing both functions together in one watch movement. It is in fact the most complicated calibre OMEGA has ever made.

Developed with sister company Blancpain, the 1932 movement took six years to complete – and there were many challenges along the way. In fact, before they could even begin, the watchmakers had to find a way to expand the existing boundaries of OMEGA’s famous Co-Axial escapement. Designed to operate at a relatively standard frequency (between 3 and 4 Hz), it presented a major constraint when developing the new movement, which must beat at 5 Hz to display 1/10th of a second, like the pocket chronographs used to time the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games. It didn’t stop there. The watchmakers would also have to add three chime cams to the already complicated chronograph mechanism, include two security functions to prevent mal-manipulation, and integrate a split-seconds function. What’s more, to achieve Master Chronometer status, the calibre would have to withstand external magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss.

In addition to being a technological marvel, it is a thing of beauty. Satin-brushed and mirror polished. A luxurious handmade calibre with 46.44 grams of gold. Easy on the eye – and the ear.

A WATCH WORTHY OF THE CALIBRE

THE OLYMPIC 1932 CHRONO CHIME

OMEGA’s extraordinary 14-ligne Ø 32.5 mm 1932 calibre powers a masterpiece in 18K Sedna™ Gold. It has a “Grand Feu” enamel dial, graced with a 925 Silver hand-made guilloché inner bezel and subdials in OMEGA’s unique “exclusive acoustic waves” pattern: an exact visual representation of the soundwaves produced by the watch’s chimes.

Double hammers, fitted with an insert of hardened steel, hit pitch-perfect 18K Sedna™ Gold gongs, hand-tuned by OMEGA’s watchmakers. On the dial, the 18K Sedna™ Gold central hour/minute hands are in blued PVD, as are the subdial hands on the small seconds at 6 o’clock and 15-minute recorder at 12 o’clock. The chime pusher at 5 o’clock sports a charming polished and embossed music note. The split-seconds pusher at 11 o’clock has a polished ring filled in with red hybrid ceramic to mirror the look of the split-seconds hand.

The brown leather strap with 18K Sedna™ Gold buckle includes OMEGA’s new Quick-Change patented system – and for a very practical reason. The special presentation box includes an additional leather strap and two leather cords, allowing the “timekeeper” to wear it as a discreet pocket watch or a stopwatch around the neck.

The walnut presentation box also sounds as good as it looks. It features a resonance plate made of spruce to amplify the precise rhythm, tone, harmony and length of each chime.

THE CHRONO CHIME FOR EVERYDAY WEAR

THE SPEEDMASTER CHRONO CHIME

OMEGA has produced a Speedmaster powered by the 1932 Calibre. The classic 45 mm “Numbered Edition” Chrono Chime has an 18K Sedna™ Gold case inspired by the 2nd generation Speedmaster, making it a comme- morative piece in its own right, as the CK 2998 was the first watch worn in space 60 years ago in 1962.

The dial, in blue aventurine “Grand Feu” enamel, features an inner bezel and subdials in the same 18K Sedna™ Gold “exclusive acoustic waves” as the Olympic Games tribute. The hour markers and hour/minute hands are in diamond-polished 18K Sedna™ Gold. With a chime at 8 o’clock and split seconds at 2 o’clock. Completing the look is a bracelet and buckle in 18K Sedna™ Gold.

Collectors of the Speedmaster will also receive the special walnut presentation box with resonance plate.