Omega Speedmaster Professional TinTin / Racing

Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004 TinTin / Racing

Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004
TinTin / Racing

Here’s another cool Omega Speedmaster that appeared in front of our camera for a photo shoot last week: the Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004 AKA
TinTin / Racing.

Omega has built up a rich family of variations of its #1 icon, the Speedmaster Professional, in recent years. Some of them limited editions, others short-lived and a small number just in small demand. The 311.30.42.30.01.004 is not limited nor numbered as is the FOiS – and our little birdies told is that is soon to be out of production. It’s thus safe to say that this “TinTin” falls in the second category… Aficionados take note!

Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004 TinTin / Racing

Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004
TinTin / Racing

Now, what’s up with the nicknames?

It is said in the grapevine that the inspiration for the distinct colour scheme of this watch came from the rocket featured in TinTin’s 1953 Destination Moon and 1954 Explorers on the Moon. A fun and fitting connection one would think.. were it not that it is whispered that Omega and the Hergé Foundation could not come to an agreement.

But TinTin -if at all- was not the only source of inspiration for the Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004. Ever since its first appearance in 1969, the so-called Racing-dial has been popping up every now and again as a sort-of collectors treat. Most recently we’ve seen it in the ‘Japan’ Speedmaster Professional and the 2014 Speedmaster Mark II Co-Axial. For this one, Omega seems to have upped the ante – full checkered flag.

Is it really necessary to put up the specs? Probably not, but here we go;

  • Model name: Omega Speedmaster Professional
  • Diameter: 42mm
  • Case material: Stainless steel
  • Strap / bracelet material: Stainless steel
  • Crystal: Plexiglass
  • Movement: Caliber 1861
  • Dial colour: Black
  • Current price: Check at Authorized Dealer – not sure how long this will be applicable!
  • Misc.: so-called ‘Racing’ or ‘TinTin’
Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004 TinTin / Racing

Omega Speedmaster Professional 311.30.42.30.01.004
TinTin / Racing

 

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 311.92.44.51.01.003

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 311.92.44.51.01.003

Last week we had the chance to spend a little time with the awesome Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.

BaselWorld 2013, the first time we saw the ‘DSotM’, was over a year ago, but it seems that  the DSotM is popping up at Authorized Dealers only recently. For those of you that placed an order back in 2013 it must’ve been -or still is- quite the wait. But please trust us when we say this watch is worth your patience!

Is there anything left to say after our Dark Side of the Moon superpost? Let’s go over the basics one more time;

  • The Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon has a case made of high-tech ceramics. But it doesn’t stop there: the crown, pushers, buckle & dial are all made of ceramics. A ceramic case is not that unusual these days, but the other bits give Omega  an edge over most of its competitors.
  • The indexes and hands are all 18k white gold. SuperLuminova ensures readability in low light situations.
  • It is powered by the highly regarded caliber 9300.
  • The strap is made of coated nylon. It is lined with leather on the inside for wearing comfort.
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 311.92.44.51.01.003

Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon 311.92.44.51.01.003

Interested? Contact our friends over at Ace Jewelers!

Omega Speedmaster X33 Skywalker Ref. 318.90.45.79.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional X33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Another killer introduction from Omega at BaselWorld 2014: the Omega Speedmaster Professional X33 Skywalker ref. 318.90.45.79.01.001.

For this third generation of the X33, Omega returned to the roots that it abandoned when the Z-33 was introduced – the Seamaster inspired round case, a turning bezel and overall very toolish looks. In fact, the case looks just like the Gen 2!

Cool fact – the new Speedmaster Skywalker X33 is tested and certified by ESA and was developed according to a patent filed by astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy. The case, in grade 2 titanium, measures 45mm. The bezel inlay is ceramic.

Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional X33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Below a wristshot by Solar Impulse pilots  Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg.

Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional X33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Price is set at EUR 4.390 incl. VAT. Interested? Contact our friends over at AceJewelers!

Press Release – Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 and Solar Impulse

Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33 Skywalker 318.90.45.79.01.001

At a press conference today in Payerne, Switzerland, Solar Impulse unveiled its second solar-powered airplane, Solar Impulse 2. The Solar Impulse project, launched by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, has set itself the goal of circumnavigating the globe in an airplane powered day and night using nothing but solar energy by 2015. OMEGA has an active role as one of Solar Impulse’s Main Partners, providing both capital support and key technology to a venture that will contribute to the scientific and ecological development of alternative means of sustainable energy. OMEGA’s significant contributions will continue to be an integral part in the Solar Impulse Project’s success in the coming years.

April 9th 2014 – read more below the gallery

Solar Impulse 2 has been built to meet the challenge of becoming the first plane to circle the globe using the sun as its only source of energy. The first test flights of this new airplane are scheduled to begin in May in Switzerland. It involves several new and improved technologies developed by OMEGA which have been introduced to make the airplane more energy efficient. These enhancements includes a lighter, more efficient landing light system, an upgraded, lightweight version of the OMEGA Instrument and an energy dispatcher which transfers energy from one engine to another in the event one experiences an energy deficiency. OMEGA has also offered lighter electronics inside the plane’s dashboard.

The OMEGA Instrument
The OMEGA Instrument, designed by Swiss aeronautics legend and ESA Astronaut, Claude Nicollier, indicates the degree of inclination of the airplane and can be read easily by the pilot. The indications are highly visible but there are also vibrating alarm devices in the sleeves of the flight suits which will ensure that the pilot will react in a timely fashion to the critical information provided by the instrument.

The Energy Dispatcher and DC/DC Cockpit
For the Solar Impulse 2, OMEGA has introduced an energy dispatcher that ensures that if one of the four Solar Impulse engines experiences a problem, energy can be rebalanced between them by transferring energy from the battery of the deficient engine to the battery of the operative engine. And the new DC/DC Cockpit offers a dramatic change in the weight of the electronics inside the dashboard, making them 50 percent lighter.

Landing lights
OMEGA was also responsible for a lightweight landing light system which weighs an astonishing three grams per watt. On each wing is a set of LED landing lights whose brightness is amplified by a correlation lens. Each landing light consumes only 10 watts but its light intensity is equivalent to a 200-watt incandescent light bulb. Additional sets of “promotional” lights are positioned along each wing.

The Speedmaster Skywalker X-33
At the press conference, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg wore the OMEGA Speedmaster Skywalker X-33. The multi-function quartz chronograph has been designed for adventurers and explorers. The black dial, with its white indexes and hour markers, has a central opening allowing the wearer to read the displayed digital elements such as the hour, minute and seconds of up to three different time zones, three alarms, chronograph and countdown functions, and  a perpetual calendar with day, date, month, year and week number indications. In addition to its analogue and digital displays, this timepiece is prepared for space exploration with two functions: mission elapsed time (MET) and phase elapsed time (PET).

Crafted from grade 2 titanium, the 45 mm brushed case features a ceramic bezel ring with a chromium nitride scale coated with white Super-LumiNova. Complementing the case is the grade 2 titanium bracelet with grade 5 titanium links.

The new Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 model has been tested and certified by the European Space Agency (ESA) and was developed based on an ESA patent filed by astronaut Jean-François Clervoy.

Editors note: check the price at our earlier post

Press Release – Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary

Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary 311.62.42.30.06.001

Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary 311.62.42.30.06.001

In July of 1969, two NASA astronauts became the first human beings ever to set foot on the surface of a celestial body. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon, they had met the challenge delivered only a few years earlier by President John F. Kennedy. The feat has been described as one of mankind’s crowning technological achievements and OMEGA was literally on hand on this historic occasion.

March 27th 2014 – read more below the gallery

Strapped around his spacesuit, Buzz Aldrin had an OMEGA Speedmaster Professional chronograph. Neil Armstrong had left his own Speedmaster aboard the Lunar Landing Module as a reliable backup to the electronic timekeeping system.

The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch commemorates the first lunar landing and celebrates its link to the iconic chronograph that was part of the adventure.

Recalling the colours of the moon and the Apollo 11 lunar and command modules, the Limited Edition timepiece features a grey, completely brushed 42 mm grade-2 titanium case with a touch of gold.

The black PVD dial, with its 30-minute and 12-hour recorders and small seconds sub-dial, has been produced using a special laser which creates the design elements on the watch’s face by removing the material surrounding the name, sub-dial numerals and hour markers. The indexes and hour, minute, seconds and sub-dial hands are crafted from 18K red gold and the central chronograph hand is red gold-plated. Super-LumiNova coating the hour, minute and chronograph seconds hands as well as the hour markers and two dots at 12 o’clock emits a green light. A box-form scratch-resistant sapphire crystal coated with anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects this impressive dial. The 18K OMEGA Sedna™ gold bezel is enhanced by a matt black ceramic ring with a tachymeter scale, a defining design element of the Speedmaster collection.

The screw-in caseback is embossed with the iconic Seahorse emblem and the outer circle is engraved in black with “FLIGHT QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS”, “THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON” and “APOLLO 11, 45TH ANNIVERSARY, LIMITED EDITION, 0000/1969”.

Another striking feature of the Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition watch is the NATO-inspired fabric strap. The original NATO straps were created by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973 and OMEGA’s updated version is made from a particularly high-quality material and a new design for additional wearing comfort.

The timepiece has been created in an edition limited to 1,969 pieces. The limited edition number reflects the significant year that the first humans walked on the moon. The Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition wristwatch is fitted with the calibre 1861, a manual-winding chronograph movement, and offered with a two-year warranty. It is water resistant to 5 bar (50 metres / 167 feet). The watch is delivered in a special presentation box along with its Certificate of Authenticity.

Editors note: find the price at our other posting