Omega Speedmaster Schumacher The Legend 3506.61.00

Following on from the success of the limited-edition Speedmaster The Legend watch produced last year to celebrate Michael Schumacher’s record-breaking sixth world championship title, Omega now presents a new Schumacher The Legend collection comprising three Speedmaster chronographs with a sporty design in recognition of Schumacher’s outstanding 2004 season and yet another world championship title.

March 30th 2005 – read more below the gallery

Since first becoming an Omega ambassador in 1995, Michael Schumacher has added five consecutive Formula 1 world championship drivers’ titles to the two that he already had. Omega’s designers produced special limited-edition Speedmaster chronographs in celebration of each of these titles, with their own distinctive sporty design. Now, with no records left to break and an inconceivable eighth world championship title on the horizon, Schumi’s watch brand of choice also seeks to surpass its own previous levels of achievement with the launch of not just one special watch, but a whole collection.

The Legend Collection consists of three Speedmaster chronographs that combine Omega’s high-end column-wheel chronograph movement with sporty Formula 1-inspired dials. Each model has a 42mm diameter stainless-steel case with the familiar curved Speedmaster stainless-steel bracelet and safety clasp. Sealed between the scratch-resistant anti-reflective sapphire crystal and the screw-in case back is the exclusive Omega calibre 3301 self-winding chronograph movement. A fine example of a superior chronograph, this movement has a vertical coupling that ensures instantaneous actuation of the chronograph hand when the pusher is pressed, a column-wheel mechanism for precision starting, stopping and resetting of the chronograph functions, as well as the Omega free sprung-balance for excellent stability of the watch’s going rate. Furthermore, the movement is an officially certified COSC chronometer and has a power reserve of 55 hours.

The three models are distinguished by their highly individual dials, all of which have an applied Omega symbol at 12 o’clock and 12 applied rhodium-plated applied hour markers with luminous dots : the first model has a black dial with silver subdials and a silver exterior hour circle with black minute scale and red Speedmaster name; the second a silver dial with two-tone silver subdials with black outer zones and a black exterior hour circle with white minute scale and red Speedmaster name; the last model has a red dial with black subdials, black hour circle and white minute scale and black Speedmaster name. The former model has a tachymeter scale engraved on a black aluminium ring on the stainless-steel bezel, whereas the latter two have it engraved in black directly on the brushed stainless-steel bezel. All three models have a white-on-black date window at 6 o’clock and baton hour and minute hands with an arrowhead central chronograph seconds hand – all with luminous SuperLuminova inserts.

Not only do fans of Michael Schumacher, Formula 1 or the legendary Omega Speedmaster now have a choice of three models in the same season, they no longer need to cross their fingers in anticipation of securing a much sought-after limited-edition watch either, since these models are all part of the standard international Omega collection.

Omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow Michael Schumacher 3159.50.00

OMEGA ambassador Michael Schumacher had an astounding Formula 1 season in 2002. His achievements equalled or even broke records established by such legendary names as Juan-Manuel Fangio and Alain Prost, securing the Ferrari driver a place in the annals of Formula 1 history. As a long-term partner of Michael Schumacher, prestige Swiss watchmaker OMEGA celebrates the motor racing star’s historic five world championship titles with a limited-edition model whose lavish design is an appropriate tribute to such an extraordinary achievement.

April 4th 2003 – read more below the gallery

Only one other Formula 1 driver has won five world championship drivers’ titles: Argentinean Juan-Manuel Fangio, who stormed to success during the very first years of the sport, taking the title in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957. Though numerous drivers have since beaten Fangio’s points total of 277, only Michael Schumacher has managed to equal his record five championship titles. In doing so, he also set a new record for the total number of Grand Prix victories, with 53 of his 114 podium positions being in first place, beating Alain Prost’s previous record of 51.

Though OMEGA has already issued limited-edition Speedmaster RACING timepieces to celebrate Schumacher’s individual victories, something very special indeed was required to commemorate such an historic achievement. The model chosen for this star treatment was the Speedmaster Broad Arrow, a fine example of a superlative chronograph, thanks to its exclusive OMEGA column-wheel chronograph movement, OMEGA calibre 3303. The column-wheel mechanism ensures precision operation of all the watch’s chronograph functions and its vertical coupling ensures that there is no delay in the start, stop and reset of the chronograph seconds hand and counters. However, due to the sophisticated production techniques required, column-wheel mechanisms are only offered by a handful of watch manufactures and are therefore much sought after.

The calibre 3303 also uses OMEGA’s free sprung-balance without index, which offers better regulating stability. As a result, the self-winding movement, which has a power reserve of 55 hours, has obtained chronometer certification from the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institue [Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, COSC].

This prestige movement is housed in an equally prestigious case, finished in 18-carat red gold. The luxury theme continues with red gold accents distinguishing the watch’s look: brushed 18-carat red gold bezel with tachometer scale, applied 18-carat red gold hour markers on the dial, 18-carat red gold “Broad Arrow” hour and minute hands and red gold hands for the chronograph seconds and the sub-dials, which are outlined by rings.

The black dial (the traditional Speedmaster dial colour, as seen on the original Speedmaster Professional “Moon Watch”) displays the typical Broad Arrow configuration of 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and continuous seconds at 9 o’clock, with a red gold on black date window situated above the 6 o’clock hour marker. The ultimate touch of personalisation on the dial is Michael Schumacher’s name written in red gold in lower-case letters on either side of the sub-dial at 6 o’clock.