Why the OMEGA Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition is Worth 130,000 Swiss Francs

Obviously, everyone was impatient to know which watch was going to be introduced at the end of the night. Some thought we were brought to the Museum to see the brand re-launch Elvis Presley’s watch which Omega bought earlier this year at Philipps Auction. But no, the surprise had to be something else. Which Raynald Aeschlimann, CEO and President of Omega, confirmed by inviting his guests to discover a watch that converged from all four corners of the world to see the light of day at the Omega Museum.
 

Sized at 47.5mm and cased in white gold with lines that echo those of the historically important first Omega wrist chronograph launched in 1913. At first glance you could see, the inspiration for this watch was the first-ever Wrist-Chronograph. The resulting watch is adorned with a round case with hinged bowl lugs. Limited to just 18 pieces with a manual wound 18 lines ‘18CHRO’ caliber.
 

Indeed, that’s quite a round number. But if you think about it, it’s more or less equal to a timepiece with a high complication made with extreme care and passion. In this case, the idea was not to make something new out of the old or give a lifting to a series of 18 pieces found at the bottom of a drawer. But yet, to open a new page in the history of the collection by daring a construction approach that is completely original. One which gives life to original – but also to complex chronographs everywhere. For this, the watchmakers did not go through new old stock movements found in an old closet, but instead retrieved movements from original heritage timepieces within their vaults at the Omega Museum. 
 

A team of specialists focused on the construction starting with ancient plates and bridges with modern components such as the stunning “Grand Balancier bi-metallique” and pallet forks. But all in all, apart from these above-mentioned elements, all the components have been remanufactured from the originals, according to contemporary standards.
 

Therefore, plates and bridges have been reworked and embellished according of today's Haute Horlogerie standards. Before being polished, gilded, beaded and angled one by one by master craftsmen, the project management team chose to remove the old rubies set in brass cabochons and replace them with high quality synthetic rubies. Watchmakers set out hunted in their respective locations, once the jewel holes were perfectly calibrated, they were then milled. The craftsmen then rewelded the wheels of the barrel intended to receive the new mainspring which guarantees a power reserve in line with today’s expectations.
 

They have also adapted a new hairspring, pinons and screws, all re-cut so that each component complies with the specifications defined by the high standards of the Manufacture. Materials like steel springs have been reworked, chamfered, satin or black polished.
 

Thanks to this work, the movement keeps all characteristics of a 1913 heart, but also reveals the expression of today’s know-how of the Artisans. Because nothing is too beautiful, the reference 18” CHRO carries all the necessary security to guarantee a long life and a perfect precision. Up to and including, pendulum incablocs to protect the movement from shocks and vibrations
 

Unlike other maisons known for their complicated watches, Omega offers demanding enthusiasts a watch nearly perfectly made. After all, Omega is a manufacture whose logo is formed of the last letter of the Greek alphabet.