The Alpha and Omega: What Was, What Is and What Is to Come

When I look at my Omega CK2998 ­— the special edition that was released last year and which I forgot to order at the time, making it the first new watch I have paid significantly over retail for, ever in my life — I see eras in time from the last half century, colliding and regenerating into a new timepiece that is simultaneously charmingly ancient and enthrallingly modern. I see old and new. And I see the men who love watches behind its creation. Somehow the New Testament verse, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come” perfectly expresses the identity and values of this extraordinary company, because, which other brand “was, is and is to come” more than Omega?

The Speedmaster “CK2998” Limited Edition
The Omega Speedmaster “CK2998” Limited Edition

The “was” is expressed through the amazing historic iconography of the CK2998, the second but best-known incarnation of the legendary Speedmaster chronograph, the first timepiece to shift its tachymeter scale to the bezel of the watch, creating far greater legibility and becoming the blueprint for every great sports chronograph to come. The CK2998, introduced in 1959 as the successor of the CK2915, occupies the heavyweight throne as the most famous sports chronograph of all time, thanks to being the only watch to qualify for use by NASA, as well as being the first Omega watch in space, worn on the wrist of Mercury Atlas 8 Astronaut Wally Schirra.

CK2915
The 1957 original and first ever Speedmaster, CK2915
CK2998
The original 1959 CK2998 Speedmaster
A Speedmaster CK2998 on the wrist of Mercury Atlas 8 Astronaut Wally Schirra
A Speedmaster CK2998 on the wrist of Mercury Atlas 8 Astronaut Wally Schirra (Image: NASA.gov)

The “was” is also expressed by the utilization of the original watch’s size of 39.2mm in diameter, as well as timeless design including the combination of Alpha hands and a lollipop seconds hand — gleaned from the most desirable of the CK2998 iterations. The “was” also refers to the mythical Caliber 1861 shuttle cam-equipped movement designed by Albert Piguet and is found in the majority of post-Moon Speedies, as opposed to the Lemania column wheel chronograph Caliber 321 found in the original watch worn by Schirra.

Speedmaster ref. 2998-3 with the lollipop seconds hand
A Speedmaster ref. 2998-3 with the lollipop seconds hand, circa 1961 (Image: antiquorum.com)

For Our Time

The “is” comes from the fact that rather than simply remaking a vintage watch, Omega has selected to create an all new reference with a blue and silver “Panda” colorway that has never before existed for the CK2998. The “is” is the demonstration of extraordinary subtle refinement such as the applied Omega symbol at 12 o’clock that sits just beneath a subtle guilloché-treated seconds track that adds a beautiful, subliminally rich detail. Then there is the incredible ultra-thin ceramic bezel, with luminous tachymeter scale (configured on the retro-cool 1,000 kmh/mph base), which in combination with the large luminous lollipop on the seconds hand makes it the only watch (along with a few other Speedmasters) capable of recording average speeds in low- or no-light conditions. And Omega does this all without shouting, preferring to innovate with its signature discreet charm.

As Omega President & CEO Raynald Aeschlimann says: “When you hold our watches in your hands, what you feel is the incredible passion we have for the brand. We are very much in touch with the vintage collecting community, we are very much in touch with the contemporary customer and we are always striving to be true to our history, even while pushing innovation for our watches at all levels.

“It’s for this reason that we adopted the Co-axial escapement – the greatest revolution in escapements in the modern era, created by one of watchmaking’s geniuses, George Daniels, radically reducing friction, increasing reliability and significantly extending service intervals for watches. And it’s the reason that we pioneered the technology for ceramic bezels with printed Super-LumiNova scales to radically extend the lifespan of bezels and provide a level of performance that did not exist in the watch industry related to legibility in all light conditions.” The result was that the watch sold out in seconds, and I had to pay well over retail for mine. I am apparently not over this yet.

Collectors’ Choice

What Aeschlimann omits to mention is that Omega is the creator of several of the most collectible sports watches in recent memory. In particular the Silver Snoopy Tribute to Apollo 13 released two years ago – one of the most charming timepieces in existence and currently trading at close to three times retail price on the aftermarket. Yes, many of us in the Revolution office are kicking ourselves for not scooping one up. It features a charming use of Charles M. Schulz’s Snoopy to remind us of the extraordinary heroism of the Apollo 13 astronauts and how, in 1970, they used an Omega Speedmaster for re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere after all on-board electronics failed. This amazing tribute features a luminous Snoopy in the running seconds subdial, declaring “failure is not an option,” while the seconds track at the perimeter of the dial reads “What could you do in 14 seconds?” referring to the precise amount of time calculated by astronaut Jack Swigert’s Speedmaster for the critical rocket burns that enabled the crew to return to earth unharmed.

Silver Snoopy Tribute to Apollo 13
Silver Snoopy Tribute to Apollo 13

The Snoopy Award, one of NASA’s highest honors for “dedication, professionalism, and outstanding contributions in support of the first United States Manned Lunar Landing Project,” was bestowed upon Omega by the Astronauts of Apollo 13 upon their safe return. This was commemorated in the Silver Snoopy Speedmaster with a hand carved Snoopy figurine set against a backdrop of dark blue enamel found on the watch’s caseback. Says Aeschlimann, “Of course it’s not the objective but when you see how sought-after these watches are, how much they are trading for on the secondary market and how these prices are set in an organic way by buyers and not by market manipulation, it makes us feel as if we are creating the right kind of timepieces.” And, yes, dammit, this stunning timepiece also features a ceramic bezel with luminous tachymeter.

Silver Snoopy Tribute to Apollo 13 caseback
A 925 silver Snoopy medallion, mounted on a plate of the same material, is surrounded by dark blue enamel sprinkled with a silver powder
Silver Snoopy Lapel Pin
The Silver Snoopy Lapel Pin given out by NASA (Image: NASA.gov)

The Tribute to Apollo 11 45th anniversary limited edition is another phenomenal demonstration of Omega’s ability to thoroughly modernize its design language while retaining a salient link to the past. The watch is configured to evoke the ref. 105.012 Speedmaster worn by Revolution UK14 cover star Buzz Aldrin when he stepped onto the Moon in 1969. While Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon, his Speedmaster was left behind in the Lunar Module whose electronic timer had failed. Meanwhile, according to Aldrin, “It was optional to wear the watch [outside of the spacecraft]. Few things are less necessary when walking around on the Moon than knowing what time it is in Houston, Texas. Nonetheless, being a watch guy, I decided to strap the Speedmaster onto my right wrist around the outside of my bulky spacesuit.”

The Speedmaster Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition
The Speedmaster Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition
The Omega ref. 105.012 Speedmaster
The Omega ref. 105.012 Speedmaster (1965)
Revolution UK Issue 14 Cover
Astronaut, Buzz Aldrin on the cover of Revolution UK Issue 14

That’s right, he made a conscious decision to strap his Omega onto his wrist because what kind of Space Cowboy would be complete without his most heroic of timepieces? This made his Speedmaster the first watch on the Moon. While the Tribute to Apollo 11 features the familiar crown guards and lyre lugs of its ancestor, the seminal ST 105.012, it is transformed into an achingly modern timepiece through the use of matte, brushed Grade 2 titanium, combined with a Sedna gold bezel. Similarly, the iconography on the dial looks familiar until you realize it has been executed by first PVD to create a matte, almost sinister, stealth surface, followed by laser engraving to excavate material around the subdials and indexes.

Omega’s Vice President and Head of Products, Jean-Claude Monachon, explains: “We wanted to create a watch that was simultaneously vintage and yet incredibly modern both in material and techniques. A prime example is the way we laser-engraved every minute index and even the Omega logo. When combined with the applied Sedna gold hands and the hour markers, we felt we’d created something totally unique.”

The Speedmaster Apollo 11 45th Anniversary Limited Edition

Bond Street

The “was” and the “is” at Omega also refers to the brands extraordinary history with the world’s most famous spy: James Bond. And it was Bond that brought me to London most recently. Walking down the gangplank to a massive boat moored on the Thames, I took an abrupt right and was handed a glass of champagne, taking a moment to collect myself from the untypical heat that had descended on London. The boat took us down the river to the Tate Britain, where an exhibition of Omega’s rich history with James Bond had been curated. This was also where Omega unveiled its next watch created for the Bond franchise and named “The Commander’s Watch.”

The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition
Omega's 007 event in London at the Tate Britain
Omega's 007 event in London at the Tate Britain
Omega's 007 event in London at the Tate Britain
Omega's 007 event in London at the Tate Britain
Omega's 007 event in London at the Tate Britain

To combat the weather, I was wearing single-pleated ivory slacks, a vintage lightweight blue Hawaiian shirt and rich blue linen double-breasted jacket. A voice suddenly asked, “Is that a Cifonelli jacket?” The question has been posed by a kindly looking woman that was now examining the shoulder of my coat, with insightful scrutiny, “I see you’ve had them make you a double cigarette sleeve head?” As I bowed to my new friend’s seemingly miraculous insight into the more arcane sartorial arts, Aeschlimann walked past and smiled, stating: “I see you’ve met Lindy Hemming.”

Omega President & CEO Raynald Aeschlimann with Wei Koh
(L-R) Kristian Haagen and Omega President & CEO Raynald Aeschlimann with Wei Koh
Lindy Hemming
Academy Award winning costume designer, Lindy Hemming

In the film world and specifically the métier of costume design, Hemming is one of the most revered and fabled in the business. She has overseen the costumes for Wonder Woman and Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. She has won both the Academy Award (in 1998 for Topsy Turvy) and the Costume Designer Guild Award. And she is most notably the individual that first put an Omega watch on James Bond (played, at the time, by Pierce Brosnan). “It’s all in aid of character,” she says. “My role is to assist the directors and the actors, to evoke an added dimension to the character but never in a way that is distracting or showy. With Bond, it made sense for him to wear a purposeful, utilitarian, timepiece like an Omega (a Seamaster Diver 300M), which like him is heroic but also confidently understated. For Golden Eye, the challenge was how to reinvent a man that is international and sophisticated for the 1990s.” The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M would remain on Bond’s wrist for all four of Brosnan’s films.

Pierce Brosnan posing for a poster for the 1995 Bond instalment, GoldenEye
Pierce Brosnan posing for a poster for the 1995 Bond instalment, GoldenEye

With the arrival of a new Bond, Hemming expressed the character through the Omega he wore. She explains, “With Daniel Craig you have a Bond that is more powerful and darker and that is expressed both in the cut of his clothes and the more pragmatic, purposeful aspects of the timepiece he wears.” This is well expressed by the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M he wears on a rubber strap. In fact, in Casino Royale, Craig wears the more classic Seamaster 300M associated with his predecessor before switching to the Planet Ocean – something you could see him doing at Q branch, selecting a more sinister watch from the quartermaster extraordinaire. The Seamaster Planet Ocean remains on his wrist during Quantum of Solace – this time in bracelet form – while in Skyfall an Aqua Terra model joins his horological repertoire. But, to my mind, the best Bond watch made by Omega to date is the stunning vintage themed Seamaster 300 on James Bond NATO strap worn by Craig in Spectre.

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006) wearing a Seamaster 300M
Daniel Craig in Casino Royale (2006) wearing a Seamaster 300M
Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (2008) wearing a Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (2008) wearing a Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Lea Seydoux next to Daniel Craig (wearing the vintage themed Seamaster 300 on a James Bond NATO strap ) in the Spectre instalment of James Bond
Lea Seydoux next to Daniel Craig (wearing the vintage themed Seamaster 300 on a James Bond NATO strap ) in the Spectre (2015) instalment of James Bond

Commander’s Performance

But the newly released Omega Seamaster Divers 300M is a different type of watch. Rather than being created explicitly for the screen, it is a meditation on the character of Bond and his service in the Royal Navy. It also recalls Omega’s extraordinary history with the British military. During the Second World War, it provided 110,000 pilots, naval officers and soldiers with timepieces on the orders of Britain’s Ministry of Defense. Upon viewing this timepiece that is designed in the colors of the Royal Navy ensign, Hemming declared, “I fought for Bond to wear an Omega because I wanted to change to a watch that I felt was appropriate for a naval commander to wear. My father had been in the RAF but was friendly with Navy men and I remember as a child one visiting us often, and he always wore this Omega, which fascinated me — this unusually sporty design that looked as though it was built for purpose.”

A vintage Seamaster 300M that would've provided to the British Navy in the late 50s and 60s
A vintage Seamaster 300M that would've provided to the British Navy in the late 50s and 60s
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition on the provided bracelet
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition
The Seamaster Diver 300m "Commander’s Watch" Limited Edition on the provided NATO strap

Her reaction clearly pleases Aeschlimann, who says, “Omega is simultaneously historic and modern, in the same way that Bond occupies an extraordinary historic mythology and yet at the same time is one of the most brilliant contemporary heroes of the modern day. I have to thank Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson for their intelligence and insight in connecting Bond to the modern world in such a dynamic and relevant way.”

I suggest that Aeschlimann is doing similar things with Omega — connecting its incredible values to the audiences of today and tomorrow — and he reacts in typically modest fashion, saying, “We just want to make the most compelling watches on every level, in terms of design, technical innovation and value.” And it should be said that in terms of value, Omega has made a tradition of shaming the competition with incredible details such as the already mentioned luminous bezel on a watch that costs a fraction of many other modern sports chronographs. And during this conversation it becomes clear that “what is to come” is represented best at Omega by its dynamic CEO, because he clearly holds the key to the brand’s future in his very capable hands.

Raynald Aeschlimann presenting the new Commanders Watch
Raynald Aeschlimann presenting the new Commanders Watch
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