I recently had the chance to wear an Omega Globemaster for a few days. I liked the watch, from one of my favourite brands, so here is an overview.
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| Wearing the Omega Globemaster |
Many watch companies are using their archives to drive current watch design. The rise in popularity of vintage timepieces has focused attention on watches of the fifties and sixties, when they were often more elegant and functional than the bloated and fussy looks of some modern watches. The Globemaster revives the Omega Constellation of the sixties, a watch which, when I collected vintage, I looked for but never succeeded in sourcing the right one. It had an attractive 'piepan' dial, characterised by its angled surfaces which are used to good effect on the new watch.
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| Omega Globemaster (Annual Calendar on the right) |
The new watch uses its forbear's design well and makes an excellent cross between a dress and a very functional watch. By this I mean that while it has the clean and attractive appearance of a dress watch to be worn for work or more formal socialising, it's a lot more than a piece of male jewellery. The watch is highly water resistant and anti-magnetic; the latter essential, Omega claim, in these days of electronic devices which contain high levels of magnetism that throw out wristwatch accuracy. It is also a chronometer: conforming to a different chronometer standard than other watches, it will keep time to within 0 to +5 seconds a day.
One other feature that is useful for the traveller is that the hour hand can be moved independently of the minute hand. This means that you can alter your hour time if travelling across time zones without stopping the watch or affecting its timekeeping. The Annual Calendar model (above right) adds a calendar function but loses some of the simplicity of looks with the additional writing around the dial.
The watch feels fairly chunky, like a sports watch in many ways. The transparent caseback (above) allows you to see the attractive movement and displays the observatory medallion first seen on the original watches.
What is offered here is a good-looking, robust, highly accurate watch that, at 39mm diameter, is an ideal size. It will stand you in good stead whether at a formal dinner or for wear on the beach. This is a watch for the man who needs one timepiece for everything, work, play, formal, informal and travel. Overall I was reluctant to hand it back at the end of my few day trial. See Omega for more information.
This is unsponsored. I was invited to a dinner to mark the watch in London before Christmas but have received no payment, direct or indirect.
Dear David, lovely write-up on the Globemaster, a beautiful watch, it certainly suits you! I recently came into possession of a 1969 Constellation auto day/date owned by my late uncle.
ReplyDeleteIt has the “C Case” design, not many made, and which I never much liked but the design grows on you. Has a fluted bevel like the Globemaster, in white gold on stainless steel casing, with a plain dial (not pie pan). Removing the SS chain link strap and replacing with a rich black leather strap somehow better “defines” the unusual case design.
By the way, your IG comment on N&L, different yet familiar, makes perfect sense. It was coincidental to my reading about the French born US designer Raymond Loewy in gaining acceptance for his ideas (also related to another IG comment of yours, going for cool!): if its novel, add something familiar; if familiar add something novel.
He expressed it as MAYA, or most advanced yet acceptable - one of those principles that seem to be common sense restated. Except, I didn’t think of it until restated.
Incidentally N&L was owned by a South African, I believe recently sold to a US owner. Judging by their comments at time of purchase, their philosophy seems to be one of preserving heritage over quick profits so I don’t think they’ll wreck it. All best wishes, David
Dear David, thank you so much for a fascinating and kind comment. I still hope to find a vintage Constellation one day.
ReplyDeleteYour comment on MAYA is interesting and crystallises for me some of the thoughts I have about style - I want to look different and yet safe in the sense that I don't want to stand out. Certainly confidence comes with practice but the way forward is as you outline in MAYA - it means one foot in safe and the other in adventurous.
Thanks for the info on N&L- speaking to one of their directors confirmed for me what you say about preserving what they have, in particular their roots as the Eton school shop! So many brands are very 'samey' and I'm sure the most successful are those with a MAYA type difference - another than comes to mind is Turnbull & Asser.
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Dear Grey Fox,
ReplyDeleteleaving the style topic for a moment and moving to the topic of things British (or with a British content) I think it is worth mentioning that keeping time in your Omega is "the co-axial escapement that was invented (in 1974) and patented (in1980) by the English master watchmaker, George Daniels.". This is a quote from the publication Monochrome Watches.
Dave - thank you. Now you mention that, I think I've heard that too. It's sad that British watchmaking skills were lost at some point in the past.
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