Omega's new Chrono Chime: Olympic 1932 and Speedmaster
Fernando AldeaA world-changing new caliber powers Omega's latest masterpieces with a soothing sound. Introducing the extraordinary Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime and Speedmaster Chrono Chime.
A resounding tribute to the exceptional skills of the Swiss brand's watchmakers. This striking numbered edition links the world's first minute repeater wristwatch—manufactured by Omega in 1892—with the pocket chronographs used to time the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, which marked Omega's debut as Official Timekeeper.
Many great designs emerged during the transition period between the pocket watch and the wristwatch, and the look of this watch draws inspiration from that inventive era. The movement, however, is the first of its kind. A cutting-edge caliber destined to make its mark on watchmaking history.
Omega Caliber 1932
This is a power source like no other. Since it was not possible to modify the existing components, Omega watchmakers were forced to create the caliber from scratch, and by hand. The Omega Master Chronometer Co-Axial Caliber 1932 is a fully integrated chronograph and minute repeater. It is not produced by layering, adjusting, or adding new parts to old ones, but by merging both functions into a single watch movement. It is, in fact, the most complicated caliber Omega has ever made. To enable the wearer to mark elapsed time safely and smoothly, it needs its own mechanical "brain" to merge the functions seamlessly.
Developed with sister watchmaker Blancpain, the 1932 movement took six years to complete, and there were many challenges along the way. In fact, before they could even begin, the watchmakers had to find a way to push the existing limits of Omega's famous Co-Axial escapement. The system, developed by the brilliant watchmaker Georges Daniels, is an essential component in all Omega movements. Designed to operate at a relatively standard frequency (between 3 and 4 Hz), it presented a significant constraint when developing the new movement, which must beat at 5 Hz to indicate a tenth of a second, like the pocket chronographs used to time the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
It didn't stop there. The watchmakers also had to add three chiming cams to the already complicated chronograph mechanism, include two safety functions to prevent tampering, and integrate a split-seconds function. Furthermore, to achieve Master Chronometer status, the caliber would have to withstand external magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss, which would require the use of 50 non-ferrous components.
Fortunately, the dedicated technical team strove to find solutions. The precision and regularity of Omega's watchmaking parts—and the exceptional skill of its watchmakers—made the seemingly impossible possible. Of course, creating a caliber from scratch required multiple innovations. Proof of the Chrono Chime's complexity can be seen—and counted. Omega's extraordinary invention required as many as 17 patents, related to the functioning of Caliber 1932, its anti-magnetic technology, and the watch's external parts. In addition to being a technological marvel, it is an object of beauty. Satin-finished and mirror-polished. A luxurious caliber handcrafted from 46.44 grams of gold. Pleasing to the eye and the ear.
Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime
Omega’s extraordinary 32.5 mm, 14-ligne Calibre 1932 powers a masterpiece in 18-carat Sedna™ gold. It features a “Grand Feu” enamel dial, adorned with a hand-crafted 925 silver guilloché inner bezel and subdials bearing Omega’s exclusive “acoustic wave” pattern: an exact visual representation of the sound waves produced by the watch’s chimes.
In addition to its striking appearance, Omega's Sedna™ gold produces a beautiful sound when struck. Twin hammers, fitted with a hardened steel insert, strike gold gongs, hand-tuned by Omega watchmakers. These gongs, fixed to the case body to produce maximum timbre, are a respectful nod to the bells used by Omega to signal the final lap at the Olympic Games and other sporting events. Bronze Age timekeeping technology is still in use.
On the dial, the 18-karat gold central hour and minute hands are blued PVD, as are the small seconds subdial hands at 6 o'clock and the 15-minute register at 12 o'clock. For easy readability, the display includes a blued CVD central seconds hand and a red-lacquered split seconds hand. The black enameled "Petit Feu" Arabic numerals and minute track are another tribute to 1932.
The pushers are primarily functional, but as always, Omega has added an extra touch of elegance to make the act of timing an aesthetic experience. The chime pusher at 5 o'clock features a charming polished and engraved musical note. The seconds pusher at 11 o'clock has a polished ring filled with red hybrid ceramic that mirrors the appearance of the seconds hand.
https://youtu.be/Ai7CZyRn-eYThe caseback features the words Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games , Co-Axial Master Chronometer , and the watch number beautifully engraved. The brown leather strap with gold buckle features Omega's new patented Quick-Change system—and for a very practical reason. The special presentation box includes an additional leather strap and two leather cords, allowing the "timekeeper" to wear it discreetly like a pocket watch or a stopwatch around the neck.
The walnut presentation box also sounds as good as it looks. It features a spruce soundboard to amplify the precise rhythm, pitch, harmony, and length of each chime.
Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime
For those who prefer their watches firmly attached to their wrist, Omega has produced a Speedmaster powered by the calibre 1932. The classic 45mm Chrono Chime “Numbered Edition” features an 18-carat Sedna™ gold case inspired by the second-generation Speedmaster, making it a commemorative piece in its own right, as the CK 2998 was the first watch taken into space 60 years ago in 1962.
The dial, in "Grand Feu" blue aventurine enamel, features an inner bezel and subdials in the same 18-karat gold "signature acoustic waves" as the Olympic tribute. The hour markers and hour/minute hands are polished gold with diamonds. The blued CVD subdial hands and red-tipped dial hand add additional pops of color to the display.
Although the movement is the same for both watches, the functional and decorative pushers are in different positions. The gong is located at 8 o'clock and the split-seconds at 2 o'clock. For the Speedmaster, Omega's ingenious watchmakers reversed the caliber to adapt it to the case configuration and accommodate the two subdials. An 18-karat gold bracelet and buckle complete the look.
Speedmaster collectors will also receive a special walnut presentation box with a soundboard.
https://youtu.be/RDdIJ7cE_ggSpecs
| OMEGA OLYMPIC 1932 CHRONO CHIME |
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REFERENCE : 522.53.45.52.04.001 |
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MOVEMENT : Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 1932 calibre hand-wound mechanical movement, developed with Blancpain, fully integrated chronograph and minute repeater | Co-Axial escapement, beats at an unusual frequency of 5 Hz to indicate 1/10 of a second, like the pocket chronographs used to time the 1932 Olympic Games | Integrates a safety and split-seconds function | Hand-made calibre, satin-finished and mirror-polished, adorned with 40 grams of gold | 60-hour power reserve |
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CASE : Sedna™ gold, 45 mm in diameter and 16.9 mm thick | Lug spacing: 18 mm | Approximate total weight: 186 g | Water resistance: 3 bar (30 meters / 100 feet) | Domed, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides |
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DIAL/HANDS : White "Grand Feu" enamel with a circular guilloché or embossed 925 silver inner bezel and subdials with "acoustic wave" motif (an exact visual representation of the waves produced by the striking of the watch) | Blued 18K Sedna™ gold hands, includes a red-lacquered double seconds hand for easy reading |
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BRACELET : Brown leather bracelet, alligator top, unbleached calfskin underside | Sedna™ gold tang buckle |
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FUNCTIONS : Hours, minutes, seconds, split-seconds chronograph, small seconds |
| OMEGA SPEEDMASTER CHRONO CHIME |
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REFERENCE : 522.50.45.52.03.001 |
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MOVEMENT : Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 1932 calibre hand-wound mechanical movement, developed with Blancpain, fully integrated chronograph and minute repeater | Co-Axial escapement, beats at an unusual frequency of 5 Hz to indicate 1/10 of a second, like the pocket chronographs used to time the 1932 Olympic Games | Integrates a safety and split-seconds function | Hand-made calibre, satin-finished and mirror-polished, adorned with 40 grams of gold | 60-hour power reserve |
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CASE : Sedna™ gold, 45 mm in diameter and 17.3 mm thick | Lug spacing: 21 mm | Approximate total weight: 326 g | Water resistance: 3 bar (30 meters / 100 feet) | Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides |
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DIAL/HANDS : Blue aventurine "Grand Feu" enamel with 18K Sedna™ gold inner bezel and subdials with "signature acoustic waves" | Diamond-polished 18K Sedna™ gold indexes and hands with red-tipped hands and blue CVD subdials |
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BRACELET : Sedna™ Gold bracelet with folding butterfly clasp, with comfort fit |
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FUNCTIONS : Hours, minutes, seconds, split-seconds chronograph, small seconds |
