New Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime & Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime

Text: Aleksandar Mladenovic

After 6 years of development Omega presented two very interesting novelties the other day. Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime & Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime are two very complicated watches that offer an interesting complication. Eqotime takes a closer look.

Omega flexes its muscles

Omega's focus has never been complicated watches and in the current model range there are not all too many watches with more advanced complications than a chronograph, world timer and tourbillon. With these two novelties they flex their muscles properly.

Their new calibre 1932 is something really impressive.

The new movement is a nod to the pocket watches with chronograph from the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1932, Omega has after all been the official timekeeper for the Olympics since 1932. The novelties were of course presented during an event in Los Angeles itself.

But what is it then that is so special about the new calibre? Like a minute repeater which when you activate its chime indicates the time through ding and dong, the new Chrono Chime does the same, but in a slightly different way. It namely chimes out how long the chronograph has been active. Omega's most complicated calibre, developed from start to finish by their skilled watchmakers. The chronograph is not an ”ordinary” one either. Instead it is a monopusher split-seconds chronograph. So there.

Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime

We start with the most recognisable model of the two, Speedmaster Chrono Chime. With clear inspiration from the second generation Speedmaster (do not miss our writer Filip's eminent guide about the Speedmaster here) ref. CK2998 we see a case with straight lugs and hands in alpha-style.

It is a big piece, room was needed to fit the impressive movement, of 45mm in diameter and a full 17,27mm in thickness. It also weighs quite a lot, 326,6 grams to be exact, since it is made in Omega's own alloy of rose gold, namely Sedna Gold.

The dial is something extra too. Not only is it made out of aventurine glass, it is made partly of that but also baked in an oven with the so-called grand feu-enamelling technique. The sub-dials (seconds hand and 15 minute register for the chronograph) are beautifully decorated with a guilloche-pattern. The tachymeter scale too is executed in enamelled aventurine.

Naturally they want to puff out their chest a little extra and therefore we see two hammers that are part of the chiming mechanics fully visible at 9 o'clock on the dial. The Chrono Chime complication is activated by the pusher at 8 o'clock on the case while the pusher on the crown starts and stops the chronograph and the pusher at 2 o'clock activates the second chronograph hand.

Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime

The other model is inspired by the pocket watches that were used during the Olympic Games in 1932. It can also be used as a pocket watch since it has a quick switch-solution for taking off the bracelet and a cord in leather is also included so that you can wear it around the neck exactly as the timing watches were worn during the games.

The diameter here too is 45mm, but it is somewhat thinner at 16,93mm and weighs considerably less, roughly half, since it has no bracelet. The front of the watch has a a grand feu-enamelled white dial, with an inner ring in solid silver that is adorned with a guilloche-pattern which the sub-dials have as well. The sub-second above 6 o'clock has a hammer placed on each side.

The placement of the pushers is different compared to the Speedmaster and is now found at 11 o'clock (chronograph) and at 5 o'clock (chrono chime).

Calibre 1932

We of course have to talk a little more about the calibre. It took 6 years to develop and the development happened together with the sister company Blancpain. Everything has been done from scratch and it is an impressive end product.

The majority of the movement's components are made in 18k Sedna Gold and the movement alone weighs a good 46g. According to Omega, Sedna Gold should give a better sound than for example platinum which is common to use when making watches that ding and dong.

Naturally an end product like this is certified according to the METAS Master Chronometer certification. This means that besides being full of complications it also resists magnetic fields above 15,000 gauss.

Omega has registered 17 patents for the watches, 13 of which originate from the movement.

The price then? As you may have guessed these are no cheap pieces. Omega Olympic 1932 Chrono Chime costs 420,000 Swiss francs excluding VAT and Omega Speedmaster Chrono Chime 450,000 Swiss francs. The watches are a numbered, but not limited, edition. Considering how complicated these are there will probably not be many made per year… We at the editorial office are mightily impressed by what Omega has achieved.

Read more about the watches at Omega