Omega introduces a groundbreaking chapter with its new Constellation Observatory line, marking a first in watchmaking: the debut of two-hand models bearing the Master Chronometer certification.
According to Raynald Aeschlimann, a central requirement of precision certification has now been redefined: a seconds hand is no longer essential. This shift is made possible by an innovative acoustic testing method, eliminating the need for traditional seconds-based measurement. The models’ distinctive 12-sided “pie-pan” dials draw directly from the brand’s 1950s design heritage, reinterpreted with a contemporary sensibility.
Developed at Laboratoire de Précision, a chronometric facility also open to external brands, and validated by METAS, the new acoustic testing protocol operates through optical hand-tracking. This advancement enables timepieces to undergo both Chronometer and Master Chronometer certification without the presence of a seconds hand. For the first time in horological history, a watch displaying only hours and minutes achieves Master Chronometer status. The METAS certification encompasses a rigorous series of tests, including accuracy, resistance to magnetic fields, water resistance, and power reserve.
Presented in a 39.4 mm case, the collection spans a range of materials. Cases are crafted from the brand’s proprietary O-MEGASTEEL, alongside Sedna gold and platinum-gold compositions. The O-MEGASTEEL variants are paired with green, black, blue, and silver-toned dials and fitted on leather straps, while precious metal versions feature matching gold dials.
