Editor’s note: As we still wait to go hands-on with Omega’s 2021 novelties, presenting a snapshot of the new Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar Collection. For our actual detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here.
Gut Reaction
Die Hard is one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, if not the best. But what about the best Christmas watch? Or set of watches? Introducing the new Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection in burgundy, green and gold dials that might even make Santa himself wish he was gifted one.
Inspired by the very first OMEGA Constellation watches released in 1952, and reintroduced in 2015 as the Globemaster collection — and the world’s first Master Chronometer certified collection — and added with the annual calendar complication in 2016, these have now been enthused with fresh holiday season coloured life.
While their baffling lack of popular appeal on forums and Instagram might just make them one of the best kept secrets of the watch industry, for this reviewer at least, the Omega Globemaster collection has managed to be one of the best offerings from the Swiss watch industry (with an added complication besides a simple date).
I know that’s a tall order, but consider this: starting at just 12’875 AUD, one gets an elegant, handsome Master Chronometer certified timepiece with a date and an annual calendar function, beautiful sun-ray effect dial, clean aesthetics, extreme legibility, 100m water-resistance, brand recognition yet under-the-radar appeal of not spotting it on every other wrist, and Omega’s 5-year warranty that covers the repair of any material or manufacturing defects.
From astronauts to James Bond to the picky horophile in your life, Omega covers all bases. The latest Christmas themed new Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection is definitely one for the keep.
The Context
The Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection sits under the Constellation family of Omega’s catalogue.
Bringing to fore the fond memories of the Omega pie-pan dialled watches of yesteryears, these annual calendar and date-only complication beauties somehow manage to fly under the radar of most collectors.
The first generation of Constellation watches was known for pie-pan dials and looked fairly different from the current Constellation range. But these initial models inspired the current Globemaster collection, both being marked by the raised central area and sloping peripheral chapter ring.
This first generation models upon release were categorised according to their finishings: the base model was made available in steel or gold; Constellation Deluxe was all about being only available in gold and its dial featured applied gold indexes; and the top end Constellation Grand Luxe was available in both gold or platinum.
The three latest additions to the Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection also mimic this pattern: the base-model ref. 130.33.41.22.10.001 is the green dialled steel and tungsten carbide model retailing for 12’875 AUD; the next version up is the red/burgundy dialled ref. 130.23.41.22.11.001 featuring a steel and Sedna™ Gold case retailing for 17’175 AUD; and the ‘Constellation Grand Luxe’ interpretation is the all Sedna™ gold version ref. 130.53.41.22.99.002 retailing for 47’375 AUD.
In true ‘Constellation Grand Luxe’ style, the latter features a sun-brushed 18K Sedna™ Gold “Pie Pan” dial marked “Au750” that is reminiscent of the first 1952 Constellation model.
Basic Specifications
All the three new Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection models measure 41mm in diameter, 14.9mm in thickness, and a rather on the large side 49.8mm in lug-to-lug spacing.
Honestly, the 47mm lug-to-lug of the 39mm entry-level Globemaster would have been ideal here, at least for someone like me with slimmer ~16cm wrists.
Thankfully though, on the wrist, these have a great presence and the plexiglass inspired sapphire crystal ensures that visibly these wear small.
The presence of the universally acceptable and loved 20mm lug intern-horn spacing is also very welcome, as also is the inclusion of the 100m water-resistance.
These watches truly are designed to cater to the wearer’s many needs, whether be it formal wear or weekend casual.
Inside the watches beats either the brand’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Annual Calendar calibre 8923 or calibre 8922 (the difference being the use of precious metal in the former with the presence of a golden bridge and rotor).
These Co-Axial automatic winding movements are Master Chronometer certified and feature a free-sprung balance with silicon balance spring and provide magnetic-resistance up-to 15,000-gauss. The movements beat at the frequency of 25,200 vph, feature 39 jewels and twin-barrels that provide with a decent 55-hours of power reserve. For those who like to look at the watch movements in action, the movement is visible for the most part, though the centre is obscured by the brand’s emblematic medallion that features the Observatory of Geneva.
That’s All Folks!
My favourite out of the three is the burgundy version: it already features red and gold from the Christmas season. On a beautiful sun-dray effect burgundy dial the golden hands match the crown and the bezel, along with the Omega appliqué at 12 and the Star at 6. Even the lumed hour markers also feature a golden frame to match.
Just pair it with one of Omega’s green OEM straps available from their website and you have your own best Christmas themed timepiece.
Now that’s a die hard watch.
As an added bonus, for the love of god, the date window is not at 4.30 and the date wheel is the same colour as the dial; small design gestures like these go a long way in completing the appeal for a timepiece.
It’s time to wrap up the Christmas shopping for the horophile in your life, get a cuppa of hot tea, insert the Die Hard DVD, and rev your Christmas in style, all thanks to the three new models of the updated Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar Collection.
Yippee Ki-Yay anyone?!
To find out more about the new Omega Globemaster Annual Calendar collection and other Omega timepieces, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are ©Copyright OMEGA SA. All rights reserved.
