Omega presents the world’s first Master Chronometer

Created in the true spirit of OMEGA, the Globemaster houses the brand’s most advanced mechanical movement and features a design inspired by early Constellation models that represent horological expertise and OMEGA’s legacy of precision and outstanding performance. Each watch is certified through a series of independent tests – a revolutionary process that establishes a new quality standard in the watch industry.

In December of 2014, OMEGA held a press conference together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) to announce a new watch certification process that will become active in 2015. The Globemaster is the first watch to be tested and approved according to this new process, which, in addition to measuring the performance of the watch in daily wearing conditions, ensures that it functions properly when exposed to strong magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss. Any watch brand can submit its watches for these METAS-approved tests in order to receive Master Chronometer standing, a label that at once makes a statement about the quality of not only the mechanical movement but also of the watch itself.

The eight criteria that are measured during the certification process are:

1 The function of the movement during exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss

2 The deviation of the running time of the watch in six positions

3 The deviation of the running time of the watch between 0 and 2/3 power reserve

4 The function of the watch during exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss

5 The deviation of the average daily precision of the watch after exposure to a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss

6 The average daily precision of the watch in tests replicating daily wearing conditions (six positions, two temperatures)

7 The power reserve of the watch (autonomy – functioning without winding)

8 The water resistance of the watch (tested in water)

Before the watch is exposed to the magnetic field and its performance is measured according to the criteria approved by METAS, the movement must pass the tests established by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). Along with their watch, customers will receive a certification card that includes an identification number which they can use to see how their watches performed on each test. This documentation is proof that the watch has been certified by METAS.

The Globemaster will have to perform within a tolerance of 0 and +5 seconds per day during and after exposure to a magnetic field measuring 15,000 gauss in order to receive its Master Chronometer designation.

March 19, 2015