Posts Tagged ‘Omega’
Omega Exhibits Nine Decades Of Innovation For The IOC
It’s not every day that you get the chance to see the official chronograph of the 1932 Olympics. Luckily for enthusiasts and historians alike though, it is one of the pieces exhibited by Omega in its Champs-Elysées show-room, during the celebration of their long-standing relationship with the International Olympic Committee. The well-known Swatch Group brand can already claim 80 years of exclusive collaboration with the IOC, and now the contract has just been extended for a further ten years.
The timing of the exhibit couldn’t be better for Omega, especially in these troubled times when sports sponsorship has been marred by the negative actions of some of the best known watch ambassadors in the world. In contrast, the IOC / Omega duet runs perfectly , and over time has contributed to the creation of inventions that have eventually shaped the brand’s consumer collections as we know them today.
The advantage of an exhibition located within the retail store itself, inaugurated over a year ago, is that allows the brand to share with its customers some of the greatest moments in its history, and gives them the opportunity to admire some very rare pieces that cannot be found anywhere else in the world other than the Omega Museum in Bienne.
Amongst the pieces that could be seen at Les Champs-Elysées, is this magnificient 1930 flyback chronograph, which reminds us that the original chronograph is above all functional with a very pure design ! Equipped with a Bréguet spirale, it already offers a fifth or a tenth of a second measurement. It was one of the very first creations born from the partneship with Lémania Lugrin, recently bought at that time by Omega.
Still up-to-date with its wondeful design : the official 1930 Olympics chronograph Photo ã The Watch
We also get a great insight of the 50’s, with the following chronograph. Oversized, it allows the observer immediate and accurate reading of the time, and yet, just a few decades later, the whole industry will start an endless race for miniturization. But when looking at such functional instruments, one has to wonder about the real sense of such a quest, when in reality only readability really counts in a professional event, not aesthetic design…
The 1950 chronograph, that would look completely oversized these days ! Photo ã The Watch Lounge
Nevertheless, electronics were already well and truly launching from the starting blocks, thanks in part to the introduction of the brand new Omega Time Recorder, or OTR, which was also unveiled at that time. From now on, mechanical movements will start disappearing inexorably competition after competition.
When technical improvements make it possible to achieve the famous ‘‘photo finish’’ in 1963, along with the ability to send the images immediately to officials, electronics will take a dominant step towards replacing traditional chronographs.
Photo finish – Torino 2006 – Photo ã Omega
Omega produced one of the last official chronographs to be used in competition in 1966, the ChronoStop, designed to be worn under the wrist. Unique in its design we can still find the deliciously old-flavoured consumer 1968 ad !
1968 ChronoStop ad – the 5th of a second measurement enters the consumer area – Photo ã Omega
At the dawn of the 70’s, with the growing mass mediatization of Olympics, Omega develops its very first real-time trasmission systems, mainly for journalists. This latest step removes de facto – and definitely – mechanical measurement from official races, completely opening the way for the electronic supremacy which commenced in the 80’s and has continued in the ensuing decades.
Of the more than 80 years of partnership with the IOC, the good old mechanical chronograph has served with honesty and loyalty for almost 45 years ! Hats off to a job well done !
Most Olympics have been celebrated by Omega limited editions, like here with that Seamaster, presented over a political illustration reminding us the 80’s tense political context – Photo ã Omega
The Final Word
This is quite a small exhibition (a dozen or so items) and unfortunately there is not much information available on the website, but, at least this special insight into Omega’s rich history exists at all. It’s an innovative format, which promotes selling points as much as the brand’s ingenuity and expertise in a win-win approach. A very smart initiative that brings some exceptional pieces direct to customers, an experience which will be repeated many times as the exhibition is scheduled to feature in several stores.
In these times where a lot of brands are firmly focused on the future and attempt to communicate with their customers solely through the web, we can only encourage Omega in this initiative that wisely reminds us, in an original and ingenious format, that the haute horlogerie industry above all produces pieces of art designed for physical clients ! In our opinion this is a marketing and communication model that provides a leg up for Omega over its competitors.
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Omega expose neuf décennies d’innovation avec le CIO
Ce n’est pas tous les jours que l’on peut apercevoir le chronographe officiel des Jeux Olympiques de 1932. C’est l’une des pièces présentées par Omega, dans son show-room des Champs-Elysées, à l’occasion d’une rétrospective sur sa collaboration avec le Comité International Olympique. La marque du groupe Swatch peut déjà se prévaloir de 80 ans de collaboration exclusive, et le contrat vient d’être prolongé pour encore 10 ans.
C’est donc une belle opportunité qu’a saisi ici Omega de revenir sur l’une de ses fortes expertises, dont les inventions influent à terme sur les collections grand public. En ces temps où le partenariat individuel de grands sportifs souffre d’affaire de mœurs, le tandem Omega – CIO affiche une santé resplendissante !
Le principe de l’exposition sur points de vente, mis en œuvre il y a un peu plus d’un an, permet à la marque de dévoiler à ses clients son histoire, et de lui montrer des pièces qu’ils n’auraient pas eu l’occasion d’admirer ailleurs qu’au Musée Omega de Bienne.
Parmi les pièces présentées, ce superbe chronographe à rattrapante 1930, qui nous rappelle que le chronographe originel est avant tout fonctionnel et aux lignes très épurées ! Doté d’une spirale Bréguet, il garantit déjà une précision au 1/5ème et 1/10ème de seconde. C’était l’un des premiers fruits de la collaboration engagée avec Lémania Lugrin, récemment acquise à l’époque par Omega.
Toujours à l’ère du temps : le chronographe officiel de 1930 – Photo ã The Watch Lounge
L’année 1950 est aussi représentée avec cet autre superbe chronographe. Sa taille favorise la lecture ultra rapide, lorsque de décennies plus tard, l’industrie se livrera une course…à la miniaturisation. On peut aujourd’hui s’interroger sur le sens de cette quête, alors qu’en milieu professionnel, seule la lisibilité compte, et non l’esthétique…
Le chronographe 1950, qui semblerait aujourd’hui disproportionné ! – Photo ã The Watch Lounge
Toutefois, l’électronique est déjà dans les starting blocks, avec l’apparition de l’OTR, l’Omega Time Recorder. Petit à petit, les mouvements mécaniques vont disparaître.
L’ajout de la photographie de ligne d’arrivée en 1963, et le besoin de la transmettre quasiment sur l’instant aux officiels, va significativement contribuer à l’essor de l’électronique.
Photo finish – Turin 2006 – Photo ã Omega
Omega fera toutefois paraître en 1966 le ChronoStop, le premier chronomètre professionnel de la marque se portant sous le poignet, dont on peut encore trouver aujourd’hui la délicieusement kitsch campagne de publicité grand public de 1968 !
Publicité ChronoStop, 1968 – la mesure au 1/5ème de seconde devient accessible au grand public – Photo ã Omega
A l’aube des années 1970, avec la médiatisation croissante des Jeux Olympiques, Omega développe ses premiers systèmes de transmission électronique des résultats à la presse, écartant de facto – et définitivement – les mesures mécaniques au profit des mesures électroniques qui prendront toute leur importance dans les années 80 et suivantes.
Sur plus de 80 ans de collaboration entre Omega et le CIO, le bon vieux chronographe mécanique aura tout de même délivré presque 45 ans de bons et loyaux services !
La plupart des Olympiades ont été célébrées par Omega avec des séries limitées – comme ici avec cette Seamaster, présentée sur fond de contexte politique encore tendu. – Photo ã Omega
Notre avis : une collection encore un peu légère (une dizaine de pièces) et malheureusement peu d’informations attachée aux objets présentés, mais qui a le mérite d’exister. C’est un format innovant, qui valorise les points de vente autant que l’expertise de la marque. Une très belle initiative qui met à la portée du grand public des pièces d’exception, d’autant que l’exposition est prévue pour être itinérante dans les enseignes Omega. A l’heure où beaucoup de marques s’engouffrent dans le web 2.0, on ne peut qu’encourager Omega dans cette démarche qui rappelle judicieusement, et dans un format original et astucieux, que l’industrie de la haute horlogerie produit avant tout des objets d’art qui s’adressent à des personnes physiques ! Un modèle de marketing et de communication qui donne une longueur d’avance à Omega.
New Omega Liquidmetal Planet Ocean Seamaster
In an exciting new development it seems Omega will be introducing its latest technology, the ‘Liquidmetal’ bezel, in a new variation of the Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean. Not only does this new creation promise to look stunning it will also offer exceptional shatterproof qualities and be highly resistant to scratching and other environmental factors.
The Technology
Although limited information is available at this point in time, sources say that the graduated ring of the bezel hewn from a newly formulated ceramic-metal hybrid material colloquially referred to as “Liquidmetal”.
The source of the new material’s strength is it composition of titanium, copper, nickel and beryllium in addition to significant amounts of zirconium oxide. Not only does this make it especially resilient to the pitfalls of everyday wear it also gives the bezel a rich, lustrous finish creating the perfect combination of practical sport watch that can also be worn for more formal occasions.
Whilst metal bezel inserts are generally regarded as archaic technology, the materials that have replaced them in more high-end watches such as sapphire and ceramic remain susceptible to cracking or shattering under the impact of a particularly forceful blow. This new offering from Omega may just be able to overcome this shortfall and promise a high-end sports watch of unparalleled durability.
The Watch
At this stage few other details are available about this piece other than that the Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal will be a limited edition of 1,948 pieces in reference to the year in which the first Omega Seamaster was introduced. As with other Planet Ocean automatics, the timepiece will be animated by Omega’s Co-Axial 2500 Caliber.
The Final Word
Omega’s latest offering promises to impress hardcore enthusiasts and novices alike with its stunningly simplistic looks and incredible resilience to wear and tear. With each new advancement in technology we are getting closer and closer to a true high-end sports watch which can be worn for the purpose it was developed for without fear of damaging it or so defacing its appearance that it is unsuitable for evening wear.
The new Liquidmetal concept from Omega is a huge step in the right direction.
Fighting Fakes: Part Two
In part two of my two-part special on counterfeit watches it is my goal to equip you with some valuable hints and tips on how to steer clear of imitators. Unfortunately the rapid progression in the design and manufacturing capabilities of the black market has meant that identifying a counterfeit watch has become far more difficult. However, there are some steps you can take as a consumer to protect yourself. Read on to learn more.
If you missed Part One you can read it here.
There’s fake and then there’s fake!
I think it’s fair to say that most people who buy a counterfeit watch do so with the knowledge that they are not purchasing the genuine article. However, what many consumers fail to realise is that there are two levels of counterfeit watch. The first is an extremely cheap imitation. The watch carries a luxury name but there’s no effort made to copy details of the real watch. Sellers assume a customer who pays $30 on a street corner must know it’s a fake and therefore must know that they’re not getting a “real bargain” on a $2000 watch.
A higher-quality fake is one designed to closely resemble the real product. It may incorporate real gold, diamonds and leather. It may have a case that bears a legitimate model number, but have other parts that are poor-quality substitutes. Such a watch will sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and an uneducated buyer could take it to be genuine. However, it is of inferior quality, made with questionable parts and workmanship. Tips to avoid this situation:
- Only purchase your watch from an authorized dealer or from a trusted source (if you are purchasing second-hand.)
- Do your research. There is abundant information available on the internet on nearly every make and model of luxury watch. Make sure you know what the watch should be made of, the different dial variations, etc. Very often counterfeit watches of luxury brands will bear the same name and branding but the design will be unlike any the watchmaker has ever released.
- Make sure the watch comes with a valid warranty. Even if you are buying online many re-sellers will offer 1 – 2 year warranties.
- If it’s too good to be true it probably is. If there is a highly limited edition watch going for an unbelievable price chances are it’s probably fake. Again though, do your research. There are genuine bargains to be found online and you don’t want to miss out.
Genuine Fakes
Another emerging trend is the practice of misleadingly representing inexpensive watches as if they were fine luxury timepieces. They are sold under their own brand name, so they are not fakes of another company’s brand. But their products are of modest to staggeringly cheap manufacture and have none of the merits of the fine, expensive brands they allude to. The typical scam on these are a combination of:
- An impressive Swiss, German or European sounding name.
- An impressive “retail price” or “RRP” (recommended retail price).
- Fancy verbiage that sounds like what a luxury watch brand would say.
- Impressive comparisons of features to those of “other” luxury timepieces.
- A special price you can buy it for that is incredibly below the retail price.
The deception here is that claimed retail price is a complete lie. These watches sell regularly at prices that are a trivial fraction–often as much as 70-95% off–of their claimed retail value. How can they sell them so cheap? Simple, they are cheap watches. Ones made to be profitably sold in the lower price range of their actual asking price. Any perception that these luxury impostors are even remotely worth their advertised retail price is nothing more than pure marketing bravado and intentional deception. So be aware of big discounts on seemingly ‘high-end’ brands that you’ve never actually heard of before.
The Final Word
The above is only a microcosm of the information that is available on the internet to help you protect yourself from counterfeiters. However, the onus is on you to do your research and be aware of the potential pitfalls of not buying from an authorized dealer. Having said that, as I mentioned before there are plenty of good bargains out there so arm yourself with as much information as possible and make the judgement call.
Does anyone else have any additional hints and tips or experiences with counterfeit watches that they would like to share with other readers?
Fighting Fakes: Two-Part Special
The global spread of counterfeit watches is an issue that plagues watchmakers, retailers, enthusiasts and everyday consumers alike. Given the sheer magnitude of fakes flooding the markets the best defence available to protect yourself is knowledge. In this two-part special I will explore in detail what constitutes a counterfeit, how its effecting the industry and what’s been done about it. In part two I will provide some valuable hints and tips on how to steer clear of imitators.
What Are They?
Per Wikipedia, a counterfeit watch is an illegal copy of an authentic watch bearing the name of its brand and according to estimates by the Swiss Customs Service, there are some 30 to 40 million counterfeit watches put into circulation each year. The profitability of this black market industry is huge and seemingly endless, with one estimate putting the profit margin at $10 per dollar invested, about equal to profits of the illicit drug trade (and well below the profits of legitimate watch makers). This is truly a global business with numerous links to organised crime and a distribution network to die for!
Where Do They Come From?
So who’s making all these fakes? Swiss Customs estimates that 40% of counterfeit watches come from China, but counterfeits are produced elsewhere, even in the USA. You may remember the story from a few years ago now of authorities arresting a Florida woman for operating a counterfeit watch business. Her rented storage unit held almost 2,000 brand-name fake watches, with a total estimated retail value of $8.5 million. This is one of literally thousands of stories just like it and only serves to illustrate how wide-spread this issue has become.
The scary thing though is that in many countries possessing such a watch is not illegal. Even in Switzerland, where somewhat surprisingly, private persons are allowed to keep one counterfeit watch per person at the most, provided they import it personally into Switzerland. The maker and sellers of the replicas are usually in violation of the legal copyrights on the original manufacturer’s copyrights and trademarks, however, this rarely gives the latter much comfort.
What’s Been Done About It?
Why don’t the big brands do something about it I hear you ask? Well the fact is they do, however, with limited to no success. As with any facet of organised crime, tracing the problem back to the source is incredibly difficult, nigh impossible! Further to this, distribution of counterfeit watches is so widely spread now that it is simply pointless trying to address it without international co-operation between the appropriate authorities. This aspect is improving, however, it is a long way of being at the level required.
Another argument often put forth is that anyone who wants a $1,000 to $20,000+ watch and will settle for a $100 fake of it was not a serious buyer. They either would never have bought the real thing, or will toy with the fake and eventually return to their original desire and buy a real one after the brand-name image makes them feel good, but the fake itself disappoints. So while these products do infringe on the name brands, they don’t really hurt sales, therefore manufacturers do not have a financial incentive to aggressively pursue them. They tend to do enough that they can prove in any court cases that do arise that they have enforced their trademarks. But more than that is profitless to them.
There is some merit to this argument, however, consider this: globally, counterfeit watches are estimated to cost the Swiss watch industry more than $600 million per year. The claim that there is no harm done to sales is simply not true, as we all have seen or heard of countless examples where people will settle for a fake for any number of reasons, lack of education, taste, etc.
The Final Word
In my opinion, the big brands need to do more. No so much in pursuing the purveyors of these cheap imitations, but in educating and reminding consumers why they choose (have chosen) to buy a luxury watch in the first place. I’m fairly certain that no one here has bought a luxury watch solely because of the brand name or the way it looked. Consumers demand quality and they need to know they are going to get it. Watchmakers and retailers alike should be aware of this and act accordingly. Too often the significance of this is overlooked and can seriously impede the whole buying experience.
Make sure you tune in tomorrow for Part.2 on avoiding purchasing a fake watch.
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