Andrew McUtchen
If you were lucky, or fanatical enough about OMEGA, to receive one of these golden tickets over the last few weeks then we’re tipping you’ll be excited. Because the day has arrived. Cue trumpets. ?The ‘Night of OMEGA firsts’, presented by OMEGA in association with the team at Time+Tide!It is an honour and a privilege to be involved, let alone to enjoy the night at one of the most prestigious restaurants in the country. Surely adults at Vue de Monde is a grown up version of kids in a candy store anyway?On the eve of the event, which will take place in just a few hours, we can unveil some of the timepieces set to be unveiled and colourfully described by the manager of the Omega museum in Bienne, Mr Petros Protopapas. In his email to us, explaining his choices, he said the following (with many more exclamation marks than we’ve included below) about each piece.1) 1915 – Omega’s first wrist watch chronograph (cal. 18CHRO) – “Very rare!”2) 1932 – First Omega ‘Marine’, the world’s first commercialized divers’ watch – “An extremely rare piece with its original 1932 folding clasp (!!) with divers’ extension.”?3) 1940 – Omega RAF pilots’ wrist watch, white dial (“The real ‘Spitfire’!”) with famous 30mm caliber.4) 1947 – Omega’s first wrist watch-sized Tourbillon movement (one of the first in the world by 1947). “It is the rarest version encased in a silver wrist watch case.”5) 1953 – Omega’s first implementation of anti-magnetic technology: special RAF pilots’ watch (with 30mm caliber), that featured the technology Omega commercialized in 1957 with the ‘Railmaster’. “It is a very special watch for our events, as the example I am bringing along was re-delivered to the RNZAF, the New Zealand Air Force back then!”6) 1957 – The Collectors’ favourite: the “trinity” of Omega’s first professional line! Oh boy. “I will bring all three. The 1st Speedmaster, 1st Seamaster 300 and 1st Railmaster!”7) 1969/1970 – Omega’s first deep/technical divers’ watch. “I will bring the original ‘PloProf’.”8) 1974+1999 – George Daniels’ own original Co-Axial prototype wrist watch, the legendary personally purchased Speedmaster with cal. 1045.”He used it to hand-craft his first wrist watch-sized Co-Axial escapement in 1974! Plus I will bring the “zero edition” of Omega’s first commercial Co-Axial watch, a 1999 De Ville. This very watch was presented to G. Daniels as a gift and is engraved with a dedication to him by Omega.”9) 1994 – First central tourbillon wrist watch (and still the only central tourbillon with automatic winding). “I will bring an early rare version with blue dial.”An event wrap will follow tomorrow, including photography. Check out #nightofomegafirsts for live updates.
01.12.14