THE EYE OF THE STORM
Mysterious and mesmerizing, the tourbillon takes centerstage where it dances freely at the heart of the dial of this new two-tone-gold-hued watch imagined by the Bienne watchmaker.
In Omega’s catalogue, each of the different collections corresponds to an art-de-vivre, a trend. The Speedmaster and Seamaster watches are cut out for sport, speed and nautical activities, the Constellation ones embrace a timeless, sophisticated spirit whilst the De Ville, although they also boast a classical look, generally feature the Bienne watchmaker’s most recent innovations. And, this is once again so with the new De Ville Tourbillon Master Chronometer, a watch with a face in motion.
Shadow and light are words which perfectly describe this timepiece which offers a striking contrast between the darkness which radiates from its sunray-brushed black PVD-covered dial and the dazzle of its 43 mm-diameter case which espouses two gold alloys – SednaTM, reputed for its flamboyance (lugs, bezel and caseback) and CanopusTM chosen for its silvered intensity (container, logos on the crown and strap buckle). Yet, the real star of the show here is the central tourbillon which twirls and swirls, nestling at the heart of the relief-style dial and whose tempo of a revolution per minute marks the seconds. Its carriage is fashioned in polished and beveled ceramized titanium, encircled by a pleated ring from beneath which the golden hour and minute hands fan out.
The De Ville Tourbillon Master Chronometer is driven by the Omega 2640 caliber, a Master Chronometer-certified hand-wound mechanical movement equipped with a Co-Axial escapement and delivering a power reserve of 72 hours.
Price: CHF175,300 omegawatches.com
By Sharmila Bertin