This New Omega Watch Has a 4.5 Billion-Year-Old Dial

Oren Hartov
·5 min read

Courtesy of Omega

Since we launched this monthly roundup of the best “watch guy” watches back in October, we've used it mainly to spotlight the type of over-the-top, highest-of-high-end fare coveted by deep-pocketed collectors. This time out, though, we decided to expand the remit a little to acknowledge the breadth of excellent, wildly desirable new timepieces that don't require taking out a second mortgage to cop.

Sure, we’ve got a couple eye-wateringly expensive pieces in here, but we also have a tool watch from a brand that many in the United States have never heard of given its lack of traditional distribution channels. That company, Sinn, makes some of the best purpose-built tool watches in the world, and one of its new divers costs less than $3,000. We’d argue that this is as serious a Serious Watch Guy watch as something like the new H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Perpetual Calendar, despite that piece's list price of $54,900.

For the most part, we’re going to continue to use this column to concentrate on high-end timepieces, both to bring awareness to this segment of the market and because it’s fun. But it's tough to ignore the increasingly impressive and diverse offerings on the lower end of the spectrum—which, to be fair, we do cover all the time—and that needs to be reflected here occasionally, too. Here are the most spectacular watch releases of the month.

Sinn U50 Hydro

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Sinn</cite>
Courtesy of Sinn

Founded in 1961 by Helmut Sinn, the German pilot’s eponymous brand makes a variety of divers, chronographs, and other field watches that pack a wealth of technologies and features despite relatively attainable prices. The brand’s new U50 Hydro is one such piece: Measuring 41mm, it’s filled with oil in order to increase water resistance to a whopping 5,000 meters. Powered by a quartz movement, it’s available in submarine steel in a matte finish with a matching bezel, submarine steel with a black Tegiment bezel, or an all-black version with a matching bracelet. Looking like the type of watch that a special operations unit would outfit its commandos with, the U50 Hydro—clocking in between $2,460 and $3,400—is proof that when done right, a battery-powered timepiece can be more interesting than a mechanical one.

Omega Constellation Meteorite

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Omega</cite>
Courtesy of Omega

Introduced in 1952, the Constellation celebrated chronometry (i.e. accuracy) records that Omega achieved at observatory trials between the 1930s and the 1950s. In the 1960s, certain references were given integrated bracelets, which the modern versions still sport today. Available in myriad sizes and metals for both men and women, one of the most striking is a new 41mm version with an iron meteorite dial in a rhodium-grey color. (Each watch uses a slice of 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite, meaning no two watches look the same.) Complementing this cool dial are black PVD-coated indices and hands, plus a black ceramic bezel with contrasting Liquidmetal Roman indices. Powered by a Co-Axial Master Chronometer-certified movement, it’s a tempting package at $9,700—especially considering the unique nature of each example.

Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Hublot</cite>
Courtesy of Hublot

Regardless of one’s appreciation for English electronic music, the new Spirit of Big Bang Depeche Mode ($28,300) is a properly rad limited edition. Limited to 100 pieces, it takes the form of the Swiss brand’s tonneau-cased Big Bang watch in micro-blasted and polished black ceramic, adding a skull motif to celebrate Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori tour. (Within the skull is an hourglass filled with tiny ceramic spheres that flow back and forth as the watch moves on the wrist.) Inside the watch beats Hublot’s in-house HUB1710 automatic movement with 50 hours of power reserve, while a black rubber strap with pyramidal studs completes the package. No, there are no insane complications here but that doesn’t much matter. Monochromatic watches don’t get much wilder than this.

H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Perpetual Calendar

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of H. Moser & Cie.</cite>
Courtesy of H. Moser & Cie.

With their technical sophistication, unusual (and often funny) designs, and futuristic aesthetics, H. Moser & Cie.’s creations are some of the most compelling on the market. Though certainly not entry-level fare at $54,900, its new Perpetual Calendar warrants a closer examination by anyone with even a faint interest in horology: The clean, “smoked salmon” fumé dial contains a wealth of information despite its pared-back look, with a small central hand that indicates the month in accordance with the 12 hour positions. A more traditional date window at 4:30 is joined by a leap year indicator visible through a sapphire caseback, while an integrated bracelet completes the package. By our measure, this is a timepiece more captivating than certain of its more famous “luxury sports watch” competitors, but for significantly less cash.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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