THE MOST SOPHISTICATED MEN’S WATCHES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON CONSIDERATION
Magnetism Meets its Match
While watchmakers continue to produce watches with greater precision and durability than ever before, they still struggle with the effects of a force present more and more often in our daily lives – magnetism. Even the weak magnetic fields of a handbag clasp can severely impact the delicate inner workings of a watch movement. Omega engineers have been working to come up with a novel solution to this problem for many years. The result of their hard work is the Omega Co-Axial caliber 8508. It’s a movement that is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 1.5 tesla (15’000 gauss), far exceeding the levels of magnetic resistance achieved by any previous watch movement. The company claims it would remain perfectly functional even under the intense magnetic forces exerted by an MRI scanner. Unlike other efforts to combat the effects of magnetism, the Omega Co-Axial caliber 8508 does not rely on a protective container inside the watch case but on the use of selected non-ferrous materials in the movement itself. This marvelous anti-magnetic movement is first being introduced in the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra > 15’000 gauss, a 41.50 mm stainless steel Co-Axial chronometer. Presented with either a matching bracelet or a brown leather strap, this model has a slightly yellowed lacquered black dial, sun-brushed from the center and decorated with the distinctive vertical lines that define Omega’s popular Aqua Terra collection.
Ode to 1887
In celebration of its 150th anniversary, TAG Heuer created the Calibre 1887 movement, an homage to the oscillating pinion, which was patented in 1887 and remains one of the company’s greatest contributions to watchmaking. The Calibre 1887 movement features a new take on the oscillating pinion that enables the watch to start in less than 2/1,000th of a second. Oscillating at 28,800 beats per hour, the 39-jewel, 29.3mm movement has 320 working parts, making it a marvel of engineering prowess. The new movement is featured in a number of the company’s new models, including the striking Carrera Calibre 1887 Blue 41mm. With an uncluttered blue dial, discrete hour markers, tachymetre scale and an elegant case, it has a look that is both classic and sophisticated.
