Classic design and innovative technologyBASELWORLD 2012: The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA Co-Axial Kaliber 9300/9301
OMEGA’s De Ville line has long been known not only for its elegant styling but for its introduction of some of the brand’s most important watchmaking innovations. For example, it was in a De Ville in 1999 that OMEGA launched its calibre 2500 equipped with a Co-Axial escapement – the component that since it was released has revolutionized mechanical watchmaking.
In 2007, the De Ville Hour Vision introduced OMEGA’s Co-Axial calibre 8500/8501, the movement that demonstrated that OMEGA’s Co-Axial philosophy had truly come of age. And it was in the De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar that the Si14 silicon balance spring made its début, offering an unparalleled level of stability and performance in a series-produced mechanical watch movement.
The De Ville Chronograph OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 9300/9301 carries on the line’s tradition of classic design and its most innovative technology. It is powered by the chronograph in the brand’s family of proprietary Co-Axial movements. Equipped with OMEGA’s Si14 silicon balance spring, the timepiece is delivered with a four-year warranty. Frequent travellers will appreciate the fact that they can change the hour hand without affecting the minute and second hands – ideal for moving between time zones or for adjusting to the twice yearly time change in most parts of the world.
This new De Ville Chronograph is available with either a 42 mm 18 Ct red gold case on a brown or blue leather strap, or with a stainless steel case on a stainless steel bracelet or on a black or blue leather strap. The 18 Ct gold model’s Co-Axial calibre 9301 has an 18 Ct gold rotor and balance bridge; the stainless steel model is powered by the Co-Axial calibre 9300, which has a rhodium-plated rotor and balance bridge.
The two-zone dial has been created in a choice of opaline-silver or blue for the 18 Ct red gold models and opaline-silver or black or blue for the De Ville Chronograph in stainless steel. It has two domed sub-dials. The chronograph sub-dial at 3 o’clock has both the 60-minute and 12-hour counters so reading the elapsed time is intuitive. At the 9 o’clock position is the small seconds hand. The watch has a central chronograph seconds hand as well as 18 Ct gold diamond-polished, facetted central hour and minute hands. Its applied Roman numeral indexes are also crafted from 18 Ct gold, facetted on the sides and ends and fully diamond-polished.
The De Ville Chronograph is water resistant to 10 bar / 100 metres / 330 feet. With its combination of simple elegance and cutting-edge technology, the De Ville Chronograph Omega Co-Axial Calibre 9300/9301 is a stunning reminder of what a classic, yet highly technical mechanical watch can be.