Omega Globemaster 130.33.39.21.03.001

The Omega Globemaster is a hot watch - in steel with a blue pie pan dial and blue alligator strap this ref. 130.33.39.21.03.001 was a standout-must-have piece at the 2015 Baselworld Fair, which is saying something. It was a particularly strong year for new releases and Omega was up against seriously unexpected designs from any number of major and independent brands: Patek Philippe introduced the eyebrow-raising 42mm white gold Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, Rolex brought the once niche Yacht-Master into covetous territory with a black dialed version in Everose gold on a new Oysterflex "bracelet," Hermes debuted the gorgeous Slim d'Hermes collection complete with a new typography created by a prodigious French graphic designer, Stepan Sarpaneva teamed with Black Badger Advanced Composites on the glowing and seriously eclectic Korona K0 Northern Lights series, Seiko celebrated the 55th Anniversary of the Grand Seiko with three limited edition pieces inspired by the first automatic Grand Seiko, the 1967 GS62, and the list continues. That the Globemaster made the waves it did is amazing but not altogether unexpected, the watch has chops all the way around. Over and above the terrifically executed vintage-crashes-into-modern aesthetic the Globemaster is the world's first Master Chronometer - Omega sends the Globemaster and its caliber 8900 to the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology for ten days of testing to certify its anti-magnetic properties, waterproofness and to test the rate stability in a variety of settings including against magnetic fields, at varying power reserve levels and in the replication of daily wearing conditions i.e. six positions and two temperatures. No other manufacturer has achieved the METAS certification. Again, the Globemaster is a tremendous watch and if it was defined by these mechanical aspects alone it would be considered a luxury product, but Omega has been overachieving in recent years and aesthetically they nailed it. Look at the satin brushed finish to the case and the bevels on the lugs, that's old school watchmaking combined with a high concept almost indestructible fluted tungsten carbide bezel, which is harder than ceramic and as beautiful as polished steel. And that's just the front of the watch. The Globemaster is part of Omega's Constellation family so for this most special watch Omega did something very cool with the reverse. This watch has a sapphire case back so the wearer can view the movement, but in something that has to be unique in watchmaking Omega placed a medallion in the center but on the outside of the sapphire crystal around which the winding rotor travels underneath. In that medallion is the Constellation's ever present Cupola of the Geneva Observatory symbol plus eight stars to represent Omega's eight chronometric records. There isn't anything functional to this, this is purely for fun and a detail reserved solely for the wearer - watching that rotor spin beneath the static observatory is a treat. Overall, the Globemaster ref. 130.33.39.21.03.001 is a daily wearer that won't let you down. Perhaps it's not appropriate for black tie, but then again outside of a demure time-only piece in precious metal on an alligator strap, almost nothing is. The Globemaster will keep you in good stead the rest of the time, no matter what.