The Transfer Window Opens - At Omega

So this is hardly news by now, but it has been announced that Stephen Urquhart will be handing over the tiller to his long serving number 2 - Raynald Aeschlimann, the Vice President of Sales at Omega.

Mr. Urquhart has been rather an anomaly to the rock star persona currently parading around as CEOs and to that extent he was the ideal steward for a brand like Omega.  The brand is bigger than the individual, and that is something that the Hayeks and Mr. Urquhart clearly understood.

Ironically, it is something that IWC, Hublot and Tag Heuer can't seem to grasp.  But you never know, the April winds are blowing change!

So we wish Mr. Urquhart well in his retirement, which will not be complete as he will still have some project work with Omega.  

Interesting side note, this announcement came on the anniversary of the start of the first modern Olympic Games, per Wikipedia -

The 1896 Summer Olympics (Modern Greek: Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 1896, Therinoí Olympiakoí Agó̱nes 1896), officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was a multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece, from 6 to 15 April 1896. It was the first international Olympic Games held in the modern era.

The World's First Master Chronometer

From Omega -

Courtesy of Omega

And a pretty swell video tells the story -





The press release did not provide copious details, and I have no doubt those will follow in good time. But for now, here's what they sent, in their own words -

OMEGA PRESENTS THE WORLD’S FIRST MASTER CHRONOMETER
Beginning a new era in watchmaking excellence, OMEGA and METAS proudly share the creation, process and results of the industry-changing Master Chronometer certification.

At a press conference held at OMEGA’s HQ in Biel, Switzerland, the world’s first Master Chronometer has been made official. Not only does this represent a momentous occasion for the brand, it also sets a new standard of watchmaking for the entire industry.

In 2014, OMEGA and the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) announced their collaboration on a new watch certification, whereby precision and performance would be tested and approved like never before. A year on, and the entire process is now fully active. With a new METAS Lab housed at the heart of OMEGA’s operations, the Globemaster has officially become the first watch to achieve the “Master Chronometer” rating.

On stage, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek was joined by Dr Christian Bock, Director of METAS, as well as Stephen Urquhart, President of OMEGA, and Andreas Hobmeier, OMEGA's Vice President of Production and Procurement. 

Opening the press conference, Nick Hayek described the importance of the moment.
“We all know about the importance of beautiful products, history and innovation. But one other thing is so important. That’s trust. Trust for our consumers. By working with an independent organisation such as METAS, we can be transparent for the consumer, and reconfirm that the Swiss watch industry is the leader in precision and innovation.”

METAS has of course been a critical partner in creating the new Master Chronometer certification. Speaking on stage, Dr Bock described the importance of their role and reconfirmed the message of trust.
“Trust is the core of our business at METAS. We are a government agency, the leading centre for all measurements in Switzerland. And above all, we are consumer and client driven. That’s why it was important to ensure that this new standard for mechanical watches is open to every brand.”

While industry-standard COSC certification remains an integral part of OMEGA’s process, the new METAS testing will effectively double the certification of each watch, giving OMEGA and other Swiss watchmakers the opportunity to demonstrate the quality and timekeeping performance of their watches to a greater extent than has previously been possible. With 8 tests carried out over 10 days, each watch must pass a range of criteria that replicate real-life wearing conditions, including exposure to magnetic fields of 15,000 gauss.
After explaining each individual test, Mr Hobmeier proudly displayed the world’s first Master Chronometer, the Globemaster, while briefly describing the effort involved in its creation.

“Trust is something you can only gain if you walk the talk. Our team has been working very hard with METAS to perfect the details. It is an honour to present the first watch that has passed these tests.”
The test results of the watch were also shown, demonstrating how customers can now check the individual results of their own watch by going online.

Having achieved this milestone, OMEGA has signalled the future of the brand. As a renowned watchmaking pioneer, this occasion will certainly rank as one of its most defining moments. 

OMEGA initiates "Time for the Planet" in Indonesia

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you, this is about OMEGA.

OMEGA - I know you've dropped me like a "hot potato", no calls, emails, carrier pigeon messages or smoke signals.  BUT - this is  a good initiative, it is drawing attention to an important cause, and frankly it is an important story.

So in the spirit of recognizing good corporate citizenship, here is the news straight from the OMEGA press site -

Courtesy of OMEGA

Together with the GoodPlanet Foundation, OMEGA has begun two environmental conservation programs in the North and South Sulawesi regions of Indonesia.

OMEGA Signs PGA Champion Rory McIlroy

This just in from OMEGA -

Coourtesy of OMEGA

OMEGA is thrilled to announce its newest ambassador, golf superstar, Rory McIlroy, one of golf’s most talented and accomplished players. 

We are pleased to share with you the latest  from Swiss watchmaker, OMEGA. This week, OMEGA took its association with the game to an even greater level with the signing of Rory McIlroy.    

The popular golfer and two-time major champion from Northern Ireland has entered into an agreement with OMEGA that will make him part of a roster of ambassadors featuring many current golf stars including Greg Norman and Stacy Lewis as well as leading figures from the world of entertainment such as Nicole Kidman, George Clooney and Daniel Craig. 

OMEGA President, Stephen Urquhart is thrilled with the signing, saying “Rory is one of those golfers who lights up every course he plays on. In recent years, he has been golf’s most exciting player and he has already attracted legions of new fans. He’s the sort of golfer who is good for the sport and for its image and we are all looking forward to seeing how far his extraordinary talent will take him. We are delighted that he is now part of the OMEGA family.”

Rory McIlroy is looking forward to the partnership as well stating, “OMEGA has a rich history in sport, both with the Olympics and in golf, and I have always had great experiences playing in its events. I have been a fan of the brand for a long time so to now be an OMEGA ambassador is special for me. I am truly excited about this new partnership and look forward to many great years together.”

In 2012, Rory played a prominent role in the Ryder Cup in Medinah, where OMEGA served as Official Timekeeper. Securing his place in golf history, McIlroy has won numerous championships including the 2011 U.S Open where the young athlete set a record score of 16 under par on his way to an eight stroke victory. The following year McIlroy went on to win the PGA Championship in 2012. 

Since its inception in 2011, OMEGA’s multi-year partnership with The PGA of America has made a clear statement on the importance of the sport in the brand’s global marketing strategy. OMEGA will serve as the official timekeeper of the Rio De Janeiro Olympics in 2016, when golf will make its return to The Games. 

www.omegawatches.com

Nicole Kidman visits Vienna with OMEGA

This just in from OMEGA -

Courtesy of OMEGA

Actress Nicole Kidman was in Vienna on Saturday evening to help OMEGA launch new models in its Ladymatic collection and to introduce the global advertising campaign for the collection. The multi-media campaign features Ms Kidman, who has been the “face of Ladymatic” since its international debut in 2010.

Courtesy of OMEGA

The new Ladymatic models

Along with Ms. Kidman, the evening starred the new models in the Ladymatic collection, including a range of bi color watches as well as some timepieces in pink and in pale blue.

Courtesy of OMEGA

Ms. Kidman and OMEGA's president Stephen Urquhart also took the time to visit OMEGA's boutique in Vienna.  While there, she signed a box containing an OMEGA Ladymatic watch, which she presented to Ingrid Klingohr, a representative of the Austrian charity organization Licht ins Dunkel.

Licht ins Dunkel – the name literally translated means “light into darkness” – is a well-established and highly respected charity in Austria that raises money for people with a disabilities, with a primary focus on helping children. Furthermore, it has a specially-created emergency fund that quickly and efficiently offers financial support to families in need. The Omega Ladymatic signed by Nicole Kidman will be auctioned in January 2014 during a gala evening and the proceeds from its sale will be donated to Licht ins Dunkel.