This Summer, Omega gives us another reason to look up at the stars by updating their classic Constellation with a modern, sporty look.
Since its launch in 1952, the Omega Constellation has been synonymous with precision and timeless style. Often spotted on the wrists of stylish globetrotters, its unique look is instantly recognizable.
This new version of the Omega Constellation responds to today’s demands with a bolder – yet classier attitude, which should appeal to the younger generation.
In keeping with the Manhattan inspired design introduced in 1952, the new Omega Constellation Gents collection keeps its most iconic traits like the highly polished bezel ‘claws’ placed at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions and the half-moon shaped lugs. Watchonista recently had the opportunity to go hands-on with this new 41mm collection; here are our thoughts.
At first glance, the dials of these new timepieces are luxurious and elegant. Another signature trait for the Constellation is the applied golden star placed just above the date window at 6 o’clock, a star that has been present in every Constellation since 1952. In place of the roman numeral VI indices, you can find the hallmark trapezoidal date window, which is a perfect fit with the unusual case shape of the timepiece. The new Omega Constellation Gents’ collection is upsized from last year’s 39mm Constellation introductions. The upsized cases measure 41mm and sport a slender look thanks to beveling around the edges and case and the claws. For the models with ceramic bezels, Omega used their latest watchmaking materials such as Ceragold or Liquidmetal to create the Roman numerals you see at all positions. To complete this slender new look, Omega even redesigned the crown to match the hands’ unique and modernized look.
Furthermore, this new collection sports fresh and vibrant dials colors from silver to a deep blue and black gradient dial. My personal favorite is the dial of the steel and black ceramic bezel variant. Its silver textured dial adds sophistication to an already elegant watch. All the models in the new Omega Constellation Gents’ collection are available with leather straps fitted with an antibacterial rubber lining. A highly polished metallic link on each side gives a sophisticated look. In love with the integrated constellation bracelet? Not to worry, as you can still fit the watch with any steel bracelet from the 39mm Constellation lineup. New York City, and more precisely, Manhattan, is most likely the fastest-changing skylines in the world (right after Dubai). Therefore, it only makes sense that Omega added a couple of modern touches that cannot go unnoticed in this re-edition. The first unmissable design feature is the slimmed-down baton hands and indexes inspired by the iconic Manhattan Skyline. You’ll recognize the Freedom Tower’s triangular facets, visible when you stand at the base of the building. Taking the same design codes of the original Constellation Manhattan from 1982, For this new version of the Constellation, Omega has modernized the bezel. The original model had a bezel made of shiny sapphire glass, but the latest editions of the Constellation come with a ceramic bezel, except the steel version, which comes with a steel bezel.
The original Constellation of 1982 was fitted the Calibre 354, an automatic bumper movement, which accumulated energy via kinetic energy. At the time of its launch, the Manhattan version was equipped only with a quartz movement, which allowed the watch’s slim proportions. Two years after the Manhattan’s introduction, Omega’s added an automatic movement option to the Constellation Manhattan. The new Omega Constellation Gents 41mm is powered with the latest Omega technology like the in-house Co-Axial Calibre 8900 / 8901 that you can admire through the sapphire crystal caseback. The movement is praised for being anti-magnetic and has been certified by METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) and therefore meets the highest standards of precision. Perhaps the collector in me thinks this could have been a nice opportunity to introduce a modern version of the Omega bumper movement. But one can dream.