Omega's Central Tourbillon

Last week’s announcement of a new de Ville Tourbillon from Omega caught my eye for its design as much as its uprated horology. It was natural enough for Omega to apply its Master Chronometer suite of materials (you might even ask why it took them so long) to the Co-Axial escapement that was introduced as far back as 2007 and the move will doubtless add a layer of perfection on what was already a pretty special movement.

Where the original, 1994 de Ville Tourbillon went for an aesthetic that was overtly, perhaps fussily, classical, the new watch has a pared back feel to both dial and case that’s closer to Omega’s first and almost clinically, severe wristwatch tourbillon from 1947. The result is a watch that’s much closer to the output of contemporary independents such as H.Moser and MB&F than you would expect from the big beast of the Swatch Group. Vintage watches from past sales @antiquorum and @phillipswatches Available early autumn for a £134,780