test: omega speedmaster broad arrow - Kenberg.DK

TEST: OMEGA SPEEDMASTER BROAD ARROW126 WatchTime December 2001

TEST: OMEGA SPEEDMASTER BROAD ARROWThe Speedmaster Broad Arrow is arather impressive-looking wristwatch,especially in the version with thecream-colored dial and metal wristband. Withthis timepiece strapped to your wrist, you’vereally got an ample example of today’s timekeepingtechnology near at hand. The SpeedmasterBroad Arrow has been built to assertitself in the hotly contested sport chronographmarket, and If Omega has its way, the BroadArrow and the Rolex Cosmograph Daytonawill soon be sharing the leading role in thisniche. Revolutionary new design may not beevident in this watch, which more or less preservesthe classical Speedmaster attributes –the emphasis here is on high-tech and highend.This chronograph encases Omega’s new,exclusive, self-winding, column-wheel caliberand thus rounds out the collection’s upperechelon. It’s a welcome arrival, and one thatOmega fans have long been waiting for.If you’re not particularly well acquaintedwith the older members of the Speedmasterfamily, you might have a hard time distinguishingthe new model from its predecessors.But closer inspection reveals that numerousdetails unmistakably differentiate it fromthe classical, hand-wound Speedmaster Professional,more popularly known as the”Moon Watch.” The new sibling has its datedisplay above the ”6” and the words ”SpeedmasterAutomatic Chronometer” on the upperportion of its dial. An essential distinguishingcharacteristic is the bezel with its tachometerscale: the bezel is always polished on theBroad Arrow, and the calibration is always inblack, regardless of whether the dial is creamywhite or black. To refresh your memory, theoriginal Speedmaster always had a black dialand a black bezel with silver lettering.Energy and power reserve in abundance,together with an especially elaborate escapement,team up to characterize the new Caliber3303, which is based on the chronographIf Omega has its way, theBroad Arrow and the RolexCosmograph Daytona will soonbe sharing the leadingrole in the chronograph market.Energy and power reserve in abundance, together with an elaborately constructed escapement,team up to characterize the new Caliber 3303. The decoration seen on thisspecimen (which comes from the previous series) will be further refined in the final version.Caliber 1185 from Frédéric Piguet. Based, wesaid, not slavishly imitated. Omega borrowedonly those attributes that made sense for thenew watch. Development director Marc-AndréMiche, a high-carat specialist who formerlyworked for Rolex, designed the new caliberso that the optimal interplay of all its componentswould give the timepiece the longestpossible life span. The technicians whoworked with him devoted particular attentionto reducing the pressure on the bearings.The 11?-ligne Caliber 1185 from FrédéricPiguet is one of the smallest chronographmovements on the market. Perfect miniaturizationand the integration of the clutch in thechronograph’s center-wheel were instrumentalfactors that helped to reduce the overallsize. Especially with regard to the ability tomake fine adjustments, the 1185 seems tohave reached the limits of feasibility. To create128 WatchTime December 2001

greater power reserves and thus yield greatersecurity, Omega conceived its Caliber 3303 tobe somewhat larger. The process could be interpretedas follows: Marc-André Miche tookover Frédéric Piguet’s ingenious chronographguidance mechanism more or less one-toone,then constructed around it a caliber endowedwith the qualities of the Omega 1120.The 3303 can build up a power reserve ofapproximately 55 hours. To ensure that theautomatic winding mechanism, which windsthe mainspring in only one direction, alwayswinds the spring efficiently and rapidly, thebarrel-drum has been lined with a special goldcoating. The resulting inner surface is bothhighly resistant and uncommonly smooth.This extraordinary smoothness means that themainspring within the barrel will build and dispenseits energy to the gear-train at a constantrate, without peaks or spikes. All of this givesthe Broad Arrow the ability to wind itselfquickly and reliably, and to maintain its powerThe Caliber 3303 isadjusted in six positions,at various temperatures andunder the influenceof magnetism. Naturally,the Broad Arrow has earneda C.O.S.C. certificate.reserve even if it’s worn by a fairly inanimateperson. A great many technical problems anddefects which plague mechanical watchmovements have their source in the barrel,but thanks to the elaborate treatment lavishedon Caliber 3303’s barrel, this shouldnow be a thing of the past.Because of the larger diameter of themovement (27 mm = 12 lignes), Omega wasable to install a larger balance in the Caliber3303. The balance used here runs at 28,800beats per hour, compared to 21,600 beats forthe Piguet 1185. The adjustment system usedin the Caliber 3303 is the same one that’s alsoimplemented in the Caliber 2500 with co-axialescapement. Omega describes this systemas ”swinging, free, spiral balance-spring withouta regulator-assembly.” The system is composedof a balance with a variable moment ofinertia and a Nivarox flat spiral spring. The rimof the balance bears two golden regulator micro-screwssituated at opposite ends of animagined diameter. The balance-spring ismade of the latest thermo-compensatingAnachron alloy. The terminal winding of thisall-important spring is protected againstshocks. The spring is already perfectly poisedand centered when it’s installed, thanks to thehelp of computers and laser-guided measuringinstruments. A laser is also used to permanentlyfuse the balance-spring to the collet. Ahighly precise gluing procedure is employed toDATA PAGEOMEGASPEEDMASTERBROAD ARROWManufacturer: Omega, S.A., Rue Stämpfli 96,CH-2500 Biel, SwitzerlandModel: Speedmaster Broad ArrowReference number: PIC 3551.20.00Functions: Shows hours, minutes, seconds anddate; chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hourcounters.Movement: Omega caliber 3303; diameter =27 mm (12 lignes); height = 6.85 mm;33 jewels; column-wheel slide-way to guidethe chronograph; 28,800 beats per hour; Swisslever escapement with swinging, free, spiralbalance-spring; Nivarox-Anachron flat balancespring;balance with smooth rim; fineregulation via two golden regulator microscrews;ball-borne heavy metal rotor windsmainspring in one direction of its rotation; onebarrel (Nivaflex 1 mainspring); 55-hour powerreserve (±5%); stop-seconds function;chronometer with C.O.S.C. certificate.Case: Massive, tripartite, steel case; threaded,screw-down back; crown and push-pieces aren’tscrew-down; inner surface of sapphire crystalhas an antireflective coating; water-resistant to100 meters.Wristband and clasp: Metal wristband withfolding clasp.Results of running test in seconds per24 hours:Parenthesized figures refer to performance withchronograph function switched on:Dial up: +2 (+1)Dial down: +1 (–1)Crown left: –1 (–1)Crown up: +1 (–2)Crown down: 0 (0)Greatest deviation of rate: 5 (3)Average deviation: 0 (–1)Dimensions: Diameter = 40 mm;height = 14 mm; weight = 161 grams.Price: $4,495Typically Speedmaster: viewed from the side, there’s no way to distinguish the Broad Arrow from the familiar hand-wound model.December 2001 WatchTime 129

TEST: OMEGA SPEEDMASTER BROAD ARROWOmega SpeedmasterAdvantages+ New chronograph caliber withsuperlative qualities+ An impeccable classic+ As water-resistant as a Seamaster+ Plenty of watch for comparativelylittle moneyDisadvantages– No transparent case backOptimal functionality and massive construction characterize the Broad Arrow’s metal wristband.pin the end of the balance-spring to its stud.The advantages are obvious: an adjustmentsystem with a conventional regulatorassemblyworks by lengthening or shorteningthe active portion of the balance-spring. ToIn the next few yearslook for a Caliber 3303equipped with a co-axialescapement orfly-back function.accomplish this, the balance-spring must beable to glide between the curb-pins with littleor no play. But a system of this kind is very sensitiveand, in theory, every successive strongshock suffered by the watch can cause its rateto deteriorate progressively. The aforementionedplay in the balance-spring is an”anisochronous” element in the adjustmentsystem. (”Isochronism” describes the ability ofan oscillating or adjustment system to alwaysoscillate at the same frequency, independentof its amplitude.) The free spiral balancespringis constructed so that it eliminates irregularitiesof rate caused by the anisochronismof the regulator-assembly. The fine adjustmentof the ratevia micro-screws furtherfacilitates an extremely precise and long-lastingcorrection of the running behavior. If thewatch runs slow, the micro-screws are tightenedslightly closer to the center of the balance,which decreases their moment of inertiaand accelerates the rate. Inversely, if thewatch runs fast, turning the micro-screws inthe opposite direction moves them slightlyfurther away from the center of the balance,thus increasing their moment of inertia anddecelerating the watch’s rate. When thewatch is given a general overhaul, the entireunit can readily be removed, serviced and reinserted.The unit thus preserves its originalproperties and does not require readjustment.The Caliber 3303 is adjusted in six positions,at various temperatures and under theinfluence of magnetism. As we mentionedabove, its isochronism is also thoroughly tested.The differences in rate that occur whenthe chronograph function is running orswitched off are extremely minimal, and theamplitude of the balance is scarcely affected.Naturally enough, the Broad Arrow hasearned a C.O.S.C. certificate.The caliber’s decoration includes circulargraining, Geneva Waves on the bridges andthe rotor, circularly polished wheels and polished-flatscrews. By the way, Omega hasmade all the necessary preparations so thatthe 3303 can also be equipped with a co-axialescapement. If the firm’s directors so desire,this could happen as early as next year. A versionwith fly-back switching is scheduled tofollow in 2002, and a split-seconds variant isslated to debut in 2003.A good look at of the Broad Arrow’s casemakes it abundantly clear that Omega hasn’trelaxed its exacting standards here either. We130 WatchTime December 2001

TEST: OMEGA SPEEDMASTER BROAD ARROWEven if the crown is pulledout it remains water-resistantto a depth of 100 meters.The push-pieces can also beoperated underwater.TEST RESULTSOmega Speedmaster Broad ArrowWristband and clasp (10): 9Massive, appealing metal wristband withfunctional clasp.Operation (5): 4Precise setting via the typical Omega-style crown.The crown and the chronograph push-pieces arenot screw-down, but are absolutely water-resistantnonetheless.Case (10): 8Beautifully crafted, massive steel case withscrew-down back; underside of sapphirecrystal has an antireflective coating.Design (15): 12Classical Speedmaster design. Elaborately designeddial, pleasantly broad hands.Legibility (5): 5Very good legibility of the time under allconditions.Wearing comfort (10): 9A sporty watch with a good level of wearingcomfort.Movement (20): 17Omega automatic chronograph Caliber 3303with column-wheel guidance. An interestingnew development without shortcomings.The adjustment system consists of a swinging,free, spiral balance-spring without a regulatorassembly.Results of running test (10): 10Perfect in all positions. Average deviation wasplus/minus zero seconds per day.Overall value (15): 13A classic with a superbly noble „motor.“A chronograph that shouldn’t be lacking inany collection. A great deal of watch forcomparatively little money.TOTAL: 87 points ★★★★could find nothing to criticize in the case’s impeccablecraftsmanship and perfect finishing.The insulation system for the non-screwdowncrown and push-pieces derives from theSeamaster Professional, where, as here, twoO-rings are arranged one atop the other toguarantee that nary a drop of water ever penetratesinto the case. The watch remains water-resistantto a depth of 100 meters, even ifthe crown is inadvertently withdrawn. The chronographpush-pieces can likewise be operatedunderwater without causing any problems.The sapphire crystal, the underside ofwhich has been treated with an antireflectivecoating, is pressure-fit into the case togetherwith an exceedingly special ”Isoframe” insulatingwasher. Perfect fit and total impermeabilityto water under all conditions are thusguaranteed for a very long time.There’s no ”window” in the back throughwhich to admire the movement. That’s a pity,but Omega has conceived its Broad Arrow as agenuine sports watch, and a glass back reallywouldn’t be appropriate. Beneath the fullythreaded, screw-down back, you’ll find an antimagneticcalotte, which provides the movementwith additional protection against thedeleterious influence of magnetism.Correctly CalibratedSubdivisionsWe were particularly pleased to discover thatOmega had heeded the criticisms we voicedearlier about the erroneous subdivision of thestrokes around the minute-circle on the dial ofthe Speedmaster Professional Replica. Countingthe intermediate lines between the secondsstrokes, we found that the Broad Arrowhas the correct number of subdivisions for acaliber whose balance oscillates at a pace of28,800 beats per hour. This watch would ideallyhave eight subdivisions between each ofthe seconds, but there simply isn’t enoughspace, even around the periphery of a relativelylarge dial like this one, so Omega dividedeight by two and subdivided each second intofour parts. That’s the reason why there are exactlythree short strokes between each of thelonger seconds strokes.While we’re on the subject of the dial, let’sconsider the Broad Arrow’s legibility. Against

Omega has chosen to use a solid case back.the background of the cream-colored face,the broad hands (hence its name) provide optimalcontrast so that the time can always beread correctly under all conditions. The datewindow above the ”6” is sufficiently large,and the space available within the window isused to best advantage thanks to intelligenttypesetting on the date disk: one-digit numbersare printed in a slightly larger type sizeand two-digit numbers are widened slightly sothat they optimally fill the entire area of theaperture.The Speedmaster Broad Arrow once againunderscores Omega’s iron determination toreturn to the summit of the wristwatch world.After five years of research and development,followed by 18 months of intensive testing,the new Speedmaster has arrived – and allthat remains for us to do is to congratulateOmega. The company has indeed raised thebar another notch. Wristwatch connoisseursaround the world can take pleasure in welcomingan extraordinary wristwatch that sellsfor a truly fair price.