Hour Vision Annual Calendar

[David1971]

Hello guys!

Have you seen the new Omega De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar?
Looks nice!

http://baselcatalog.messe.ch/2008/zo...hibitor=108507

-David

[Welshwatchman]

It's a stunning watch from what I can see of it.

[SLRdude]

Here are some larger pics.





The De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar is the refined result of 160 years of experience in the art of making mechanical watches. At the heart of the Hour Vision Annual Calendar, manufactured in-house by the Swiss luxury and prestige watch brand, is the exclusive OMEGA Calibre 8611, a further development of the OMEGA Calibre 8500/8501, the new generation of OMEGA Manufacture Calibers first introduced with Hour Vision at the outset of 2007. Like the 8500/8501, the OMEGA 8611 is a high-precision COSC-certified chronometer, featuring the additional functionality of an instantaneous jump annual calendar complication. This annual calendar automatically recognizes months with 30 and 31 days and, assuming that the watch is always running, needs to be manually corrected only once a year, on March 1st. The date and month are displayed in separate apertures.
The new De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar, available at the beginning of 2008 in a Limited Series of 160 pieces, is based on advanced co-axial technology exclusive to OMEGA: the innovative co-axial escapement and free-sprung balance guarantee stable accuracy and extended reliability over time. A virtuoso 13-line movement with 18-carat red gold rotor and balance bridge, the OMEGA 8611 has two barrels ensuring an impressive 55-hour power reserve and a bi-directional self-winding mechanism. The intricate beauty of the mechanism is echoed in the luxurious decorative finish, as fine black screws complement the delicate Geneva stripes presented with an arabesque pattern, a world premiere.
OMEGA’s rich heritage and unparalleled experience in the manufacture of mechanical watches is expressed in every feature, beginning with the polished 18-carat white gold case, a remarkable feat of engineering that enhances the visibility of the meticulously-crafted movement through four lateral openings in sapphire crystal. The elegant sunbrushed black dial features a grooved rhodium plated hour track with a brushed and polished finish and the words “Annual Calendar” at 12 o’clock and the white-on-black month and date window framed in faceted satin-brushed 18-carat red gold at 3 o’clock. The elegant, faceted 18-carat red gold hour markers and the red gold “parform” hour and minute hands and central seconds hand also feature a satin-brushed finish, and the red gold offers a striking contrast to the white gold case, black dial and matt black alligator strap with its white gold foldover clasp. Water-resistant to 100 m (330 ft), the case back of the De Ville Annual Calendar Limited Series bears the Limited Series number (0/160) along with the inscriptions Hour Vision and Annual Calendar. This exclusive timepiece is presented in a wooden box fitted with four lateral windows through which the watch is visible, echoing the four sapphire lateral openings in the watch case itself.

The De Ville Hour Vision Annual Calendar Limited Series will be complemented at the end of 2008 by a global collection of eight models, four in red gold and four in stainless steel, all with dials identical in design to that of the Limited Series. The steel models will be offered with silver or grey dials and a steel bracelet or black alligator leather strap. The red gold models will be available with silver or brown dials and a red gold bracelet or brown alligator leather strap.

from the press section of omegawatches.com

[el-piloto]

Wow, thanks for the heads-up!!!


Omega is indeed not kidding!!!!!

It is good to see that they keep their "word" and continue to develop
their new in-house movement (the 8500/8501) as promised.
The non-limited version due late 2008 might find its way to my wrist,
though I'm not super-keen on the Annual Calendar "complication".

But I can say this for sure: I already can't wait for the next 2 "Baselworld"
events... then the GMT model based on the 8500 will come out, as well
as their new chronograph... a new 14''' movt based on the 8500 technology!
When they announce these two models (especially the chronograph), I'll
be camping outside my AD for sure...!!!!!

Thanks again for the heads-up! The watch looks gorgeous!!!!! Omega is
coming back... with a vengeance!!!!!!!

B/R

Petros

[JJ Irani]

Am I seeing things or is the month of "Aug" in that last picture off-centre?

BTW, beautiful looking watch.

JJ

[DSJ]

I could be wrong, but I think I handled this watch a couple weeks ago at an Omega AD here in town. I mentioned it when someone was asking about whether anyone was making a clear watch, and I said I saw an Omega with sapphire sides.

Is this possible? If it is the watch, it is a HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE piece.

JJ, I think it's the angle.

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by DSJ

I could be wrong, but I think I handled this watch a couple weeks ago at an Omega AD here in town. I mentioned it when someone was asking about whether anyone was making a clear watch, and I said I saw an Omega with sapphire sides.

Is this possible? If it is the watch, it is a HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE piece.

JJ, I think it's the angle.

What you did see was the Omega DeVille Hour Vision, which is pretty much identical to the one above, sans the Annual Calendar complication. Just a date.
And yeah... pretty damn impressive watch. The movement is just gorgeous!!

The one in the pic above is a limited edition of 160 watches, and as you can see the one above is the prototype, number ZERO.

[DSJ]

Thanks for the clarification, Chip. I really liked it, but for the price point, I would buy other items from my "wish list" first!

[mailman]

That's a nice looking watch

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Thanks for the clarification, Chip. I really liked it, but for the price point, I would buy other items from my "wish list" first!

I agree with you on the price point. I think that the MSRP is around 5k or something like that for the SS version.
However, given the fact that it is an in house movement, the outstanding level of decoration AND the saphire sides... I think that the price is fair.

And given the immense catalog of movements that Omega has access to through the Swatch group, I am pretty sure that their new movement will be rock solid.