The glittering cast included Naomie Harris (second from left), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (fourth from left) and Alessandra Ambrosio (fourth from right) (All photos: Omega)
The bold and the beautiful descended upon Milan, one of the world’s great fashion capitals, to celebrate the latest extension of Omega’s Speedmaster 38 line. And while the provenance of the timepiece is most often associated with the moon, this new collection proved a little more twinkling and star-like.
Shine bright like a …
Literally dripping with diamonds, the new Speedmaster 38 is not for the bling-averse. Eight new models were showcased: four in classic stainless steel and with a choice of two striking dial colours, two in 18-carat Sedna Gold and two more in Moonshine Gold. Originally introduced in 2017 to cater to those with slimmer wrists, the Speedmaster 38 is both a man’s and woman’s watch and, to prove that point in style, Omega flew in a veritable legion of big names to the Lombardian capital, each of whom used their diamond-set Speedmasters to accessorise their red carpet-ready looks to great effect.
Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio and actresses Alisha Boe and Naomie Harris aka Miss Moneypenny in the latest James Bond films Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die, were natural matches for the bejewelled watches but the message of the evening was best expressed by the line-up of young men who showed that (dial) size does not really matter and how lashings of diamonds are for everyone. They include Irish star Barry Keoghan of Saltburn fame, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin who will always remain young Voldemort to Potterheads, and Jonathan Bailey, also known as Viscount Anthony in the hit series Bridgerton. Considering that the Paris Summer Olympics is literally around the corner and with Omega as official timekeeper, several Italian athletes also took time out to attend the event, including biathlete Dorothea Wierer, fencer Bebe Vio and swimmer Thomas Ceccon.
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Intergalactic glam
The original Speedmaster, of course, is a timepiece inextricably linked with the moon. (For those who are not aware, Buzz Aldrin wore his official issue 42mm 105.012 Speedmaster when he landed on the surface of the moon). Dating back to its creation in 1957, it is a horological instrument infused with the spirit of space travel, lunar landings, precision and adventure. In 1965, when NASA officially selected it for official use on piloted missions to outer space, the Speedmaster’s astro links were forever sealed. In time, that gave rise to its justifiably deserved nickname of “Moonwatch”, although other Omega aficionados have been known to affectionately refer to it simply as Speedy.
There is a certain flex to be enjoyed from knowing that your watch is so expertly made that it can withstand several cycles of high and low temperatures in a partial vacuum, corrosion in atmospheres of varying oxygen levels, 40 G shocks in at least a half-dozen directions, accelerations of up to 16G in three axes and more. But as the visually driven know, form is as equally important as function.
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The design codes for the new 38 remain quintessentially Speedmaster, of course. The self-winding chronograph with column-wheel mechanism is powered by the Omega Co-Axial Calibre 3330. The key differentiating factor here is the unabashed use of diamonds, so lavish that one wonders why Milan was chosen as the launch city and not Antwerp. The unmissable new bezels — regardless of whether in gold or steel — come generously paved with 52 diamonds (totalling 1.53 carats) and are further topped with a diamond-set polished crown (0.19 carats). And underscoring the fact that you can never have too much of a good thing, the three subdials are now also ringed with diamonds.
Not too far away from Milan, set in a fictional Paris revue, La Monroe had once throatily sung the proclamation that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But the new Speedmaster 38 dazzlingly shows it is on the best of terms with boys too.
The new Omega Speedmaster 38 collection retails between RM83,400 and RM221,800.
This article first appeared on May 20, 2024 in The Edge Malaysia.
