OMEGA unveils a calibre with a lunar legacy
OMEGA New Calibre
To mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing when an OMEGA timepiece became the first watch on the Moon, the brand has released a collection of commemorative timepieces powered by the Master Chronometer Calibre 3861, a descendent of the movement that went to the Moon
OMEGA’s legendary Calibre 321 evolved from the 27 CHRO C12 that was first designed and produced in 1941. Renamed calibre 321 in 1949, the robust and elegant chronograph movement has become a collectible as it had powered the Speedmaster watches qualified by NASA for use on all manned space missions, and a modified version of the calibre drove the Speedmaster chronographs worn by Apollo 11’s astronauts.
The Calibre 321 evolved to become the Calibre 861, which was used between 1968 and 1997. This was followed by the calibre 1861, which retained the same frequency as the 861, but was made with rhodium-plating. It took four years of trial-and-error to produce a movement that could be Master Chronometer-certified, yet match the dimensions of the 1861. That meant fitting all of the latest componentry into a space more suited to an older movement. The 3861 has 240 components compared to the 1861’s 234, but OMEGA’s engineers were up to the task, improving power reserve, chronometric performance and magnetic resistance. Daily deviations were improved from -1+11 to 0+5 seconds, and an easier and more accurate stop second function was added.
The teeth of the wheels were subtly reshaped for tighter contacts and smoother running. As a tribute to the 1861, the new movement’s frequency remained the same (21,600 v/h), while the jewel tally was increased from 18 to 26, as eight extra jewels were needed for the upgrade. Four jewels to ensure the smooth running of OMEGA’s revolutionary Co-Axial escapement, which had replaced the more traditional Swiss Anchor, and four more for general technical improvements. Another significant change was the complete removal of the frequency regulator; as a moving part, the tiny lever added to the risk of accidental frequency shifts.
On the new 3861, this was replaced by four adjustable screws on the balance wheel. Thanks to the inclusion of OMEGA’s Co-Axial escapement and silicon Si14 balance spring, the 3861 offers extraordinary levels of magnetic resistance up to 15,000 gauss, and is able to achieve Master Chronometer certification.
To match the case materials of the Apollo 11 tributes, two versions of the 3861 were produced: one with rhodium-plated bridges and main plate; and another in gold with a Moonshine gold-plated finish – another first for the pioneering brand. The innovative patent-pending material was introduced in 2019 to coincide with the lunar landing’s 50th anniversary.
