Future Proof: The Omega Megaquartz 32

 Future Proof: The Omega Megaquartz 32

Christmas Day 1969 a day that changed the watch industry. On that day Seiko released their first (and the worlds) quartz watch. The Astron was a time only quartz watch in a beautiful gold case that was truly of it's time. Seiko reported an accuracy +/- 5 per month and a price tag of ¥ 450,000, which at the time was massive amount of money for a watch. But it sold very well and is now a very collectable piece. 

Photo: Seiko

It was not long before R&D enabled much cheaper quartz watches to be produced. In the collecting world this period is generally considered the 'Quartz Crisis'. But clearly this is a matter of perspective, one man's crisis is another man's revolution. For the first time a better then COSC accurate watch was available for all, it was truly democratic. To the thousands of new opportunities outside of Europe producing these watches, this was no crisis. It could have been a wake up for the Swiss industry, but a mixture of first world arrogance and complacency saw the Swiss watch making industry on it's knees. 

The Swiss watch industry did attempt to follow Seiko's lead and looking back produced some amazing watches. The Beta 21 watches from Patek for example are some of the most interesting watches of this era. Rolex themselves produced a Beta 21 watch and the truly cool Oysterquartz. Omega foray into electronic watch making started with the turning fork f300 Hz watches. 

Omega Catalogue: Photo Old-Omegas.Com

Basel World 1973 saw Omega give us the 32 Khz quartz movements. They found themselves in Geneva, Seamaster and Constellation models. At the time the Constellation was £221.00 and a Speedmaster £124.50. There is no doubt on release the Omega Megaquartz 32 was a luxury watch that sat near the top of the Omega tree. The Megaquartz line did that 1970s thing so well. It blurs the line between sports and dress, it has a kind of ruggedness. You can just see a Ford Capri pull up and out steps an opened shirted moustachioed cad sporting a Gold Capped Megaquartz. It just oozes it's era. But at the same time seems to have a nod to the future. This was how time keeping of the future would  and should be. 

The wearer of 1974 would have the most accurate and stylish watch of the time on their wrist. You can see one broker stealing the march on another because his Megaquartz told him exactly when the New York stock market opened, not within the minute, but the second. My own Omega Megaquartz is a stainless steel Geneva with a day date. It has the 1310 32 Khz movement and has +/- 5 seconds a month accuracy. There is a real weight and solid feeling to the 38mm case and interrogated stainless steel bracelet, It feels vintage yes, but it has a strangely modern touch. There is nothing more 2020 (well outside of a killer virus) than a stainless steel watch with an interrogated bracelet. It is a real quality product and you can easily see why they carried such a premium on when new, it kinda feels the real deal. Like many of you I have a fondness for those watches that cross genre, it is like wearing a suit with a tee or going to the supermarket in your Bentley. This is without doubt one of the coolest watches I have worn, yeah it does have that Jolie Laide (both pretty and ugly at the same time) things going on, a bit like a Lancia Integrale and I just love it. 

Now I know we've just given a brief history lesson on Omega quartz and you know I love mine, maybe it's time watch collectors embraced quartz. For there are quartz watches and there are quartz watches. Grand Seiko are leading the way with a serious revival of quartz with their cutting edge and extraordinary 9F movement, these are amazing watches. It is time you gave quartz a look, me I'm going back to day dreaming of a two tone Rolex Oysterquartz. 

 

Photo:Old-Omegas.com