CO-AXIAL CALIBRE 8500, 2007
The OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 8500 signalled a revolution in mechanical watchmaking. It incorporates George Daniels’ Co-Axial escapement – the first new watch escapement to be launched in some 250 years.
Head of Project: Marc-André Miche
Description: The Co-Axial calibre 8500 was designed from scratch, a rare endeavour in a world that tends to rely on decades-old movement bases, escapements and winding mechanisms.
To design and decorate an escapement that oscillates 220,752,000 times per year is extremely challenging. Any impact on the distribution of its weight or its resistance to friction can seriously compromise accuracy and longevity. Accordingly, traditional movements typically feature very little decoration.
The unique low-friction design of the Hour Vision Co-Axial escapement, however, opens up new possibilities. OMEGA engineers developed a unique matt black finish and bespoke design for screws, balance wheel and barrels.
The 8500 movement is a twin barrel in series, which delivers a more stable power. It has a 60-hour power reserve and 39 jewels. The automatic winding mechanism with a bi-metal brass and tungsten rotor winds both ways, thus reducing winding time.
Finally, all visible bridges and the oscillating mass are decorated with an exclusive arabesque Côtes de Genève.
