Omega’s new Constellation Observatory watches use sound to measure accuracy, bypassing traditional visual timing methods used for certification.
Omega, a watch company, has been making the Constellation watch for more than 70 years. The Constellation used to be Omega’s fancy main watch before another watch called the Speedmaster came out in 1957. It got its name from a picture on the back of the watch case that showed an observatory under eight stars.
The eight stars on the old Constellation watches showed how many times Omega won awards for making accurate watches. Omega won two big records and six first-place prizes between 1933 and 1952. The new Constellation Observatory watches have a brand-new way of measuring accuracy that doesn’t need a seconds hand.
But why does a seconds hand matter for accuracy testing? Regular testing uses pictures to see where the hand points over time. Without a seconds hand, this normal testing can’t work. These new Constellation watches are the first watches with only two hands that got the special Master Chronometer award without having a seconds hand.
Swiss testing groups normally test watch accuracy by taking pictures of where the hands point in different temperatures and positions over 15 days. Tests show watches can be 4 to +6 seconds fast each day. But now, Omega made a new way to test that just listens to the ticking sound instead of watching hands.
Omega made a special machine that listens to each tick and tock of the watch for 25 days. This new test also checks temperature, position, and air pressure while the watch ticks. This is much better than taking just two pictures each day with normal testing. Now the Constellation Observatory watches can get the top accuracy award without needing a seconds hand.