The All-New Omega Constellation Observatory Collection (incl. Video)

The launch of a new collection from a brand as important as Omega is always a significant event. In this particular case, however, it is not strictly the introduction of an entirely new design, but rather the unveiling of a new family of Constellation watches inspired by a historical model’s aesthetics. What also makes this launch especially compelling is that, beyond its design continuity, it comes with a noteworthy innovation regarding the watch certification. The 2026 Omega Constellation Observatory is the first two-hand watch to be certified as a Master Chronometer. Which is all the more surprising for an observation chronometer…

The New Omega Constellation Observatory

Before delving into the interesting topic of its chronometric certification, we’ll begin with a short presentation of this new Omega Constellation Observatory. Starting as a chronometer for men in 1952, the Constellation design was an evolution of the limited-edition “Centenary” chronometer from 1948. Over its long history, the model has undergone countless aesthetic evolutions and transformations. Among these are the so-called pie-pan dial Constellations of the 1950s, with the Constellation Star at 6 o’clock and Observatory medallion on the caseback. The dog-leg lugs are another distinctive feature of the Omega models of the era. 

The new Constellation Observatory reinterprets this vintage design language into a modern 39,4mm case available in steel, gold or platinum/gold. The use of two box sapphire crystals allows for a relatively thin case band compared to the overall thickness of the watch (12.23mm in total), enabling it to sit elegantly on the wrist. The case is also relatively short, with a 47.2mm lug-to-lug measurement. As a nod to the past, the Omega Constellation Observatory goes back to the classic yet distinctive shape of the collection, with the uniquely-shaped dog-leg lugs.

Another reference to the past is the return of the pie-pan dial, which showcases a guilloché pattern along its outer edge (Stamped for the steel versions except one version). The faceted “kite-shaped” applied indexes are paired with kite-shaped hands. The Omega logo and Constellation Star are applied while the Observatory, Co-axial and Master Chronometer captions are transferred.

The watch is released in various iterations, either in Omega’s own steel alloy, named O-MEGASTEEL, available in silver opaline with gold markers/hands, in blue or green PVD or with a polished, non-engraved black ceramic dial. All are worn on shiny alligator leather straps. Then come several precious versions, in all of Omega’s own gold alloys. The Moonshine (yellow) gold version has a matching dial and can be ordered with a leather strap or a mesh bracelet. Also available are a Sedna (rose) gold and Canopus (white) gold edition, both with matching dials and worn on a leather strap. The final edition is a platinum-gold model, which brings all four of the brand’s proprietary precious metal alloys together in a single collection for the first time.

And then came our biggest surprise, when we discovered that this watch, proudly named Observatory, is a simple two-hand model without a central seconds hand. A chronometer, even more so an observatory chronometer, typically features a second hand to allow precise time reading down to the second. And until now, a second hand has been required to certify a watch as a chronometer. But when you think about it, why shouldn’t the precision of a two-hander also be certifiable? But we’ll come back to this later.

The sapphire crystal on the back allows to discover the in-house automatic movement. This new Omega Constellation Observatory relies on two new calibres (even though based on the classic 89xx architecture) featuring a skeletonised rotor with an applied Constellation Observatory medallion.

• The Calibre 8915 Grand Luxe for the 950 platinum-gold edition. The Observatory medallion is in 18K white gold, laser-ablated, with its dark blue sky enamelled with aventurine glass and highlighted by eight stars, the Observatory dome filled with translucent white opal enamel.
• The Calibre 8915 Luxe for the 18K gold collection. It features a balance bridge (including for the first use of an 18K Moonshine gold rotor and balance bridge in OMEGA’s history). Its medallion is in 18K gold with laser-ablated elements.
• The Calibre 8914 Standard powers the O-MEGASTEEL Constellations and replicates the Calibre 8915 Luxe in full rhodium-plated finish.

The First Two-Hand Watch to Achieve Master Chronometer Certification

Now that we have been through the basics of the new Omega Constellation Observatory models, let’s delve into the Master Chronometer certification of these watches, done in the new Laboratoire de Précision.

There is sometimes a tendency to believe that mechanical watches were better in the past. This is not the case. Today’s technical advancements make it possible to produce watches of higher quality, particularly in terms of durability and precision. This is reflected in the extended warranty periods that many brands now offer. It is also evident in the growing emphasis on certification, whether for accuracy or resistance to magnetic fields, with increasingly stringent and sophisticated criteria. The industry is evolving, introducing new standards, measurement processes, and certifications that continue to raise the bar for performance and reliability. It would be difficult to name all developments in the field, but as this article is about a new Omega watch, I’ll focus on the Master Chronometer certification (introduced by Omega, open to all brands) and the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), which recently announced its Excellence Chronometer, its new, stricter standard in chronometry.

The Master Chronometer certification introduced by Omega is more comprehensive than the COSC because it represents a much more rigorous and comprehensive “real-world” validation of the entire timepiece. While the COSC only tests the mechanical movement before it is even placed in its case, the Master Chronometer (METAS) certification tests fully assembled, finished watches. This is an important distinction because the process of assembling the dial and hands, or simply the movement into a case, can sometimes alter its precision. The performance standards for a Master Chronometer are also significantly stricter. A COSC-certified watch is allowed to lose up to 4 seconds or gain up to 6 seconds per day. In contrast, a Master Chronometer must never lose time; its tolerance is strictly between 0 and +5 seconds per day.

Beyond simple timekeeping, the Master Chronometer certification addresses issues found in a modern environment, specifically magnetism. While the COSC does not subject movements to high-intensity magnetic fields, METAS requires the watch to remain accurate while exposed to 15,000 Gauss – the equivalent of being placed directly against an MRI machine. Finally, METAS also verifies the manufacturer’s claims regarding water resistance and power reserve, ensuring that every functional aspect of the watch meets its advertised specifications. That said, the recently-launched Excellence Chronometer by the COSC addresses some of these issues too.

Until now, chronometric certification tests such as the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) have relied on optical cameras. These systems verify whether a movement maintains accuracy over time by capturing images at specific moments. For example, a photograph is taken to check the position of the seconds hand and detect any deviation over a long testing period. This approach has its strengths, as it reflects performance over time and can be more meaningful in some respects than a simple instantaneous measurement.

What is truly innovative today with Omega’s Laboratoire de Précision is the emergence of a new standard based on continuous acoustic analysis. This method listens to every oscillation of the escapement throughout the entire testing period. In other words, every “heartbeat” of the watch is monitored and analysed over time, rather than relying on isolated snapshots. This allows for a complete and detailed understanding of the watch’s performance.

With traditional methods, a watch might gain time at one point and lose it later, ultimately showing only an average result at the end of the test. The new methodology, however, reveals exactly what happens at each individual beat, offering a far more precise and transparent picture.

A useful analogy would be blood pressure monitoring: it is far more informative to track a patient’s blood pressure continuously throughout the day than to take a single measurement in the day. A one-time reading might appear normal, while significant variations during the day would go unnoticed. Continuous monitoring, on the other hand, provides a much more accurate assessment of the patient’s condition.

To perform this test, OMEGA developed what the brand calls the Dual Metric Technology. The watches are placed in a wireless, self-contained testing unit that consolidates all Chronometer and Master Chronometer certification processes into a single device. This unit continuously captures the sound of each beat while recording environmental parameters: temperature, position, magnetic fields and atmospheric pressure throughout 25 days of testing.

The Laboratoire de Précision is officially authorised by SAS (the Swiss Accreditation Service) to carry out alternative and independent testing. Its testing procedures are open to other brands.

Availability and price

The new Omega Constellation Observatory launches with 9 different references ranging. O-MEGASTEEL on leather with a choice of silver, blue or green dial. A fourth O-MEGASTEEL version features an inky black ceramic pie-pan dial. Moonshine gold on mesh or leather. Sedna gold, Canopus gold and platinum/gold on leather. The nine-row brick pattern on the 18K Moonshine Gold mesh bracelet draws on vintage brick bracelets of the Constellation’s early years. Price starts from EUR 10,700 in steel and EUR 37,300 for precious metals.

For more details, please visit www.omegawatches.com.