On The Wrist For A Month – Omega Globemaster Review

Omega Constellation

You probably know me best for being an avid Speedmaster fan and collector. But my passion for watches started actually with the Omega Constellation. I wrote about this in-depth when I did a write up on the Sedna gold version of the Omega Globemaster. Anyway, the Globemaster is part of the Constellation family. The Globemaster has a history with the old Constellation watches. In the past, there used to be a legal issue with the name Constellation in the USA, so Omega used Globemaster instead. This was only for a short period though, and only few of those watches are around.

Omega Globemaster Review

Even though the in-depth Omega Globemaster review as pointed out above contains more detailed information on METAS, the Globemaster name and the relationship to the old pie-pan Constellations, I thought it would be nice to try the all stainless steel version as well.

Master Chronometer

One of the key features of the Omega Globemaster is the Master Chronometer certification by METAS. You can read more about that here and here. In short, the Omega Globemaster runs well within chronometer specifications (0 – +5 seconds per day on average) and is anti-magnetic up to 15,000 gauss. That is in a nutshell, you can knock yourself out with detailed information in the given links.

Daily Watch

The question is, does it really matter to you? Do you need a mechanical watch that is super accurate and so anti-magnetic? If this is going to be your 10th watch as a collector, probably not. However, if this is going to be your daily watch, perhaps your ‘only watch’, the Master Chronometer certification is very welcome in my opinion. You can be sure that it will be accurate and almost immune to magnetic fields that surround us every day.

Caliber 8900

The movement in this movement is Omega’s caliber 8900. It is visible through the display back and I am sure you will love what you see. A double bridge, beautiful finish (Geneva waves), blued screws and a power reserve of 60 hours. This movement also has the Co-Axial escapement and uses a silicon balance spring, of course. Above all, it is a workhorse movement, but a pretty one. The center shows the observatory as you will also find on other Constellation models. A nice touch. 

On the Wrist

When this watch was introduced in Basel in 2015, on the evening before the show opened up officially for the public, there was a huge amount of journalists gathered to witness it. When former CEO Stephen Urquhart unveiled the Omega Globemaster, I heard a lot of ‘Datejust’ whispering going on around me. Admitted, the fluted bezel is also on the Datejust of course, but in my opinion, the comparison ends there. Also, there are more pieces with a fluted bezel than Rolex (or Omega).

More important of course, is how this watch is on the wrist. I’ve worn it for over a month and it is a very easy-going watch. I only had one important issue with it, but I will come to that later.

In the Flesh

Still, when we post a picture of an Omega Globemaster on our Instagram or Facebook, I see comments stating ‘Looks like a Datejust’ or even with less words than that. My best guess is, that a lot of these people who publish those comments did not see the Omega Globemaster in the flesh, or on the wrist even. The case design is very different (you will immediately see this when you look at the watch en profile), as is the pie-pan dial.

Blue Dial

The blue dial version is the model I prefer, right after the Sedna gold Globemaster of course. That remains to be my favorite. The pie-pan dial is just stunning and the pictures that we took for this Omega Globemaster review show quite well, how dark it can turn under certain lightning conditions. The hour markers are large but still elegant, and the date disc is also in a dark blue color. Also very ‘Constellation’ is the star at 6 o’clock. My grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s Constellations had these already, and Omega is keeping it real by also using it on the Globemaster dial. The rhodium plated hands are long and sleek and very luminous in the dark.

Lacking a Touch of Gold

Before I received this watch, I thought a Constellation (including a Globemaster) needs a touch of gold. Be it entirely in gold like the Sedna model I reviewed before, or in bi-color, where the crown and bezel are in gold. However, during this Omega Globemaster review I also started to appreciate the all stainless steel version. I still think a touch of gold wouldn’t hurt the watch, but I also know a lot of people are kind of allergic to bi-color. I belonged to that group for a long time, but I feel bi-color can be done for some watches. That includes the Globemaster.

The Bracelet

During my time with the Omega Globemaster, I’ve learned that it is one heck of a comfortable watch. With its case diameter of just 39mm, a perfect timepiece for everyday wear. However, and this is a big however, I would get it with a leather strap. The design of the bracelet is not for me personally, but what is more important, in my experience the bracelet is too sharp. Many more bracelets suffer from this, and I am quite ‘difficult’ when it comes to stainless steel bracelets, but I found that especially around the clasp, the edges are very sharp. As you can see, the watch for this Omega Globemaster review is one of the prototypes or sample collections. But I also tried a bracelet at a retailer and it felt the same.

Besides that, I just prefer the look of the Globemaster on a leather strap. The case and dial come out way better with a strap, especially when you put it on a nice dark blue leather strap it comes on.

Conclusion, Price and Availability

Since the Omega Globemaster review on the Sedna gold model already gave it away, I can be short here. I love the Globemaster. More than I would have thought when I saw it for the first time in Basel. I liked the watch from the beginning, but only came to really love it, on the wrist. The Sedna gold model that I’ve worn, tested and reviewed is something I would wear as a daily watch in a heartbeat. The stainless steel model is a perfect daily wearer for those who just want to own one good watch. No doubt. To me, I would definitely wear it on a leather strap, and preferably with a touch of (Sedna) gold. In any case, I can promise you that a Globemaster will be in my collection at some point. Perhaps it will make a perfect 40th birthday gift to myself, who knows.

Pricing

Prices of the Globemaster start at 6300 Euro (including VAT). The model I’ve reviewed here (reference 130.30.39.21.03.001) has a retail price of 6400 Euro. So the leather strap version (reference 130.33.39.21.03.001) is a tad bit cheaper. The gold steel model on a leather strap retails for 7900 Euro (reference 130.23.39.21.03.001). The all gold versions are around 18,000 Euro (leather strap). Then, there is the limited platinum version for the lucky few (at 37,300 Euro).

Availability

It took quite a long time before boutiques and retailers were stocked with the Globemaster. Most of the Omega authorized dealers do have the Globemaster in stock today though. Since there are a couple of variations, as stated above and with different dial colors, you might need to visit one of the larger retailers (or boutiques) to be able to try a couple of them.

More information via the Omega website.