Swiss watchmaker Omega has unveiled its most extravagant Constellation watch yet, in a piece unique creation that unifies more than 30 carats of baguette and trapeze-cut diamonds across a case and bracelet of 18-karat white gold. But this timepiece, which Omega calls the Constellation Baguette, is notable for more than just the sheer radiance of its 459 diamonds; each stone has been exactly matched to its every neighbor, a painstaking task necessitated by the beautiful and exceptionally difficult invisible setting technique which creates the appearance that no metal joins the stones together. Perhaps most striking is the white gold dial of this splendid Constellation timepiece. Here, the sparkling field of baguette diamonds creates the impression of a supernova against which the star symbol of the Omega Constellation collection (in diamonds, naturally) appears in glorious relief within an inset mother of pearl subdial.

As a point of reference for the difficulty involved in creating the Constellation Baguette watch, Omega can stock no standard parts for the case or bracelet, nor any diamonds; in a hypothetical situation where, for example, a link should be added or a diamond requires replacement or exchange, the owner of this exceptional creation would have to exercise patience. To accomplish the painstaking task, master gemologists would need to obtain and precisely set only those very specific gemstones that exactly mirror the size, cut, clarity and color of adjacent diamonds on the watch. The complexity of the task would multiply considerably if numerous stones were involved in such a project.

The Omega Constellation Baguette watch is animated by one of Omega's acclaimed in-house automatic movements. Omega's Caliber 8421 presents a number of fascinating elements that make for a mechanism of real horological pedigree. These features include a balance bridge for optimum support of the balance wheel, a hairspring in SI 14 silicon which resists magnetism and shock, and the revolutionary Omega Co-Axial Escapement--a true innovation in mechanical watchmaking which greatly reduces friction and promotes long-term operation and precision. The caliber is a COSC-certified chronometer, having passed fifteen days of precision tests at one of the official Swiss chronometer control offices.

Source: Vialuxe