A STAR IS BORN

The 50 or so watches in the new Constellation Manhattan collection by the Biel/Bienne brand are available in three different sizes, three types and colours of metal and six dial colours. You are sure to find something to suit you in this very wide range!

The Constellation collection is probably the most traditional range in the Omega watch catalogue Although it was launched back in 1952, it took 30 years before it became an easily identifiable icon on the wrist. It was only in 1982 that the Biel/Bienne brand added two pairs of “claws” at 3 and 6 o’clock to keep the crystal and the gasket nicely sealed to the case. They became the emblem of the Constellation family. The watch was modernised and modified to keep pace with the times. In 1995, the claws lost their technical purpose but were still present on the case. The stick-shaped hour markers on the bezel were replaced by Roman numerals and the hands adopted the dauphine design. Other versions, in 2003 and 2009, preceded the model that Omega recently introduced at an event in Shanghai: the Constellation Manhattan.

This new timepiece comes in three widths (25, 28 and 29mm), three types and colours of metal (steel, yellow gold, Sedna^TM gold), as well as two-colour versions, with six dial colours (dark grey, white, silvered opaline, blue, brown and champagne) and two hour-marker formats (facetted triangles or brilliant-cut diamonds). The smaller models house a quartz movement, while the 29mm-wide watch features the automatic Master Chronometer Omega 8700 calibre, providing a power reserve of 50 hours.

Prices range from 2,800 CHF (25mm, steel on steel, quartz movement) to 24,800 CHF (29mm, Sedna^TM gold with jewels, automatic movement) omegawatches.com

By Sharmila Bertin