Arrow hands. SuperLuminova-coated Hands and Hour Markers for night time and underwater visibility.

What is a co-axial escapement? (only for the technically inclined)

The conventional lever escapement has performed duty in fine mechanical watches for more than two centuries. Invented by the British watchmaker Thomas Mudge, and further refined by the Swiss, the design has proved robust, reliable, and capable of regulating a watch in use (and thus subject to variable and sundry accelerations) to about three seconds per day. The design relies heavily, however, on sliding friction as the escape wheel impulse surfaces sweep over the pallets to power the balance. Sliding friction means lubrication, and lubrication has always been the Achille's heel of the lever escapement. Contemporary synthetic lubricants have largely ameliorated the problem but it still remains an issue. Sliding friction (as opposed to rolling friction) is always undesirable.

George Daniels, arguably the finest horological mind of today, has studied escapement design for nearly half a century. Beginning with Breguet's echappement naturel, and proceeding through a number of other designs, Daniels has been pursuing a single objective: the elimination of lubrication at the impulse surface. In the co-axial escapement, this is accomplished with a largely rolling (as opposed to sliding) impulse to the balance. The impulse friction in such a radial design is reduced by more than the radial nature of the geometry. The length of sliding or rolling contact in a radial design is a fraction of that in a lever design - approximately seven percent. An important additional advantage provided by the co-axial design is the smaller lift angle and increased arc of free vibration of the balance wheel. A much greater part of the total arc is conducted free of interfering contact with the pallet lever. Such contact compromises the physics of the balance-spring unit.

Omega has based its caliber 2500 co-axial on the venerable Omega caliber 1120. Based on the ETA 2892, Omega has added two jewels to the ETA design for the bi-directional, click-wheel automatic winding system. The escapement of the 2500 adds another two jewels, and another two are added to the mainspring barrel for a total of 27. The movement is 12.5 lignes (27.2 millimeters in diameter), and 3.6 millimeters thick. Omega cites a power reserve of 44 hours, typical for single-barreled automatic movements of this size.

In conclusion, the Omega Co-Axial is one of the most significant and remarkable contributions to watchmaking in the last half century, and Omega and George Daniels, have brought this technology to the gorgeous and reasonably priced Seamaster Planet Ocean.
Omega is famous for being the first watch on the moon and the preferred choice of secret agent James Bond. The Swiss watchmaker's prestigious history extends back to 1848. An Omega watch is at home at the depths of the ocean, at the polar caps, and even in space. Omega has long enjoyed an intimate involvement with the US Space Program. Today, Omega is renowned as the brand synonymous with Swiss watchmaking.

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