As someone who very openly enjoys watches that many other people might not find as attractive, I pay particular attention to the show that lots of brands don’t feature on the homepages of their websites. It had been, at the time, the continuation of the timeless dress watch heritage the Seamaster had uttered since 1948, but one that was less significant since the initiation of the very first dive watch from the series in 1957. The specific “sub-series” we will be covering is the De Ville Prestige set–a group of watches which continues to signify what created the De Ville series so appealing because its launch as an independent version in ’67.
This has more to do with the movement than the dial, but since we’re taking a look at the dial anyhow, it’s a good chance to discuss one of the major differences between the 8601 and the 8500. The 8500 is well known for its independent hour but the 8601 yields to the more conventional way of setting the time. However, you do profit quickset month and date in that market. This was essential because to flip the independent hour around the dial twice per date advance it would have taken hours to make it to the right month.There’s another advantage also, namely that the date changes instantly at midnight. From the 8601, however, this occurs all at once with no awkward transition between two unique numbers. For my personal tastes, this is a massive perk.With its quite subtle dial, you would expect the situation to follow suit, but you would be wrong. The case is actually much more daring than the remainder of the watch.Before we reach the interesting aspects we’ll discuss its basic attributes, namely its own 41mm diameter. I believe that’s a great, flexible size for the watch although I would not mind seeing a smaller size offered alongside it, possibly a 38mm. The side of the case has a very cool and well-executed vertical brush to it, sandwiched between the polished top and bottom of the watch. As is appropriate of a dress watch, the crown doesn’t screw down, which makes hand winding and setting the eye considerably more convenient. The watch remains rated for 100 meters though, so while you will not be diving in it, it is not as secure than any presented sports watch.
The dial, though it looks white, is actually silver, made in the type of prototypical German fashion which you might find in Nomos, Glashutte Original or ALS. That offers the silver a sort of matte white look and allows it to have sufficient contrast from the silver palms and markers.The great design actually begins with the hands. These are very simple multifaceted stick hands, all which have a slight imprint. The different angles of each side give it a type of brushed look, and this allows it to capture very different lighting on every edge, increasing legibility. The flip side is heating blued and looks brilliant from the dial. When these factors are great, it’s what Omega does with them elsewhere that really makes the watch encounter together.What I love here is that the exact same design of the hands was carried over into tasteful Roman numerals. They are exceptionally angular and finely polished, but what’s more important is that it’s cohesive. A real designer, or team of painters, sat down and really thought this view. I don’t even normally like Roman numerals and now I am blown away by these.Here we find the largest visual difference between the yearly calendar and ordinary model. Many men and women expect to find a day complication in this position, but instead you will discover the month complication. This was (more or less) required very for purposes of placing the watch even though it will have the functionality of just being able to see the month (in case you forget?) . The date/month rings match the dial very well and there is a great beveled edge that smoothly transitions into the complications. I truly enjoy the marginally shortened III mark as opposed to just removing it completely. You really don’t detect that it’s abbreviated at a glance.Of program, the dial additionally declares itself to be a yearly calendar should you forget.
Classic looks aside, possibly the most interesting aspect of the watch is its annual calendar. You may be asking yourself why do we want an annual calendar? Especially on a watch just like this (unlike the regular 8500) which includes a quickset date. It’s trendy in an horological sense, in the way that rare and esoteric complications are in general cool, but you will probably find yourself up at midnight at the end of a 30 day month waiting to see the date and month shift over. You would better not blink, as unlike many Omega Deville Cal 930 Replica moves, this happens instantaneously, a significant improvement over the ordinary 8500. This is thanks to the 8601, a part of one of the most advanced families of mechanical movements on earth. It is basically an upgraded 8500, which can be quite a compliment. It seems the same, and for the large part performs exactly the same, but you get an extra month complication as part of the annual calendar as well as a quickset month and date, which can be appreciated.The De Ville Annual Calendar, both this version together with the Roman numerals along with the Hour Vision, are truly some of my favorite Omega watches. I would have them before any Speedmaster or even Seamaster. I guess that makes me an outlier one of Omega lovers, but something about these two watches, particularly using all the silver/white dials and blued seconds palms, actually sings to me. In addition, I like the 8601 into the 8500 (though you can find this movement in Seamasters as well). It is not so much for your annual calendar, although that’s very awesome, it’s really for the instantaneous date shift. I have been wearing 8500s for years now and really the slow date change is the one thing I have ever seen not to enjoy about it, so that’s a large perk for me. Uncharacteristically, however, I’d really suggest that you get this watch on the bracelet within the strap, despite its own dressy look. The De Ville bracelet is simply extremely nice and comfortable, and it really appears cohesive with this particular case.
One thing that I have not shown you is that the annual calendar disadvantage, and there’s a fantastic reason for that: you can not see it. But I could tell you a little about how it functions. Basically, the watch knows which months are brief and long. What is the difference between an annual calendar and also the more prevalent (and pricey) endless calendar? Well, the endless calendar knows when the jump season is and can correct February accordingly. On this 8601 motion, February is treated as a 30 day month, but based on the year it has either 28 or 29 days. Thus, within an annual calendar such as this, you will have to change the date once per year at the end of February.The De Ville, in general, is just one of my favourite lines of Omega De Ville 39 5 Replica watches. Maybe that is not surprising for a fan of Grand Seiko and Nomos watches, but it’s surprising that the line gets so little attention from watch collectors. While many fans of understated watches are out there versions such as this and the Hour Vision ought to be enormous hits. Of course, it is not that they’re unliked, more that they’re overshadowed by the legendary Seamaster and Speedmaster lines, and that is a shame. Omega collectors are actually missing out.When I first saw this De Ville, albeit the regular date model, I desired that the hands were a little more provocative. As time’s gone on today, I have come to really enjoy the way the palms and each line of the Roman numerals match perfectly. The polishing onto the numerals is especially impressive. They’re some of the finest applied markers I have ever seen.
In my opinion, this De Ville strikes something of an perfect balance between a booked, austere look and something which’s more visually adventuresome. Conversely, you could look at the Omega Planet Ocean GoodPlanet GMT, which will be absolutely striking but not the very discreet watch accessible. This De Ville is certainly more on the side, but I think it finds a nice compromise.Of program, half the reason you are even looking at this watch is because of the movement, especially since it’s the unusual annual calendar complication. The 8500-based 8601 here really “knows” (to anthropomorphize the movement) that months have 30 days or 31 days, meaning, with the exception of February (because it has changeable days depending on the year), the owner does not need to correct the date in the end of short months. You can assume, as most do, that besides this complication, the remainder of the 8601 is pretty much exactly the same as another 8500s you have seen, but you would be wrong. There are in fact several important changes seen everywhere, but we will get to this at the motion section.The dial is simply marvelous, and it truly exists as an instance of just how far you can do with very little. It is, undoubtedly, one of the finest looking dials I have ever reviewed.
Bringing together luxury and performance, Omega has consistently redefined state-of-the art mechanical watchmaking since 1884 – paving the way for precision timepieces that are captivating, inspiring, and beautifully engineered. Omega have been witness to some of mankind’s most historic moments: from having supplied NASA with the Speedmaster Professional which went on to become the first watch worn on the moon during the Apollo space missions, to being the official timekeeper to the Olympic games, witnessing some of sport’s greatest achievements.
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