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Omega begins new METAS testing process at Biel

Omega has unveiled the first ever METAS-certified, the so-called Master Chronometer, at its HQ in Biel, just 12 months after announcing the new stringent testing procedure.

The watch, a new Omega Globemaster, was the first to be granted Master Chronometer certification from the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

The testing process which aims to guarantee ‘precision and performance’ is now fully operational and a METAS laboratory is housed at the heart of Omega’s operation in Biel.

Swatch Group chief executive officer Nick Hayek and METAS director Dr Christian Bock were joined on stage by Omega president Stephen Urquhart and vice president of production and procurement Andreas Hobmeier.

Hayek opened by saying: “We all know about the importance of beautiful products, history and innovation. But one other thing is so important. That’s trust. Trust for our consumers. By working with an independent organisation such as METAS, we can be transparent for the consumer, and reconfirm that the Swiss watch industry is the leader in precision and innovation.”

While Dr Bock added: “Trust is the core of our business at METAS. We are a government agency, the leading centre for all measurements in Switzerland. And above all, we are consumer and client driven. That’s why it was important to ensure that this new standard for mechanical watches is open to every brand.”

While Omega will continue to use COSC certification, which it describes as an ‘integral part’ of its process, METAS will double the certification on certain watches and will allow customers to log-on and check the individual results for their watch.

The process involves eight tests carried out over 10 days that replicate real-world wearing conditions.

James Buttery

Editor of WatchPro, the WatchPro Hot 100 and The Luxury Report.

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