2006 TZ Tour Installment 3, page 1

2006 TimeZone Tour

Installment 3, Day 2 - Visit to Omega

by Michael Sandler

August 2006

Day 2 of our tour began with a light breakfast in Zurich, after which we boarded our coach for the ride to Bienne for a visit with Omega. In particular, we were going to visit the Haute Horology group and the Omega Museum. As was the case the previous day, the weather in Switzerland was sunny and beautiful.

Oooooo.....look what we saw along the way. No visitors allowed, I'm afraid. ;-)

....and soon we arrived in the town of Bienne, and at the Omega facility. It was interesting to contast the very large size of this facility with IWC the day before.

We entered a very interesting atrium with a wonderful spiral staircase...

...and from there into a conference room where we were welcomed by Mr. Jean-Claude Monachon, Omega Vice President and Head of Product Development. Mr. Monachon spoke to us a little about the day's agenda and what we would be seeing. He also soke with us at some length about Omega's current lines, and about things to come (we had a bit of a sneak preview of a couple new additions to Omega's product line, including an in-house movement due to be released in early 2007. Alas, no pictures.) Following its initial release, a number of other watches will follow, along with complications based on the new movement. Mr. Monachon explained that much of the inspiration for new Omega models comes from designs that are part of the the extensive collection housed in the museum.

Mr. Monachon also spoke to our group about Omega's marketing goals, their development programs (they now sponsor a watchmaking school/training program in China) and their longer term goals. They are certainly moving toward their goal of producing far more in-house.

From there, our group was taken to the Haute Horology workshops, where the wonderful Omega central tourbillon is produced.

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