The Omega Speedmaster GMT Solar Impulse is the perfect Speedie for those who are indifferent to the marque’s moon heritage and bevy of near-fossilised heroes who wore the watch during those heady days of U.S. lunar missions. Rather, the Solar Impulse is a tribute to an ambitious contemporary adventure of some magnificent men in a flying machine powered only by the sun who plan circumnavigate the world. (Click here for information on this important and innovative project)
Omega is a major partner in this endeavour and in keeping with its long tradition of releasing models to mark important events, Omega’s Steven Urquart said, “Following in the steps of Omega’s pioneering history and in particular our participation in the conquest of space and the Moon landing, I believe the Solar Impulse project gives us an authentic and far-reaching platform to communicate a very important message in today’s world in a solar powered aircraft”
The Omega Solar Impulse is slightly less in diameter than the Solar Impulse’s wingspan at 44.25 mm. Crafted from Grade-2 titanium, including the crown and pushers, the case houses a 37 jewel Omega caliber 3603, a seriously souped-up and decoratively finished Piguet 1285 column wheel chronograph with free sprung balance and a signature Co-Axial escapement. The movement purrs along at 28,800 oscillations an hour, allowing a timing accuracy to within 1/8th of a second. From all reports, this is a very reliable engine.
The screw-in case-back features the engraving of the "Test Flight" inscription. The sapphire crystal gives reliable protection against the bumps and grinds of daily life and has a dual anti-reflective coating. The watch will sustain pressure at 100 metres, and just in case you intend snorkelling to that depth it has a very attractive optional rubber strap.
The high tech feel of this watch is reinforced by the dial and dial furniture: from the central 24 hour GMT hand with an areoplane shaped pointer to its black carbon fibre dial with a texture that is pure “design industriel”. The dial features centrap hour and minute hands and a chronograph seconds hand and is framed with an understated black and white bezel which allows attention to be directed to the rest of the case and its heavily chamfered lugs. Overall, the design of the Solar Impulse, combined with its high-tech materials, makes it one of the meaner looking tool watches on the block and a fitting companion on the wrists of those intrepid aviators who hope to make history.
Click here for the full technical manual for the 3603
