Omega’s Co-Axial calibre 9300/9301 is impressive and illustrative of the company’s push into higher end but industrialised movements.

It is a chronograph with column wheel, the Co-Axial escapement invented by George Daniels and the free-sprung Si14 silicon balance wheel.

And it has an hour hand that can be adjusted independently without affecting the setting of the minute and seconds hands. Also, the hour and minute chronograph hands are co-axial on the sub-dial at three. Plus Omega delivers it with a four year warranty. Previously seen in the Speedmaster and Planet Ocean, the calibre is presented in the more formal DeVille case at Baselworld 2012. This has an attractive and detailed dial, with diamond-polished hands and indices in solid gold. The facets on the Roman numerals indices are an especially appealing detail.

The case is 42 mm and available in red gold or steel. The red gold is available with blue or silver dial, while the steel version offers the choice of silver, blue or black dials.

Omega DeVille Chronograph in red gold

Inside the red gold version sits the cal. 9301 with a solid gold rotor and balance bridge, and the steel uses the cal. 9300 which is the same except it has a rhodium-plated brass rotor.

– SJX

Omega Co-Axial cal. 9301 with gold rotor and balance bridge