Omega Spacemaster Z-33

Strangely enough one of the most interesting Omega products at Baselworld 2012 is a quartz watch. The Spacemaster Z-33 multi-function pilot’s watch is the successor to the discontinued X-33 (Omega is running out of letters). 

Highly regarded amongst pilots, the X-33 was an official watch of NASA as well as the US airforce; versions with squadron logos come up on the secondary market occasionally.

The Z-33 uses the new cal. 5666 with lots of bells and whistles. It has all the usual features of a multi-function digital: date, UTC and dual time zone, alarm, perpetual calendar, chronograph and countdown. And it also has programmable pilot functions to log up to ten flights and visualise those logs with date-hour indications. All the functions are shown in black screens with red LED displays, while the dial and hands are in green Super Luminova. The LED screens have backlight that automatically adjusts depending on ambient light, to maximise legibility. And the LED displays can be read even by wearers of polarised glasses. In addition, pressing the button at eight o’clock sends the hands to three or nine o’clock, allowing a clear view of the LED panels. Despite its high-tech functions, the Z-33 is inside a retro inspired case. Based on the seventies Omega Flightmaster, the case is titanium and measures 43 mm by 53 mm. It has a double back to amplifies the alarm. The Z-33 is available on rubber or leather strap. The battery life is two years. – SJX