This Groundbreaking Omega Watch’s Accuracy Is Calibrated Using Sound | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest LaptopsBest Premium SoundbarsApple MacBook NeoDigital Wall CalendarsHome Security CamerasDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchJeremy WhiteGearMar 26, 2026 7:00 AMThis Groundbreaking Omega Watch’s Accuracy Is Calibrated Using SoundThanks to a novel way of testing precision using acoustics, the Constellation Observatory is the first watch with no seconds hand to achieve Master Chronometer status.Courtesy of OmegaCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyOmega has been making the Constellation for more than 70 years, a watch that was the Swiss brand's elegant flagship timepiece before the Speedmaster landed in 1957. It got its moniker from an image on its caseback—an observatory beneath eight stars. The stars symbolized two chronometer records and six first-place precision awards that Omega earned between 1933 and 1952, the year the Constellation launched.But Omega's new Constellation Observatory collection has a completely new procedure for measuring accuracy, one that gets around the thorny issue of these pieces having no seconds hand.Why should a seconds hand matter? Watches are tested for accuracy with photographic tracking of the seconds hand over a period of time. Having no seconds hand makes this impossible. The Constellation Observatory pieces, however, grant Omega some watchmaking history as they are the first two-hand watches to achieve Master Chronometer certification without a seconds hand.Traditional testing by COSC—the Swiss body that certifies the accuracy of Swiss watches—uses photographic tech to measure the position of the hands in different positions and temperatures at regular intervals for 15 days. The accuracy standard is –4 to +6 seconds per day. COSC only tests the movement, not the full watch. The case, bracelet, and magnetic resistance all fall outside the test, and for two-hand watches, a seconds hand has to be added to do the necessary tests.The more stringent METAS method tests the entire finished watch, not just the movement, taking into account how it performs with the case on, in real-world conditions, with exposure to magnetism, temperature changes, and water resistance. To pass, a watch must be accurate to within 0 to +5 seconds per day, and resist magnetic fields up to 15,000 gauss. For Omega's proprietary certification of Master Chronometer, a watch must pass both COSC and METAS testing.So, how has Omega managed to award the new Constellation Observatory watches Master Chronometer status even though none in the collection have seconds hands? By devising an accuracy test that doesn't need the photography or a seconds hand at all.Courtesy of OmegaCourtesy of OmegaCourtesy of OmegaCourtesy of OmegaOmega's Laboratoire de Précision has fashioned a self-contained testing unit that continuously captures the sound of each tick and tock while recording environmental parameters (temperature, position, and atmospheric pressure) throughout 25 full days of testing. This is a considerable improvement on photographing the position of the seconds hand, capturing just two data points per day, as this new system generates continuous data from the first second.The testing unit uses the watch's acoustic signature to isolate frequency irregularities, temperature and pressure sensitivities, positional variation, and amplitude fluctuations, which means that watchmakers can identify not only that a variation exists, but where and when it occurs.Acoustic measuring is not new to watch testing. Witschi machines are industry-standard Swiss instruments used for testing and calibrating watches using, among other things, high-precision microphones and specialized software to analyze the physical properties of a watch, including the rate (seconds per day gained or lost), amplitude (the balance wheel rotation angle), and beat error (the difference between "tick" and "tock"). But Witschi machines only test watches for the moments that are on the device. The difference here is that testing takes place continuously over 25 days, in all the positional and temperature variations of the METAS testing regime.Think of it this way: This could be seen as the horological equivalent of the difference between a quick electrocardiogram and a long-term heart monitor. The fundamental method is the same, but the scale and accuracy of the data are markedly different.The Constellation Observatory collection also introduces two new calibers as well as models in 18K gold, platinum-gold, and steel. It starts at $10,900, and the all-gold model costs $59,100. It'll go on sale on March 27.The only niggle here is that, despite this new method of testing being genuinely innovative—one that allows Omega to award these two-hand watches its Master Chronometer label—the concept of accuracy to the second for a dress watch could be seen by some as overkill. Dress watches are elegant, understated accessories that foreground style and craft rather than accuracy. They are, by their very nature, designed to be checked occasionally.So while it's undoubtedly mighty impressive that Omega's Constellation Observatory collection can boast such precision plaudits, it might not have needed them.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: Upgrade your life with WIRED-tested gearNvidia plans to launch an open-source AI agent platformBig Story: He built the Epstein database—it consumed his lifeShould you leave your phone charging overnight?Watch: How right wing influencers infiltrated the governmentJeremy White is senior innovation editor at WIRED, overseeing gear coverage, with a focus on EVs and luxury. He also edits gear for the US and UK print editions. Prior to WIRED, he was a digital editor at the Financial Times and tech editor at Esquire in the UK. And ... 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Omega’s Constellation Observatory collection represents a significant advancement in watchmaking accuracy, achieved through a radically different testing methodology. The collection, spearheaded by the brand’s Laboratoire de Précision, marks the first two-hand watches to achieve Master Chronometer certification without relying on the traditional seconds hand method. This innovation stems from a need to validate the accuracy of these watches, which inherently lack this familiar measurement tool. The core of Omega’s approach lies in a self-contained testing unit that continuously captures the acoustic signature of each tick and tock while recording associated environmental parameters—temperature, position, and atmospheric pressure—over a 25-day period. This contrasts sharply with the conventional photographic tracking of a seconds hand, which provides only two data points per day. The constant acoustic recording generates a far richer dataset, enabling the watchmakers to pinpoint not just that a variation exists, but precisely *where* and *when* it occurs. This process utilizes the watch’s acoustic signature to isolate frequency irregularities, temperature and pressure sensitivities, positional variations, and amplitude fluctuations – allowing for a granular understanding of the movement’s behavior. The methodology draws an interesting parallel to modern medical diagnostics, comparing the continuous acoustic monitoring to a long-term heart monitor, emphasizing the scale and accuracy difference. It's important to note that acoustic measurement isn't a novel concept in watch testing; Witschi machines, industry-standard Swiss instruments, already utilize high-precision microphones and specialized software to analyze watch physical properties. However, the Constellation Observatory’s testing unit distinguishes itself through its sustained, 25-day continuous monitoring across the METAS testing regime – encompassing positional and temperature variations. This represents a substantial upgrade in data collection compared to the traditional photographic approach. The collection itself uses two new calibers alongside models produced with 18K gold, platinum-gold, and steel. The price point begins at $10,900 for the 18K gold model, with the all-gold version commanding a considerable $59,100. Despite the significant technical achievements and the attainment of Master Chronometer status, some debate exists regarding the level of accuracy – measured to within 0 to +5 seconds per day – deemed appropriate for a dress watch, acknowledging their primary focus on aesthetics and craftsmanship rather than precise timekeeping. Jeremy White, senior innovation editor at WIRED, highlights this nuance, suggesting that the precision might be considered overkill for a watch intended for occasional checks, framing the achievement as a testament to Omega’s engineering expertise and innovative testing capabilities, rather than a fundamental necessity for the watch’s design.