Cover Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega
Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega
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The president and CEO of Omega is continuing the Swiss manufacture's tradition in producing highly prized women's watches
Right before the official opening of Omega's Her Time exhibition in Bangkok, Raynald Aeschlimann reveals that he had always wanted an exhibition like this that celebrates women and Omega's remarkably rich history in producing watches for the gender. "It's a permanent quest at Omega. The exhibition not only highlights the watches but also takes you on a trip into the feminine world," he says,
While one's first impression of Omega may be James Bond's Seamaster or the Speedmaster in all its masculine appeal, Omega has always had a significant traction with the ladies. From the start, it was making beautifully decorated pocket watches for them. In 1902, it released its first women's wristwatch. Displaying a serious commitment to meet the evolving needs of women, it pioneered numerous design and technical innovations.
See also: 7 Extraordinary Women Headline the Omega 'My Voice, My Choice' Campaign
In 1955, it launched an entire line for women, the Ladymatic featuring the world's smallest chronometer-certified automatic calibre then. Its debut was heralded in an ad with this tagline: "A personal message to the man who owns a Seamaster. Now she can own a watch as fabulous as yours." Since renamed De Ville Ladymatic, one of the first automatic watches for women continues to bewitch with its remarkable combination of form and function, the latter courtesy of the groundbreaking co-axial movement today.
A ladies wristwatch by Omega in 1906
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Reflecting on Omega's history in feminine watchmaking, Aeschlimann notes: "We've always been following the development of women's watches. Our name is linked to our movement, which may be considered masculine, but it's also very much linked to our ambassador Cindy Crawford and the Constellation watches. So popular is the Constellation, which was created for women, that we started making them for men!"
Which was a complete flip from the practice of downsizing men's watches for women. "Women have the best of both worlds," says Aeschlimann with a hint of envy. "They have their own watches but they can also wear a men's watch. They have so much more more to play with."
Above Han So Hee and Raynald Aeschlimann at Omega Her Time opening event in Bangkok
Han So Hee and Raynald Aeschlimann at Omega Her Time opening event in Bangkok
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Han So-hee is the latest in a stellar line-up of women ambassadors for Omega. Besides Crawford who has been loyal to the brand since 1995, there are Nicole Kidman, Kaia Gerber (Crawford's daughter), Zhou Dongyu, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
See also: A Rare Celebrity Foursome at Omega’s Shanghai Event
A rising star in the massive K pop culture scene, Han is the second South Korean Omega ambassador after Hyun Bin. "The South Korean entertainment landscape is only getting bigger and bigger, and it's obvious that what it does inspires and touches the hearts of millions. We liked what we saw in Han when we met. She has humility and demonstrates dedication to her work. These are values that she shares with Omega," observes Aeschlimann.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
