ReviewOmega Spacemaster Z-33

The thrill of flying the high skies on a fighter jet is not something most of us can experience. The challenging conditions in the jet’s cockpit demand extreme skill and endurance. The pilot experiences extreme G-force, frequent temperature changes, sudden darkness, and heat of the equipment, often all at once. The pilot’s wristwatch too needs to regularly endure these challenging conditions, while maintaining legibility, accuracy of time and ease of use. Precision becomes critical and can be the difference between mission success or failure. Here, in the Omega Spacemaster Z-33 review, we present the ultimate jet pilot’s watch which has become a cult favourite with the sky warriors.

An iconic watch from the legendary Omega Speedmaster family, the Spacemaster Z-33 is the successor to the original 1969 Omega Flightmaster, the original aviator watch. Both watches sport the identical space-age shape, crown and button positions, and aviation features. The Omega Spacemaster Z-33 features a robust and accurate quartz movement, with a highly legible analog dial and a LED display for its several useful aviation features. The distinctive design of the watch with it’s hard angles and edges, yet free of sharp points, gives it a distinct identity in the Speedmaster family.

The Omega Spacemaster Z-33 sports a 43mm brushed grade 5 titanium case which is much lighter than stainless steel, is equally rugged and can endure the bumps and knocks that may occur while reaching for controls in the flight’s cockpit. Omega has created an iPad application to explain the features of the watch in an interactive format, that can be downloaded here for a virtual trial.

The top left pusher is the favourites button, which allows the user to store his two favourite functions for quick information. The lower left pusher can be used to temporarily clear the analogue hands from obstructing the red LED. On being pushed twice this button begins to record the flight time. On the right side are the regular chronograph pushers, that also have certain additional features for settings. The crown can be pushed or rotated to cycle through the various functions – time 1, time 2, UTC time, 12 or 24 hour display, date, perpetual calendar with annual weeks and days, flight computer, chronograph, and countdown timer.

The crown engraved with the Omega logo is used for various functions and also activates the energy saving mode that preserves battery power. The flight computer allows the pilot to record and store up to ten flight logs in two different settings.

The skeleton delta hands are luminous white against a black dial with back lit LED screens providing information in a highly legible format, in both sunlight and dark conditions.

Behind the brushed titanium case of the Omega Spacemaster Z-33 is a polished Speedmaster Seahorse logo – a symbol of the watch’s family lineage. The watch also has an alarm feature loud enough to alert the pilot for any time bound control.

The new thermo-compensated quartz calibre 5666 provides the dynamic functionality and dependable accuracy. This movement derives from the X-33, a watch developed in the 1970s for the space flight to Mars. The movement can withstand the rigors of space and the extreme temperature differentials of any terrestrial environment. Protected by a double-wall titanium casebody, the inner caseback ensures water resistance of 30m and an outer caseback secured with four screws, is constructed to act as a resonance chamber to amplify the sound of the alarm. The highly durable Z-33 is ready for any mission in the skies or outer space.