s Tzuyu Huang, Horage CEO, states: "Omnium was the very first Horage watch, which we started developing in 2006 and with 18 years of experience I have learnt an important lesson - ’make it simple’. How it began: Back in 2006 when the designer showed me their initial sketches, I thought, ’I’m being taken for a ride’.

"It was so simple, but we were looking for a signature design for Horage, one that people will remember in 10, 20 or even in 100 years. I was asked, ’Are you sure you want to start working on this design? It will be very difficult to produce!’

"We spent a long 2 years building that very first prototype, I worked with a prototyping specialist based in Le Locle who had 40 years of experience. The Omnium case was designed in a very classical watchmaking manner, with the addition of sharp, clean edges to give it an elegant, modern look.

"A simple case requires perfect proportions, which are very much related to the size of the movement.... We trialled the thin Vaucher Manufacture movements in 2007, but when Hèrmes bought a 25% stake that ended the ability to work together. In 2009, we decided to use the Soprod ETA 2892 base movement as our own in-house K1 was still in the design and development process.

She adds: "In 2015 after many years of work and investment, of both time and money, K1 was ready to be launched, we re-designed Omnium into both a 40mm and 32mm case. But still there were compromises we had to make. The journey to search for the perfect proportions continued.

"The idea for the K2 Calibre was originally conceived back in 2015 as we finished the K1, but at that stage we didn‘t have the time or resources to develop it, as the K1 was in the industrialisation phase which took us another 3 years of hard work. The development of the K2 calibre was finally finished in 2021, and we immediately took action to use it for an Omnium which I believed it could turn out to be a perfect proportion. Even then it did not come easily, we started with a 38mm case, the initial prototypes were terribly boring, with no attractiveness, the finer details were not resulting in the desired perfect proportions I so wanted. I seemed that everything was going wrong ...

"The design team were struggling with where the problem lay? 38mm should be a perfect size, the K2 being very thin at 2.9mm, railway minutes track gives a classic look, the handwritten numerals should give a handcrafted touch... but still the prototype was just boring, flat, emotionless. What was wrong? A year later in 2022, I called the design lead and said, ’I think we need to go for a 37mm case, that‘s the key thing we need to change.’ There were thousands of operations involved in this simple change. How do we get the case thickness under 8mm? How do we find the best angle for the lugs? How do you get the largest visible opening out of such a small case? We needed a very steep dial rehaut ring, not to mention we would have the problem of printing a ’square’ frame on the steep side of it… thousands of operations and technical solutions had to be developed and worked on.

“It took us another 2 years.”

Today, you see the results of 18 years hard work and a dedication to the task. A classic and elegant yet very simple watch, which is far from boring, it is relaxed, attractive, timeless and most importantly it is easy to wear.

To celebrate this accomplishment, and in a first for Horage, the all-new Omnium K2 is being offered with a PT950 Platinum case, a material that is extremely difficult to work with, and seldom used due to this. It complements the 18kt 3N Yellow Gold case and of course the 904L Stainless Steel.

The Omnium model has the greatest depth of history for Horage. The all-new Omnium K2 in 37mm is the product of many peoples hard work and dedication over the last 18 years. As the debut model for the brand, it was announced at Basel World in 2009. The original Omnium pre-dates our first in-house movement, the K1 automatic which was only just beginning its development in 2009.

When the brand was re-launch in 2015, the Omnium was again front and centre, being updated and powered by then then all new K1 in-house calibre. As a core model family for Horage, it was subsequently followed up by a 25-piece limited-edition Omnium Gen 2 again powered by K1 calibre.

Since Horage’s earliest days, the brand has moved onwards and upwards, both with technical achievements and ever more refined and elegant designs. To great acclaim, it launched the state-of-the-art micro-rotor movement, the K2 calibre in 2021. It was of course a given that it wished to continue the history and legacy of the Omnium featuring the K2 calibre.

Horage has, and is, committed to the use of the best premium materials for our watches. The original Omnium was our first model to utilise 904L stainless steel, a grade that allows for a lustrous polish and has excellent resistance to corrosion, it was also offered in 18kt yellow gold, a precious metal that is traditionally reserved for the most elegant and exclusive watches.

Continuing this quest to utilise the most premium material, the brand introduces the all-new Omnium K2 in case materials that embolden and enhance its carefully sculpted lines and deeply considered profile. Alongside 904L stainless steel and 18kt 3N yellow gold, it is for the first time offering PT950 platinum as an option.

At Horage, it has long been discussed the true value of gold and precious metals, its Golden Ticket campaign opened the pandoras box of the true value of these materials and how it has tried to approach the use of these materials in an open and refreshingly honest way. The original Omnium models were all 40mm in diameter, but as times and trends have changed, the new Omnium K2 features its most refined and elegant case to date, reducing in size to 37mm in diameter with a thinness of only 7.95mm, a contemporary size that many feel is perfect for an all-occasion piece for all people.

The exhibition sapphire case back displays the K2 micro-rotor calibre in all its glory. This is the first watch in its range fitted with the thinnest variant of the K2, at only 2.9mm thin.

The Omnium K2 is the first model to be powered by the K2 calibre variant with a thinness of only 2.9mm. The incredibly efficient and chronometer-certified K2 micro-rotor movement has been reworked to reduce the movement height to allow for fitment in such an elegant and slim case.

The single barrel of the K2 delivers over 72 hours of power reserve. Through advanced material science and in-house IP, Horage is one of the few independent brands to offer a silicon hairspring, escape wheel and anchor. The combination increases overall movement efficiency, isochronism and is non-magnetic.

The K2 development took Horage’s engineering team 5 years or intensive work, resulting in an incredibly precise calibre that is one of the most efficient, modular micro-rotor calibres offered by the Swiss watch industry today.

There are options to suit everyone, with three dial colours to choose from there is sure to be one to suit every style. Midnight Bleu, Frost Fire and Pink Perfection dial options cater for all styles and occasions, from the most formal of events whether family or business, out for drinks with friends, to relaxing by the beach.

All 3 dials features appliqué Arabic numerals which are formed from mono-block Swiss Super-LumiNova. Midnight Bleu and Perfection Pink dials feature colour matched numerals, whilst the Frost Fire has sporty red numerals. Diamond-cut and Polished hour and minute hands with Swiss Super-LumiNova inserts. Finishing off the dial is a small seconds indicator at 6 o’clock.

The real showstopper is the facet cut sapphire crystal. It instantly catches the eye, encouraging you to look further into the meticulous finish of the dial and the polished case details. The layering effect of the crystal also creates a visual step that waterfalls into the lug design.

All options are fitted with a rubber strap with an alligator style embossing in a deep dark blue fitted to a refined pin buckle featuring polished and brushed finishes. The pin buckle is an example of the level of detail and refinement in the design of the Omnium K2. It has defined edges, but with delicate rounding for comfort without detracting from the angular design, an extension of the carefully considered lugs of this watch.

The pin buckle is offered in 3N yellow gold-plated stainless steel on the solid 18kt yellow gold watch, and stainless steel on the solid PT950 platinum and stainless steel cased watches.

The strap is water resistant, matching the watches 100m water resistance rating for those days by the pool or when the sea calls.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Functions: Hours and Minutes with Small Seconds indication at 6 o’clock.
• Case & Crown: 904L stainless steel, 18kt 3N yellow gold, PT950 platinum, with H logo on crown.
• Dimensions: Diameter 37.3mm, thickness 7.95mm, lug width 20mm, lug to lug 43.8mm.
• Hands: Diamond cut polished with luminous insert on hour and minute hands.
• Crystal: Facet cut sapphire crystal (3 facets) with 5 anti-reflective coatings (inside).
• Dial: Midnight Bleu, Frost Fire or Pink Perfection featuring monobloc moulded lume which glows green. **
  (Colour matched numerals on Midnight Bleu and Pink Perfection, Red on Frost Fire)
  **Perfection Pink dial is not available with the 18kt 3N yellow gold case.
• Case Back: Sapphire crystal.
• Water Resistance: 100 meters.
• Strap: Dark blue rubber with alligator imprint lined with soft touch material.
  (Std= 110/70mm to suit wrist size 140 - 175mm, XL = 130/80mm to suit wrist size up to 205mm)
  (A Dark Grey strap available to purchase separately)
• Pin Buckle: 3N yellow gold-plated stainless steel on 18kt yellow gold case. Stainless steel on PT950 platinum and 904L stainless steel cases. All pin buckles feature an applied shadow gap logo.
  *Customer can select to upgrade to a solid 18kt 3N yellow gold or 18kt white gold pin buckle at a cost of 1,800 CHF at point of purchase.
• Movement: K2 (2.9mm) Automatic, COSC certified (-4/+6 seconds per day)