Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, May 10, 2020

LOT 325

Omega - “Competition” calibre 30 mm DP with five Observatory Bulletins; stainless steel and aluminium

HKD 20,000 - 25,000

USD 2,600 - 3,300 / EUR 2,400 - 3,000 / CHF 2,600 - 3,300

Sold: HKD 42,500

Stainless steel, open-face, manual-winding, round-shaped, wristwatch chronometer movement, with subsidiary seconds at 6, made for the observatory timing contests. White enamel dial with “Breguet” numerals. 30 mm DP, 30 T2, with oversized barrel, lever escapement, Guillaume balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curves, adjusted by André Brielmann, Bienne / Biel (frequency: 25 200 A/h).


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view Click to full view
Image Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 *
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Omega, Bienne / Biel

Model "Chronomètre"

Year circa 1950-1960

Movement No. 12 780 841

Case No. 60

Material stainless steel and aluminium

Diameter 38 mm.

Caliber 30 mm DP, 30 T2, lever escapement, Guillaume balance

Signature dial and movement

Accessories original aluminium testing case (50 x 45 x 24 mm.)

Notes

This particular movement received four First Class “Bulletins de marche” from the Geneva Astronomical Observatory in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, and one other from the Neuchâtel Astronomical Observatory in 1964.

The calibre 30 T2 is one of the best manual wind movements produced. It’s a simple design that won many of the observatory competitions year after year. The production of the calibre 30 mm designed by Henri Kneuss started in 1938 and ended in 1963.

Bibliography
Lexer, Erich, “Omega 30 mm Chronometer”, Editions Lexer, Austria, 2019.