Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Feb 22, 2014

LOT 46

OMEGA MARS WATCH FLIGHTMASTER PROTOTYPE TITANIUM Omega, "flightmaster", Prototype 09/22 of the Speedmaster X-33, also called the "Mars watch". Made in 1996. Very rare and interesting, center seconds, water-resistant, digital and analogue titanium multifunction wristwatch including: time, date, alarm, elapsed mission time, elapsed mission time alarm, universal time (two timezones), universal time alarm, countdown and chronograph, with a stainless steel Omega buckle. Accompanied by a titanium and stainless steel Seamaster Professional Omega bracelet with deployant clasp, box, Certificate of Authenticity and MA-1 flight jacket.

HKD 50,000 - 70,000

USD 6,500 - 9,000 / CHF 5,800 - 8,200

Sold: HKD 137,500

Four-body, polished and brushed, bezel with stroke minute/seconds divisions, double case back secured by 9 screws. Green display with luminous painted baton indexes, outer minute/seconds and 1/5th divisions. Analogue luminous "feather-shaped" hands for hours, minute and seconds functions, with battery end-of-life indicator and digital (circular) for the following functions: TIME (hr., min., sec.), perpetual calendar (day, date, month, year), ALARM, MT elapsed Mission Time up to 999 days, MA Mission Time Alarm, UT Universal Time (GMT hr., min. sec.) with day number, UA Universal Time alarm, CDT countdown up to 100 hours, with alarm, CHR chronograph to 1/100-second up to 100 hours. Cal. E20.301 with quartz standardization.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial and case signed. DIM. 44 x 49 mm. THICKNESS 15 mm. Two versions of the ?flightmaster? X-33 prototype were made. The first, produced in 100 examples, featured a single case back, giving a low-decibel alarm. The second (as in the present watch), had a double case back that amplified the alarm to 80 decibels. Development of the ?X-33? began in 1995 in conjunction with American and European astronauts, Russian cosmonauts and professional pilots (Blue Angels and Thunderbirds). After 5 years of development and testing, the new Speedmaster Professional X-33 integrated the latest technical features required for manned space missions. Titanium was used as a case material at the request of NASA, due to the fact that it is hypo-allergenic, non-ferrous, non-magnetic, light, and extremely robust. The watch also has analogue as well as digital display with many higher functions which were added at the request of light crews. In addition to absolute time the watch can also display, Military time, Universal Time (GMT) and mission elapse time (MET) and has an alarm for each: a side note to this is the fact the alarm sounds at 80db making it the loudest alarm on a watch. This is necessary as most tasks on spacecraft are performed according to MET, the Space Shuttle uses Central time and the ISS is on Universal Time. Having all these times available on one watch it reduces the need for multiple watches, however it is not unusual to see astronauts wearing two watches, often in the case of the ?X-33? one with a titanium bracelet and one with a Kevlar bracelet. This is done to allow the wearer to instantly recognise which watch is performing which function when it is not on their wrist. To be ?flight qualified?, the X-33 must be accurate to within -0.3 to +0.5 seconds per day; water- and pressureresistant to 3 bars; shock resistant to 3500 g?s; and antimagnetic. Temperature resistance is tested from -20 degrees C to +70 degrees C. Special alarm, lighting and vacuum tests are made. ?X-33?, the Omega code name for the project, became so popular that it was retained as the final commercial name. It was decided that the watch would be placed in the Speedmaster Professional line due to its association with manned space flight, and the ?flightmaster? name was once again consigned to history. ? This watch is illustrated in Marco Richon?s book page 638.