Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Geneva, Nov 08, 2026

LOT 361

OMEGA, SWITZERLAND, REF. 1170-9, PROJECT P 33, PROTOTYPE NO. 00, BRASS

CHF 5,000 - 10,000

HKD 47,700 - 96,000 / USD 6,100 - 12,200 / EUR 5,400 - 10,800 / JPY 960,000 - 1,920,000

Sold: CHF 8,820

A very fine, historical, brass, manual wind central tourbillon wristwatch


Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2-8

Very good

Slightly scratched

Movement: 3-29**

Good

Lacking elements

Repair required, at buyer's expense

Dial: 2-6-8

Very good

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched

Brand Omega, switzerland

Model Project P 33

Reference 1170-9

Year circa 1991

Caliber 1170, 48 jewels

Diameter 38

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

The Project P33 was again the fruit of the collaboration of probably 2 of the greatest watch engineers Andre Beyner and Moritz Grimm. Started in 1991 for Omega, this time the goal for the manufacture's 100th anniversary (1894–1994) was to produce something great and unusual. It was decided that a Tourbillon wristwatch would be the perfect watch to create but in order to make it truly unique they decided a central flying tourbillon would be the way to go.

The gearing for the plates was moved to the periphery of the dials into the sides of the watchcase.

Since the traditional position for the center cannon-pinion and time indicators was now taken by the tourbillon cage, engineers had to modify the display mechanism from the Omega Dinosaur. The hands of the central tourbillon were etched onto thin sapphire crystal disks that rotated on top of one another to display the minutes and hours.

The escapement was constructed with a solid gold balance wheel and a blued Breguet balance spring with a Phillips overcoil. The seconds’ indicator was shaped into the Omega symbol and incorporated onto the tourbillon regulator as well. By using a cage constructed of lightweight titanium, the 41-component tourbillon assembly only weighed 0.46 grams; the balance wheel alone weighed 0.20g. The lightweight tourbillon and a platinum rotor mounted directly into the caseback for ideal mass and winding efficiency both contributed to achieve a final power reserve of 45 hours.

This example was one of the very few original prototypes made in brass (for a similar example see Antiquorum lot 245, May 10, 2025) and was one of the personal watches of Andre Beyner. It is almost complete missing its escapement, winding crown and 1 disk with hour and minute hands.

Provenance

Property of Andre Beyner