Online Auction

Hong Kong, Feb 27, 2020

LOT 104

Omega - Ref. 176.002, self-winding, chronograph, minute and hour recorders, date; “Speedmaster Professional” “Mark III”; stainless steel

HKD 6,000 - 8,000

USD 800 - 1,050 / EUR 750 - 1,000 / CHF 800 - 1,050

Stainless steel, self-winding, tonneau-shaped, massive gentleman’s wristwatch, water-resistant, screwed case-back, black bezel ring under the glass, black dial with subsidiary seconds at 9 and five horological complications: • 1/8 second chronograph (activated by the two round push-pieces) with tachometric scale graduated on the bezel for 500 units per hour • Dragging 60-minute central recorder • 12-hour recorder (subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock) • Date of the month (aperture at 3 o’clock) • Diurnal (day-time) and nocturnal (night-time) hours with a 24-hour (AM-PM) scale (subsidiary dial at 9 o’clock)


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 *
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Brand Omega, Bienne / Biel

Model “Speedmaster Professional” “Mark III”

Reference 176.002

Year circa 1975

Bracelet stainless steel Omega link bracelet with deployant

Length 41 mm.

Caliber 1040a (based on Lemania 1341)

Height 51.6 mm.

Thickness 16 mm.

Signature dial, case and movement

Notes

Omega, Reference 176.002, “Speedmaster Professional” “Mark III”
This reference was launched in 1971 and was produced concurrently with the “Speedmaster Professional” and the “Mark II”.
This watch holds a unique place in the Omega collection of the 1970’s. Its case is from the “Pilot” line of cases which was used for the “Flightmaster”, as well as on “Seamasters”, making it the only “Speedmaster Professional” to share its case design with both chronograph and non-chronograph models.
It is also the first self-winding “Speedmaster Professional” (Swiss invention patent No. 558 556), pre-dating by two years the famous “Speedy 125”, the movement of which is a certified chronometer version of this calibre.
This reference was made with two distinct dial designs, the first black with luminous markers, the second satiné blue with applied indexes. It is interesting that the Omega advertising for the “Mark III” states: “After six landings on the moon, there was only one thing we could teach the Speedmaster. To wind itself.” Ironically, had the “Speedmaster” been self-winding in 1962 it probably would never have passed NASA’s stringent tests. This is due to two things: first, self-winding movements do not wind in zero gravity environments; second, these movements tend to be less robust than manual winding ones.