Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 16, 2014

LOT 291

OMEGA LARGE PINK GOLD CHRONO-TACHYMETER - COLORED MULTISCALE CHRONOGRAPH Omega, "Chrono-Tachymeter, Cadran Brevetè S.G.D.G.", case No. 3290634, Ref. 743.18/20. Made circa 1910. Very fine and very rare, large-size, pink gold keyless pocket watch with chronograph, 15-minute register and Omega's patented (CH) multicolored tachometer scale No. 8760 for determination of any speed up to 200 km/h.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

HKD 83,000 - 125,000 / USD 10,500 - 16,000

Four-body, "bassine et filets", polished, engine-turned back with central circular polished medallion. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute and fifths of a second divisions, sunk 15-minute register with five colored zones corresponding to the colors of the outermost tachometer scale, running from 10.5 to 200 km/h. Pink gold spade hands. Cal 19''' LOB, frosted gilt, 3/4-plate, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator, the chronograph work is set on a separate plate fastened to the back plate.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial and case signed. DIAM. 61 mm. The present watch is the largest and most complex of the "Chrono-tachymeter" watches by Omega and is extremely rare in a gold case. The term "Chrono-tachymeter" refers to the dial with its extended tachymeter scale capable of timing speeds both slow, 10.5 kph, to speeds that were not yet achieved by the fastest cars of the day, 200kph. The 15-minute counter includes five colored zones corresponding to the colors of the tachymetric scale and indicates which sector of the scale is to be read. Most tachometers from this period that were graduated to such high numbers were marked UPH as they were more commonly used for production timing. At the time this watch was made such speeds were encountered only in scientific experiments as aviation was in its infancy. This type of dial could be found on both wrist and pocket chronometers from this period. Cal 19''' LOB L = Lépine O = Omega caliber B = 15-17 jewels, Breguet balance spring adjusted to less than one minute per day. Similar watches are described and illustrated in "Omega - A Journey Through Time", Marco Richon, 2007, p. 520-522.