ARCHIVE - HOMAGE TO BIENNE

[Houston]

FIRST EDITION -
OMEGA DE VILLE PRESTIGE TONNEAU ‘JUMPING HOUR’

An interesting timepiece produced in small numbers, reportedly 2,000 in total, the OMEGA De Ville Prestige Tonneau ‘Jumping Hour’ was available in either a salmon-pink or white dial and in stainless steel or yellow gold. The tonneau or barrel shaped watch measured 30mm x 33mm x 40mm and featured an hour window at 12 o’clock. The dial sits beneath a sapphire crystal which has an anti-reflective treatment on both sides.

The Salmon-pink dial model 4536100 features a central stamped sun motif, the design of which is carried on into the minute track. An unusually shaped minute hand is the only hand on this watch and in company with the applied OMEGA logo are applied numerals at 10 minute/second intervals which alternate with applied hour markers.

Power for this elegant and unique timepiece is courtesy of the chronometer-certified OMEGA calibre 1221, with circular-grained, rhodium-plated finish and Geneva wave decoration. Water-resistant to 30 meters. Alligator leather strap.


Model reference 4853.61.01 was available in a yellow gold case with brown alligator strap.

Pictures – omegawatches.com


















ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D









Please Note that our Watch Of The Day Threads are created to present the timeless beauty, elegance, functionality and desirability of OMEGA watches. As such, some items may be discontinued and replaced by newer models.
Others however are part of special limited edition production runs.

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[Houston]

November 5 2007

OMEGA 1894 CENTENARY COLLECTION

While Louis Brandt opened his comptoir d'etabilissage, a sub-contracting sales office for watch manufacture in 1848, the first completely new movement did not go into production until 1894. In 1994 OMEGA produced just 100 sets of a special series of three watches to commemorate this special anniversary. Two of the watches had line dials and the third, a wonderfully artistic floral dial made of enamel.

The two very fine and rare “ line ” dial watches were in platinum with two-toned silvered dial and pink gold with two-toned pink gold dials respectively. The dials featured applied markers on an inner hour track with Roman numerals at 12, 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock which alternated with dot indexes. A small seconds sub dial was located in the six o’clock position. An outer minute track bore line minute markers with accents at five minute intervals and each minute was presented graduations, each representing a fifth of a minute. The dial itself was split into four quadrants by intersecting perpendicular black lines meeting in the center of the leaf-style hour and minute hands.

A spectacular aesthetic offering comes in the third presentation of the series with its’ very prominent enamel, cloisonne flower in the central zone of the dial. To preserve the beauty of the floral arrangement, the dial is therefore kept as elegantly minimalistic as is possible with a Champagne chapter ring with applied gold dot and facetted indexes with the hands in yellow gold matching the case and crown. The Omega legend which is crowned by the symbol which is in applied yellow gold is placed unusually in the six o’clock position and follows the curvature of the dial.


Power for the Omega Centenary Limited Edition is courtesy of the cal 269 ( lined dial models ) and cal 286 ( cloisonne flower dial ) with 17 jewels and straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring and index regulator. The case measures 35.7mm and is 10mm in depth in respect of the lined dials and 11.2mm for the cloisonne flower dial with a display back and appropriately signed on the dial, case and movement.

Pictures – antiquorum.com




















Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

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[Houston]

November 7 2007

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER PERPETUAL

The Speedmaster Perpetual, vintage 1991 was made in celebration of the 700th anniversary of Switzerland and sold primarily in Japan. It is housed in the case of the 39mm Speedmaster model with an unusual feature of an octagonal signed crown and complete with tachymetre scale on a gold bezel and Moonphase correctors located in the band beneath the bezel adjacent to the 250 and 160 UPH positions.

This very fine and rare timepiece featured a 30 minute totaliser with month and leap year indicator in the 9 o’clock position, a 12 hour totalizer with days of the week ring at 6 o’clock and a small seconds sub dial with date ring at 12 o’clock. In addition, a Moonphase indicator at 3 o’clock crowns the OMEGA name, symbol and “ Perpetual ” legend. There is an outer minute and sixty-second track which is graduated to a fifth of a second. Black baton hands facilitate instant readout of time and timing functions while the central chronograph seconds is in yellow gold.

Power is derived from the OMEGA cal 1160 rhodium-plated movement with a straight-line lever escapement and bearing 27 jewels, “oeil-de-perdrix” decoration, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring and micrometer regulator.

The screw-in caseback is engraved “Schweiz – Suisse – Svizzera, 1291 – 1991, Speedmaster Perpetual” at the edge and “Maison Fondée en 1848” in the center.

Pictures – antiquorum.com




















Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

[Houston]

November 12 2007

OMEGA USINE DE GENEVA TOURBILLON

A rare and important find, this Tourbillon was the fourth of twelve movements made in 1947 for the Geneva Observatory Trials. In 1987, seven examples of such movements using a seven and a half minute Tourbillon regulator were encased and sold, thereby making this one of a very rare series of watches.

The case in polished sterling silver possesses a lapidated bezel, concave lugs and display back. A push button for setting the hands of the watch is located in the 4 o’clock position on the side of the case. The dial in a matte silver finish has painted black Dauphine numerals adjacent to an outer minute track and a subsidiary seconds dial is featured at 6 o’clock. This exclusive and rare timepiece which features blued steel baton hands is simply signed with the OMEGA name and Tourbillon legend along with the OMEGA symbol of the original style.

Power for the Omega Usine de Geneva Tourbillon is courtesy of the 25-jewel OMEGA calibre 30 movement which originates from 1947 and comprises a 2/3 plate, maillechort, the 7.5 minute Tourbillon regulator with a two-part rhodium-plated brass cage which is held by three screws. There is a Guilaume balance with a Breguet overcoil and index regulator. The case is 36mm in diameter with a depth of 11.5mm


Special Note - Guillaume Balance

In 1899, Dr. Charles Edouard Guillaume noticed that steel with an addition of 44.4% nickel had a negative square coefficient of thermal expansion. This alloy, combined with brass in bimetallic lamina, makes its expansion close to quadratic. Balances with bimetallic rims made of anibal (anibal, an alloy invented by Guillaume, stands for Acier au Nickel pour BaLanciers) and brass are usually called Guillaume balances, or, as their inventor called them, integral balances. When combined with special balance springs, they exhibit remarkable temperature stability, on occasion not exceeding 1/50 second per day at 1ºC.

Pictures and data – antiquorum.com




















Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

[Houston]

No 5 - November 14 2007

OMEGA 1940s CHRONOGRAPH

Originating from the late 1940’s, this is a rare Gentleman’s wristwatch in 18-carat pink gold. The case measuring 37.5mm in diameter and 12mm in depth sports an inclined bezel and rectangular push buttons for the chronograph functions.


The brushed silver dial features facetted indexes again in 18-carat pink gold in all but the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock positions. An Arabic 12 in applied metal appears above the original-style OMEGA symbol and legend. Sunken guilloche totalizers are the 30 minute at 3 o’clock, 12 hour at 6 o’clock and a continuous seconds counter at 9 o’clock.

The outer edge of the dial bear some interesting features being

- an outer minute and seconds track that is graduated to 1/5th second intervals with black Arabic markers at 5 second intervals

- a tachometer scale in blue

- an outermost pulsometer in red which is graduated to 30 pulsations


To complete the dial of this very fine and exceptional timepiece are Feuille or leaf hands in pink gold with the central chronograph seconds hand and hands for the totalizers in black.


Power is derived via the Lemania-based, manually-wound OMEGA Cal. 321 with rhodium plating, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber and self-compensating Breguet balance spring. The OMEGA 1940s chronograph was presented on a leather strap with a gold-plated OMEGA buckle.

Pictures – antiquorum.com



















Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

[Houston]

No 6 - November 16 2007

OMEGA ST CHRISTOPHER’S WATCH

This very fine and rare center seconds, Staybrite mid-sized traveller’s wristwatch which dates back to 1939 bears an unusual silver and enamel dial depicting the universally-recognisable image of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travellers. Curiously, it also features a rotating bezel for calculating elapsed time.


The solid, polished and brushed case featured an inclined rotating bezel with serrated edges and straight lugs. The dial is a matte two-tone silver with a central green enameled medallion depicting the popular image of St. Christopher wading through a river with a walking stick and carrying on his shoulder the Christ child against a “rays of glory” background. Black Dauphine numerals are set alongside an outer minute and seconds track while blued steel “éventail” or fan hands are employed in conjunction with a blued steel center seconds hand that features a circular counterweight. The OMEGA St. Christopher’s watch is powered by the rhodium-plated cal 23.4 SC movement bearing 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet balance spring and index regulator. The watch is by no means large indeed by any standard, with a case measuring 28.5 mm in diamater and possessing a depth of just 9.5 mm. The watch retailed for 725 French francs in 1939 which was considered an extremely high price at that time.



Note - Staybrite is a steel alloy containing 0.2% carbon, 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is a corrosion and heat-resistant stainless steel that takes a fine polish and is therefore often used for making watch cases. Like 316L it was used in the manufacture of hospital equipment.

Pictures – antiquorum.com














Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

[Houston]

No 7 - November 20 2007

OMEGA 1930s FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH

Offered in Staybrite steel, this is one of the early flyback chronographs offered by OMEGA. A flyback is a complication which employs a single push of a button for simultaneously stopping, resetting and restarting the chronograph function of a watch.


Thus in this rare example while the button at two o’clock is used to start the chronograph, the co-axial button for the fly-back is located in the crown.

The white dial features Breguet numerals adjacent to an outer minute track bearing Arabic markers at 5-minute intervals and divisions to 1/5th of a second. Two counters are present. At the three o’clock position is a 30 minute totaliser and a subsidiary continuous seconds counter is located at nine o’clock. The fine Breguet hands in blued steel and the central chronograph seconds hand is highlighted in red.


The power source for this fine early flyback chronograph measuring 37.5mm in diameter and 13.7mm in depth is the seventeen-jewelled OMEGA Cal 33.3 with rhodium-plating, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance and Breguet balance spring. In its’ original guise, it was presented with a leather strap and signed OMEGA buckle.

Pictures – antiquorum.com






















Please Note that our Homage to Bienne Series was created to present the timeless beauty and desirability of rare and unique OMEGA watches. As such most of these items are discontinued though some may be replaced by newer models

[Houston]

HOMAGE TO BIENNE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

THREE MEN, ONE WATCH

In 1960, Grant Stockdale, a then former member of the Florida State House of Representatives presented his friend of eleven years, a friend whom he helped to win the nomination of the Democartic Party to run for the office of President of The United States, John F. Kennedy, an Omega ‘Ultra Thin’ wristwatch in 18 carat gold. At that time, John F Kennedy was not yet President of the United States. However is a premonition of extraordinary proportions, this businessman and former veteran of the Pacific campaign chose to have his gift personalised with the following inscription –

“President of the United States John F. Kennedy from his friend Grant”

In a letter addressed to Grant that same year, Jacqueline Kennedy expressed her deepest thanks for this ‘thinnest most elegant wristwatch’ mentioning how thrilled JFK was about it and how ‘promptly he took off the chunky little one’ she had once given him.

On 9 November 1960, John F. Kennedy at 43 years of age became the youngest man ever elected to the office of President of the United States of America. At his Inauguration Ceremony, he wore the Omega his friend Grant had given him and a photograph was published in LIFE magazine which prominently showed this watch on the wrist of President John F Kennedy.

The President continued to wear the watch and whenever he would see Stockdale he would make a point of showing him that he was wearing the watch, which he nicknamed ‘The Stockdale watch’.

To this day, John F. Kennedy continues to have countless admirers around the world, for whom the 35th President of the United States of America will always be remembered as a charismatic and special person and leader of the free world .The events of November 22, 1963 horrified the world along with the rest of the country. A Florida-based collector specializing in rare documents and historically significant items and personal artifacts by the name of Robert L White decided to dedicate his life to the assembly of a unique and all-encompassing tribute to the personal and political history of the former president. Encouraged by his father and a television episode of “ Lassie ” on collecting autographs, Robert White decided to write to Evelyn Lincoln, John F. Kennedy’s Personal Secretary requesting a signature from the President. Several weeks later, a letter arrived from the White House which contained a facsimile signature of John F. Kennedy. Even though Robert knew it was not an original signature, this cherished first item formed the seed for what was to become the largest, most comprehensive and finest privately-owned John F. Kennedy collection of artifacts and documents in the world - The Robert L. White Private Kennedy Collection, the provenance and authenticity of which, fuelled by a true appreciation of the role of John F Kennedy in history would be most impeccable. It was to become the cornerstone and focus of the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Following the passing of Robert White in 2003, the White family determined that it was appropriate to offer Robert’s personal Kennedy Collection to the public.

Hence in December 2005, at an auction held by Guernsey’s in New York, the unrivalled Robert L White Collection, known to collectors all around the world and which touched on virtually every aspect of John F. Kennedy’s life went on sale. It included items from his childhood to his marriage to Jacqueline, from his early political aspirations to his mounting successes first as a Congressman, then Senator and finally, President of the United States. On December 16 2005, OMEGA announced that it had acquired the wristwatch that once belonged to the former American President. This unique and historic timepiece was bought for 350,000 USD, the highest bid of the auction’s first day.

This historic wristwatch was exhibited in Omega Flagship Boutiques around the world, before eventually taking pride of place in the Omega Museum in Switzerland.


One of the items at the famous auction was a letter from John F Kennedy to Grant Stockdale, Lot 965 in which President Kennedy referred to this watch saying that "I am wearing the Stockdale watch again."


The words of one of America’s greatest presidents and one who loved his Omega.

Pictures and information - omegawatches.com, guernseys.com

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