My Omega Chronometre A 1940’s Omega Chronometre has been vaguely on my radar for a long time. Now and again I’ve perused through the online dealers and Ebay’s meager assortment of chronometre’s, but usually found the prices to high or the quality (redials abundant) to low. As with so many other watc
My Omega Chronometre
A 1940’s Omega Chronometre has been vaguely on my radar for a long time.
Now and again I’ve perused through the online dealers and Ebay’s meager assortment of chronometre’s, but usually found the prices to high or the quality (redials abundant) to low.
As with so many other watches I would love to own (ex. Rolex 1016 Explore), I was beginning to think, that the train of decent and affordable specimens had perhaps already left the station.
Last month saw the rare occasion, when a Chronometre came up at a local auction house here in Denmark, and for once the quality seemed decent, relative to the final bid,
so I’m now finally the proud owner of a ref. 2367, two-tone, 35,5 mm Omega Chronometre of 1944 vintage !
The dial is somewhat blemished and appear to suffer quite a bit from a cleaning attempt gone wrong, but it seems original and retains a vivid two-tone effect, changing with the light.
The outer hour ring has a metallic silver-like finish, and the art deco roman numerals are charming. I particular like the “watchmaker’s 4”.
The steel case is also two-tone, with a bronze like red gold bezel, that further adds character to the watch, and perhaps is the reason it wears larger then the 35 mm.
A two-tone case is a first for me, and I was initially a bit hesitant, but it works very well on the wrist in conjunction with a brown strap. I’ll properly get a more light brown strap though,- perhaps ostrich.
Crown is of course not original, and should properly be the same color as the bezel (?).
The movement is not by any means perfect, with tarnish on the wheels, discoloration on the bridges and a lot of scratching on the regulation index-plate.
However the movement looks all original, with a bimetallic Earnshaw cut balance wheel and the wonderfully shaped anchor. The watch runs about -20 sec/24h, so it will go to the shop in due course.
I’ve been wearing the watch a lot these last weeks,- as one does a new addition, and am really satisfied with the looks and wrist-presence, although it was, and clearly is, the movement with all its history, that holds the greatest allure for me. Happy days.
Now usually a tale like this would end here, but as we know,- fate sometimes moves in marvelous ways:
After getting my watch about a month ago I’ve been searching the net and reading a lot about Omega Chronometre’ and the history surrounding them,
so when I noticed yet another Chronometre at a different Danish auction house last week, I thought my brain was playing tricks.
Thou the lugs on the watch was badly shaved, I placed a very low bid,- just for the heck of it, and am now the happy accumulator of 2 Chronometre’ !!
My second version is an 18 ct. ref. 2364 from about 1945.
The dial is also somewhat tarnished and damaged, but well within my esthetic tolerance level. Particularly as it also seems original. Blue seconds hand is a nice bonus.
As mentioned, the lugs have been way too close to the polishing wheel, way too often, but they are still safe and stable, so I live with them. Otherwise the case is fine and the crown again not original.
Gravitation more and more toward older watches, I’m fortunate to be quite happy with smaller watches. The 33 mm diameter of this piece works just fine with me. Here a dark brown alligator strap is a forthcoming must.
This time the movement is much better. Slight discoloration on the bridges, but apparently also all original.
With 2 diverse and, I believe, all original speciments falling (almost) into my lap within a month, I unexpectedly find myself well and truly in the Chronometre fraternity. What a nice place to be !
I do have 2 questions that someone perhaps would be kind to venture an answer to:
What would the relative cost of a Omega Chronometre have been back in 1944-45,- versus ordinary 30mm and relative to the direct competitors, say PP Calatrava 96 ?
What can you expect in precision from these + 70 year old movements after an ordinary service ?
Yours
Jacob/Copenhagen
