SamJH
186
Additional information
Additional details added with the assistance of Wytnucls; some photos and text he provided is included below.
1906 18''' P Chro NN L 15-19 jewels (P:thin; 39x7.15mm; NN:time setting anti-clockwise allowed; L Lepine)
It is the second Omega chronoscope, as it was called then, made by Francois Chevillat, after the calibre 19''' of 1898.
It came in three versions of quality (A [7j] which was short-lived, B [15j], C [19j]) and was very popular until 1928, when it was replaced by the 39 Chro. The sub-dial totalizer could be either 15' or 30'. My watch "jumps" to the next minute on the minute counter, which really begins about 0:54 seconds and completes at 0:01 seconds.
My example is a quality B, 15 jewel, accurate to a minute a day.
It was conceived so that it could also be used in a wristwatch, without any modification to the pusher levers, as the chrono could also be activated through the crown or by a separate pusher.
Lawrence of Arabia wore such a wristwatch, in 1916. Here is Lawrence's watch. Notice the pusher at 6 o'clock.
In the chronograph case, Lepine and savonnette names are determined by the pusher position, rather than the small second subdial position. The calibre was conceived so that it could be used, either with the pusher through the crown or at a 90 degree offset position, as in the photo below.
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See this article about the watch, now in the Omega Museum:
It cites a calibre 18''' SO PB CHRO (SO -- savonette and Omega collection (recall that Omega still sold watches not labeled Omega); PB -- plat (flat) and B quality)
Whereas my watch is a 18''' P Chro NN L 15-19 jewels
At the time of the discovery of the Lawrence watch, I had little interest in pocket watch calibres and paid it little mind. Until Wytnucls pointed it out, I had no idea this watch was similar to Lawrence's. They share variations of the same calibre..
I do note that Lawrence's movement serial number is 4'428'513
Whereas mine is 4'365'013
Making my watch movement (likely) somewhat older.
The movement in Lawrence's watch was once contained in a watch sold on 23 September 1915 (see the article for some discrepancies regarding the case, movement and markings).
I will need to contact Omega to find out the shipment dates for my movement and case.
My case reference number is consistent with the general era, but likely from some years later (5.3 million), perhaps indicating a later sales date, or a recasing of the watch (5 million case serial numbers first used in 1913, 6 million first used in 1918)
