Description: Nickel plated brass three part chronometer competition case for tourbillon movement prototype. Coin edge to the front and back, these are screwed to the partially coin edged ‘midcase’. Midcase stamped ’55’. Push button at ‘4’ with cylindric brass knob. Opening for the crown at ‘3’. Mineral glass front and back.
Movement: Omega 30I tourbillon prototype
Additional Info: Omega was one of the first companies in creating a wrist watch sized tourbillon caliber in 1947. Officially 12 pieces have been made and competed at several chronometer competitions (4).
In 1987, 7 of these 12 30l tourbillon movements, cased in such chronometer competition casings, were found in the Omega archives. Omega subsequently finished the quite raw movements and cased them in gold to be sold to collectors through auctions. The version shown below apparently having been built separately as a 13th piece and being the only one, of the 13 made, originally cased in 1947, as stated by Omega (4, Pictures credit: 3, 4).
The purpose of having the 7 pieces found in the archives re-cased by Omega, was to retain a certain originality and thus being able to sell the now wrist watches at higher prices. No one would have bought an isolated and uncased tourbillon movement for a premium price. The strategy was successful, all Omega tourbillon wrist watches listed at auction as original (even though the case was made 40 years later) made very impressive prices.
This original chronometer competition case is now virtually unique. This chronometer competition case was kept by an involved engineer, when the 7 movements found in the archive were re-cased. It is surely the only one in private hands, Omega might still have one complete version including the unfinished movement in their possession.
Ref.:
- Personal communication with Swiss watchmaker, watch restorer and collector
- Richon M.; Omega, Reise durch die Zeit; Omega AG, 2007
- Watchesbysjx
- Omega
Omega Prototypes 