Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Omega Chronograph Salmon Dial Calibre 33.3, 1940
- Maker / attribution
- Omega (maker)
- Date
- 1940
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 38 mm
- Stock no.
- W-2544
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-2544)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Omega Chronograph Salmon Dial Calibre 33.3 (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-2544), this is a wristwatch by Omega, made in Switzerland, dated 1940. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Bulang & Sons
Oversize steel vintage watches from the 1940s have always been a firm favourite here at Bulang and Sons. Factor in that this is an Omega, it’s a dual register chrono and it is driven by the calibre 33.3 movement and we have a very desirable and cool looking watch to offer all you watch lovers. The 38mm case is made of Staybrite, a chrome used during that period. The case has olive pushers and a snap on back and remains in good condition. The desirable salmon dial, with painted logo, has an outer telemeter scale in red and an inner tachymeter scale in blue. There is no lume on the two-tone salmon dial and the watch is fitted with delicate non-lume blued hands. The watch houses the legendary calibre 33.3 chronograph movement that has been fully serviced by our watchmaker and this cool Omega will come on the pictured leather strap. This watch is so timeless and elegant and would be perfect on your wrist this festive period. Get in touch to seal a deal! Specifications: - Omega Chronograph - Movement no 9555xxx dates to 1940 - 38mm Staybrite (chrome) case - Olive pushers - Salmon dial with telemeter and tachymeter scales - Calibre 33.3 movement - Comes on the pictured leather strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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