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Omega Nickel Silver Enamel Dial Chronograph with Breguet Hands Military Issue, 1900s — view 1 of 6
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Pocket Watches · Pocket watch

Omega Nickel Silver Enamel Dial Chronograph with Breguet Hands Military Issue, 1900s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Omega (maker)
Date
1900s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Pocket watch
Materials / technique
silver, enamel, nickel
Stock no.
Product 3742
Credit line
Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 3742)
Catalogue title (original)
Omega Nickel Silver Enamel Dial Chronograph with Breguet Hands Military Issue (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 3742), this is a pocket watch by Omega, made in Switzerland, dated 1900s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: silver, enamel, nickel. 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 — WatchMuseum.org shop

Step back in time with the Omega Nickel Silver Enamel Dial Chronograph, a remarkable piece from the early 1900s that embodies the elegance and precision of its era. This exquisite pocket watch, crafted by the renowned Swiss watchmaker Omega, features a single button chronograph encased in nickel silver, a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and durability. The enamel dial, preserved in excellent condition, enhances its allure, making it a rare gem for collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its origins possibly linked to military personnel during World War 1, this timepiece carries a rich historical significance, adding depth to its already impressive profile. The watch houses an in-house caliber movement, a hallmark of Omega’s craftsmanship during the 20th century, ensuring accurate timekeeping and reliability for everyday wear. Its Art Deco style and manual wind movement further accentuate its timeless appeal, making it not just a functional accessory but a cherished heirloom. Originating from Switzerland, this Omega chronograph is a symbol of the brand’s storied legacy and is in excellent condition, ready to captivate anyone with an appreciation for horological artistry and history. We have a beautiful Omega pocket watch from the early 1900s featuring a single button chronograph. The watch was crafted from nickel silver and showcases exquisite craftsmanship. The enamel dial is in excellent condition, making it a rare find. It’s possible that this watch was issued to military personnel during World War 1, adding to its historical value. The movement is an in-house caliber, which was standard for Omega watches during that time period. The watch keeps accurate time and is suitable for everyday wear. It’s an heirloom timepiece that’s highly collectible and sure to impress any watch enthusiast. Creator: Omega Movement: Manual Wind Style: Art Deco Place of Origin: Switzerland Period: 20th Century Date of Manufacture: 1900’s Condition: Excellent

Historical context

Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)

The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.

The pocket watch reached technical maturity and then began to give way to the wristwatch after the First World War. Complicated watches for collectors such as Henry Graves Jr. and James Ward Packard, railroad watches, and slim Art Deco dress watches are characteristic.

Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches 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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