Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Omega Reference 196.006 Beta 21 Movement in 18kt Yellow Gold, early 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Omega (maker)
- Date
- early 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- yellow gold
- Dimensions
- Case 15 mm
- Stock no.
- w-2189
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (w-2189)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Omega Reference 196.006 Beta 21 Movement in 18kt Yellow Gold (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number w-2189), this is a wristwatch by Omega, made in Switzerland, dated early 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 15 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
This is a very interesting and rare Omega that houses a Beta 21 movement. In the early 60s, a number of prominent brands collaborated on the development of what became known the Beta 21 movement at the Centre Electronique Horologer (CEH). Patek used it in their Cercle d’Or, Omega in their Electroquartz pieces and Rolex in the 5100. This Omega is a really hefty beast,208 grams 18k gold case that measure 43x37mm and is 15mm thick ! The case has a left-hand, or destro setting crown and houses a gold dial with applied Omega logo. The watch has a red date wheel and red seconds hand with black enamel hour and minute hands. The semi-integrated (detachable!) yellow gold bracelet is in great condition and will fit a wrist size up to 19cm. the Omega cal 1300 movement has been fully checked by our watchmaker and a new battery fitted. Unusual watches like this are hard to find and the Beta 21 watches have seen a sharp rise in interest from collectors. Get in touch and we can discuss this watch more! Specifications: - Omega ref 196.006 - Beta 21 movement - dating to the early 1970s - 43x37mm yellow 18k gold case - “Destro “crown - Champagne/ gold dial - Black enamel hour and minute hands - Red seconds hand - Cal 1300 Beta 21 movement - Movement number 00001xx (!) - Original semi-integrated Omega gold bracelet - Fully checked by our watchmaker - Includes a handmade leather watch pouch
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Quartz, digital and electronic watches
Electronic watches arrived in three steps. The Hamilton Electric 500 (1957) was the first battery-powered wristwatch, still with a balance; Bulova's Accutron (1960) used a tuning fork. On 25 December 1969 Seiko released the Astron 35SQ, the first quartz wristwatch, closely followed by the Swiss Beta 21 group. In 1972 Hamilton's Pulsar introduced the LED digital watch, and LCD displays soon made digital watches cheap.
The 'Quartz Crisis' that followed devastated the Swiss mechanical industry, which lost two-thirds of its workforce between 1970 and 1984 before recovering with the Swatch (1983) and the luxury mechanical revival. Solar, radio-controlled, kinetic and connected smartwatches continue the electronic line.
What to look for
- Battery hatch in the case back and calibre markings with 'Quartz' or a crystal frequency.
- Display technology: LED (red, push-button) versus LCD (always-on).
- Tuning-fork hum and a smoothly sweeping seconds hand on Accutrons.
- Model and reference numbers, often printed on the back.
Dating clues
- Electric balance watches: from 1957.
- Tuning-fork watches: 1960–c. 1977.
- Quartz analogue: from December 1969; LED digital: 1972–c. 1978; LCD from 1973.
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:Seiko calibre 35A (Astron)
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