
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Omega Renaissance 1894 In Platinum, 1994
- Maker / attribution
- Omega (maker)
- Date
- 1994
- Historical period
- Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- Platinum
- Dimensions
- Diameter 35.5 mm
- Stock no.
- CUR17
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Watches of Knightsbridge (CUR17)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Omega Renaissance 1894 In Platinum (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Watches of Knightsbridge (dealer), London (stock number CUR17), this is a wristwatch by Omega, made in Switzerland, dated 1994. The Atlas places it in the Mechanical Renaissance period (1990 – 2010) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Platinum. Recorded dimensions: Diameter 35.5 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 — Watches of Knightsbridge
Omega is, without question, are one of the few true powerhouses of the Swiss watch industry and in 1994, the brand celebrated its 100th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, Omega released a series of special timepieces named the “1894”. These classic dress watches are powered by a semi-vintage hand-wound calibre 269 movement, which is visible through the sapphire exhibition case back. This movement is from an unused batch of 1960s movements, but not just any batch. The cal. 269 is held in high regard by connoisseurs and watchmakers alike, so much so that Omega decided to use it for this special limited edition watch. It is from the same family of 30mm movements as the cal. 30T2 which not only was used for the WW2 Omega British Military watches, specifically the “Dirty Dozen”, but also used as a commercially made high grade chronometer movement during the 1940s which this watch is inspired by, the original cal. 30T2Rg. The Omega Renaissance 1894 came in various metals and all featured brilliant vintage inspired sector dial designs with crosshair printing, applied Roman numerals, oversized subsidiary seconds, and feuille hands. This particular example is the rarest being made in platinum and only 100 pieces produced. It features a stunning two tone silver dial, with black print. The case measures a classic 35.5mm in diameter and is in a great, original, unpolished state, with some light scratches from occasional use. It comes on its original burgundy alligator strap, with 18-carat white-gold pin buckle. While this watch may be contemporary, it certainly ticks all the right boxes for any discerning collector of vintage timepieces.
Specifications — Watches of Knightsbridge
Reference: 5960.60.02; Metal: Platinum; Movement: Manual-Wind Calibre 269; Case diameter: 35.5mm; Bracelet/strap: Omega Leather Alligator w/ 18K White-Gold Pin Buckle
Historical context
Mechanical Renaissance (1990 – 2010)
Mechanical watches return as cultural objects; independent watchmaking flourishes.
Mechanical watches returned as cultural and luxury objects. Complications, tourbillons and new materials proliferated; independent watchmakers such as George Daniels, F.P. Journe and Philippe Dufour revived artisanal watchmaking; collecting vintage watches became a major field.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Quartz Revolution
Atlas type guide
Wristwatches
Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.
After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.
What to look for
- The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
- The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
- Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
- Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
- Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
- Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.
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.
Related records
Instruments · 1950–1976
Omega Megaquartz 2400 marine chronometer, 1950–1976
Science Museum Group, London
Instruments · 1960–1979
Stopwatch / timer by Omega, 1960–1979
Science Museum Group, London
Instruments · 1960–1979
Stopwatch / timer by Omega, Switzerland, 1960–1979
Science Museum Group, London
Instruments · 1960–1979
Stopwatch by Omega, Swiss made, single-button type reading 0 - 60 seconds in fifths and 0 - 5 minutes in minutes on subsidiary dial, 1960-79.
Science Museum Group, London
Wristwatches · 2008
Wristwatch by Breitling?, 2008
Museum Rotterdam
Wristwatches · c. 1990s
Audemars Piguet Bamboo, c. 1990s
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · c. 1990
Audemars Piguet Huitieme Perpetual Calendar, ref. 25696PT, c. 1990
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · c. 1990
Breitling Chronomat, ref. b13050.1, c. 1990
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
