Stainless steel Omega Speedmaster Mark II Professional chronograph wristwatch, 1970 — view 1 of 4 — View 1 of 4 · Image: Somlo Antiques · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Stainless steel Omega Speedmaster Mark II Professional chronograph wristwatch, 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: OMEGA (maker)
Date: 1970
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Unrecorded in source
Object type: Wristwatch
Materials / technique: stainless steel
Dimensions: Case 45 mm
Dealer: Somlo Antiques (dealer), London
Stock no.: O.3204
Credit line: Dealer listing, Somlo Antiques (O.3204)
Catalogue title (original): Stainless steel OMEGA Speedmaster Mark II Professional chronograph wristwatch. Made 1970 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (stock number O.3204), this is a wristwatch by OMEGA, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: stainless steel. Recorded dimensions: Case 45 mm. The record is illustrated with 4 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 — Somlo Antiques

The Omega Speedmaster Mark II, introduced in 1969, was the successor to the original Speedmaster, which had been introduced in 1957. The Speedmaster Mark II was a departure from the original Speedmaster's design, featuring a tonneau-shaped case with a bracelet, and a tachymeter scale printed on the dial. One of the most notable features of the Speedmaster Mark II is its movement. The watch was powered by the Omega calibre 861, a highly reliable and accurate movement that had been introduced in 1968. The calibre 861 was a hand-wound movement that had a power reserve of approximately 48 hours and was equipped with a cam-operated chronograph mechanism. Brand: OMEGA Made: 1970 Model: Speedmaster Reference: ST 145.014 Calibre: 861 Movement: Manual Material: Stainless steel Features/complications: Chronograph and tonneau case Dial: L uminous painted baton indexes, outer minute/seconds divisions, outermost 1/5 second divisions featuring subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock, 30 minute register at 3 o’clock and 12 hour register at 6 o’clock with luminous baton hands, and centre chronograph seconds Case dimensions: 42 x 45 mm Bracelet/strap: Stainless steel bracelet Accessories: Extract from the Archives SKU: 03204

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 timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Power reserve indicator — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryNot in source
MaterialsRecorded
DimensionsRecorded
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Somlo Antiques (dealer), London (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Somlo Antiques — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Stainless steel Omega Speedmaster Mark II Professional chronograph wristwatch, 1970." Somlo Antiques (dealer), London, O.3204. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/stainless-steel-omega-speedmaster-mark-ii-professional-chronograph-wri-23992c.