Recently, many watchmakers have taken to their archives to create convincing modern reproductions of vintage watches, but despite its looks, that’s not what Omega’s latest limited edition is. Rather, it’s something far more novel: a brand-new watch based around a stash of actual vintage movements stored in Omega’s archives that date back to 1913.
More specifically, the limited edition uses an original Omega 18’’’ CHRO, an early chronograph pocket watch movement from the watchmaker. Of course, this wasn’t a “plug-and-play” situation – the movements had to be modified with modern jeweling and by photographing and restoring the gear teeth of each wheel in the going train to make sure that they aligned and functioned properly. The movements were further decorated and finished by hand to give them a bit more pizzaz, because if you’re going to all this trouble in the first place, why the hell wouldn’t you go just a bit further?
The design of the rest of the watch is based on a wrist-worn chronograph design from 1915, which means that the movement is housed in a massive pocket watch-like 47.5mm white gold case with a case back that hinges open. The watch also features a grand-feu enamel dial with very turn-of-the-century-looking Arabic numerals. As a bit of a modern touch, the crown and pusher at six o’clock are made from Omega’s proprietary “Sedna” rose gold alloy.
Because unused chronograph movements from the early 20th-century don’t grow on trees, this is going to be an exceptionally limited run of watches: just 18 examples will be made and offered at the equally exclusive price of $120,000.
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