Omega

Hi, this is my first posting on the Omega forum at the Purists. I thought I'd share with you a pretty amazing watch I was lucky
enough to see recently.

A friend of mine who knew of my passion for early pilots watches kept mentioning he had an Omega version of the watch.
I naturally assumed it was going to be one of these rare watches. The CK 700AD or the CK 2042.

(credit Knirim's British Military Timepieces)

When he finally showed it to me, I was in for a surprise, as it was the rarer model CK 2000. The only real picture I've ever seen is in "Omega, A journey through Time", which is the one found in Goldberger's Book and that one features a shorter crown.

He was kind enough to let me take some pictures and allow me to post it for your thoughts and any information anyone
might have about it.

The pictures were taken under less than brilliant conditions, but still the watch shines through.

It has a 44mm Case.

From what I've read this watch dates to the late Thirties. It seems to be a fusion of the two other watches. The case of the standard pilots watch with the outer rotating dial and pointer and inner dial style of the later CK 2042.

What's interesting about the crystal is that a previous owner has added two black crosshairs to the underside, allowing the dial to be read quickly in 15 minute sections.

The thick crystal has seen it's fair share of wear and has the scars to prove it.

However aside from that the dial is astonishing. Any marks you see are mostly on the cystal not on the metal dial underneath.

Here's the original catalogue picture for it.

It would have been worn either strapped to the thigh or on top of thick jackets and gloves.

(Credit Watches for Romania www.ceasuripentruromania .ro)

Interestingly this shows another dial variation.

Finally, I had to strap this on for a wrist shot.

But one thing is sure: I LOVE  this pilot watch!

Another one in my long wish list,  my friend.

TERRIFIC piece.

A bit sad, even if I understand why, that the previous owner put this black cross, IMO.

Best, and keep on revealing us your awesome treasures!

Please, pretty please.

Nicolas

This is a rare watch indeed and it has a very well preserved original dial - which counts most on this watch model!

I own 2 CK 700 and 2 CK 2042 but I am still waiting for this ref 2000 ... maybe I will have to wait for a long time :-(

kind regards to your friend - and if he should decide to swap it for a 2042 let me know...

best

erich

No message body

No message body

...very nice and rare piece indeed...

Please keep us posted on other interesting findings

Best
Hans

That is a stunning example of, as you say, a rear beast.  Looks surprisingly good in your wrist shot too considering the very large lugs that were designed t go over jackets etc.  With regard to the black cross hairs under the crystal, if they are just painted on then it should not be difficult to remove them and return it to its original configuration.  Alternatively a custom crystal could be sourced for it to make it nicer for regular wear (of course you'd keep the original for historical preservation reasons).  There are a few people around now making custom saphire crystals for vintage PloProf etc so I'm sure you could do the same thing for this beautiful watch.

Regards,

Zac

Unlike Nico and Flightmaster...I'm going to say I like the cross hairs.

From what I can surmise, they are taking the place of the bezel pointer (which appears to be missing). You remove them, you remove history...

Fantastic watch, Thanks, Ubik.

in 25 years of collecting. and that was not for sale. i have the other 2 in good condition; the older one ( onion crown) with a near perfect enamel dial ! love both watches. your example has 2 distinctive features on the bezel. like they should have; who can spot them ? kind regards from australia. achim

...I was staring at all the other details. I'll rephrase: "they are taking the place of the supplementing the bezel pointer (which appears to be missing). You remove them, you remove history..."

i notice that the interval markers between the hours on the bezel indicate 15 minute intervals so the pilot can just look at the position of the hour hand and the bezel to get a pretty accurate idea of the time very quickly.

i've looked and looked but for the life of me i cant see anything else.

am i right on the first feature ?

best

Graham

with all originals . they have a luminous dot behind the 6 and behind the 9. not at 12 or 3. omega missed ( or did not want to do ) that little extra in their museum piece. maybe an older pilot knows, what purpose these had..... kind regards. achim

I definitely do not claim having the answer - when however the dial is being read obliquely (from an angled view) and especially when upside down then the 6 might be interpreted as a 9 , or consequently the 9 as a 6. By adding a marking at the base of the index symbol this risc will be diminished.

best,  Ben.

This message has been edited by B.de.Geus3 on 2010-11-17 14:40:17

kind regards. achim

... congrats to your friend on such nice vintage.

stefan

Thanks to everyone for the nice comments.

Nicolas, I only wish it was my treasure. It is in amazing condition and very wearable I think. I can't say it's everyday I get
to see things like this (well unless I visit Paris that is )

Erich - WOW. Two of the CK700 and 2042. Have you ever posted pictures? You are hiding some amazing watches.
I would be thrilled with just one of either of them in my collection.

Achim - beautiful watches and great pictures. What are the "distinctive features" you spotted?

The question of the cross hairs is an vexing one. It was clearly added by the owner to adapt it for their
specific use and as such is part of the history of the watch. Yet, like many, a clean crystal (which I believe is
just a lump of bevelled glass) would make the watch sing. If this was a plastic crystal I don't think any of
us would hesitate to polish it! I guess I would be in flightmaster's camp, preserve the original but have a second
one made. Well maybe...

i suppose you could call it a transitional piece if it came out inbetween the other 2 and shares parts from each one. the lume and dial is in uncommonly good condition for its age and even the glass, that looks to be original, is in reasonable condition.

i can only assume that the previous owner actually used it for something important to ruin the glass with the cross hairs. perhaps the new owner can remove it at some stage as it ruins the look of the piece. the right watchmaker could take the scratches out of the glass as well to improve the look of the dial. i'm all for scratches and dents to show the watches life, but scratches on glass are different and should be removed if possible (IMO).

welcome to the Omega forum, probably the forum with the most vintage pieces on it. i know the watch isnt yours, but its a brilliant one for your introductory post.

i know Nicolas would love one of the 1930's omega pilots watches, perhaps reading this will encourage him to look harder    i sadly had to make do with the museum piece and even thats gone now.

best

Graham 

Thanks Graham, I love vintage Omegas, yet weirdly I don't own any, I will have to seriously rectify that. They have produced iconic, rugged, beautiful, groundbreaking watches
in every area that I love.

I do own a few Lemanias though, which are really Omegas under the hood.

well said. Technical cooperation and product-development between specialist Lémania and mother Omega was far more intense and important than with Tissot, although the latter provided badly needed cash in economical difficult times.

cheers, Ben.

between Lemania and Omega. I know that they created a company together or Lemania were bought by Omega in the Thirties and became part of SSIH. I assume this was a way of Omega protecting their access to movements following the creationg of Ebauches SA. Yet Lemania continued to produce watches under their own name, unlike say Venus or Valjoux, and at times was even competing with Omega in military contracts, e.g. the Omega and Lemania WWWs.

Did Omega have reserved calibers from Lemania, e.g the Speedmaster's 321?

Can anyone shed anymore light on their working relationship in this early period?

...very nice and rare piece indeed...

Please keep us posted on other interesting findings

Best
Hans

No sadly not. Another friend was wearing that one.

...a bit of repair?