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Hi
Paul
Thanks for the additional info on
the balance wheel. The post I
wrote I did basicly from memory.
I was lucky that I already
uploaded most of the images I was
going to use. The computer that I
had most of my notes on died.
Yea, that 21/24"' Chronometre
DeBord OBS was a realy mystery
for years. When I first wrote to
John and sent a pic of the
movement he really thought I
bought a put together unit!!
When I looked at it, I told him
no way it was too perfect! Just
look at the size difference of
the balance wheel to the std and
the spring barrel. I was just
stunned. I put it on the shelf,
never got as reply from John's
associate . But a while ago I had
a chance email exchange with
Marco Richon from Omega. He wrote
"Omega Saga". I asked him and he
repled look on page ### and there
were about three lines of text in
French. Something about a few
made with bigger balance and
spring barrel. Then I had
something to go on and asked for
specific help in ref to that text
passage and was able to break the
ice!
Paul, I have focued on collecting
chronometre grade Omegas over the
years. I do have a 20 "' DDR but
its an early 1905 first run 18
size american hunting case
configuration that Omega made
only 80.
The movement that put Omega on
the MAP!!!
The 19îí
ìOMEGAî pocketwatch
movement that Louis Brandt and
Sons put out in 1894. The
19îí was
ìmassî produced via
the divided assembly system (
based on interchangeable parts).
Previously one watchmaker would
hand assembly a watch and
ìmodifyî each part
to ìfitî. With the
introduction of the divided
assembly and totally
interchangeable parts, Louis
Brandt and Sons was able to
reduce costs of producing a hi
grade timekeeper and the pass the
cost saving on to the customer.
Other brands initially thought
that Louis Brandt and Sons was
ìdumpingî product on
the market below their costs to
kill the competition. The
19îí was so
successful that Louis Brandt and
Sons changed the name of their
company to ìOmegaî.
Omega went on to make the Omega
movement in multiple sizes and
approx 6 million movements were
produced !
Ok with that bit of info, what is
you before you is one of 4
Railroad grade 19îí
/ 20îí Omega pocket
watches. This is an example of an
early Omega dial signed, movement
signed Louis Brandt and Sons.
Allow me to present to you an
Omega DDR .
From the Omega Web Site
ìThis highly precise,
extraordinarily fine-finished
chronometer represents the best
factory-produced quality ever
achieved around the turn of the
century: silvered nickel
LÈpine movement, 23
jewels, first class diamonds and
rubies, two of which are on the
barrel arbor; Maltese Cross stop;
endstones on the pallets, the
pallets-wheel and the balance
(set with diamonds in this
case).
Pallets with balanced
counter-poise. Rubies set in
screwed gold collets, gold
balance-screw. Extremely precise
adjustment by swan-neck regulator
with graduated snail.
ì
This is the the TOP of the heap!!
When this was sold in 1905 it has
a Observatory certificate and was
regulated to within 1 min a month
accuracy.
I found this example of all
places on the Timezone Sales
corner about 5 years ago. Omega
made in the order of 380 examples
( this number is from memory).
When I first got this example I
asked Frank to look up the serial
number range in Omega Saga. He
said its not listed! After
confirmation with Omega and Marco
Richon, I indeed found a error in
the book . My example is a from a
the first year of production (
1905). This example is actually
one of 80 made in 18 size hunting
configuration and was shipped to
Canada dial and movement only.
Most examples of DDRs I have seen
over the years were all open face
in 19îí ( 16 size
American ). An additional bonus,
the case is 14k solid gold ! This
is also very uncommon to find a
high grade movement in a solid
gold case. Normally you will find
lower grade watches in gold cases
ì the banker watchî
but the railroader need to buy
the high grade movement and would
go with a gold filled case.
The other early Omega Railroad
grade pocket that you never see
is the Grade Very Best...
Omega made two runs of 300 each
for a total of 600 units.
I like to think of it as a SUPER
DDR.
The above example is a 16 size
american, in a sterling silver
Omega Swiss signed open face
display back case!
Good Hunting
Bill Sohne
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