An Omega Olympic “Nuit spatiale” pocket watch with split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute register, two piece, non-slip black enamel coated case, ref. MG 6713. These very special and very rare pieces were made in a small batch for the Pan American Games at Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada).
A split-second chronograph, also called a double chronograph or rattrapante chronograph, enables the timer to measure and compare two separate events simultaneously. These time recording devices have been used across all types of sport from motor racing to the Olmpic Games. More often than not they are simply just stop watches. This example also has a pocket watch, and so will keep the time of the day.
Omega has a long running and special relationship with athletics timing. Omega made its debut in sports during the Gordon Bennett international ballooning Cup in 1917; since then Omega has gone on to be the official timekeeper at 21 Olympic Games. In 1936 Omega set the remarkable World precision record of 97.8 points at the Kew-Teddington observatory in England.
They have been the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games since 1932, and has introduced many innovations to the way sports are timed. Back in 1932 Omega became the first watchmaker to time an entire Olympic Games, using thirty chronographs and one watchmaker being present throughout the whole event!
Fast forward to 1966 and we find this piece. Not only has the case been designed to be held in the hand, with this coating that enables it to be more securly held under perspiration or precipitation, but Omega also developed this plastic case to house the watch with a lanyard that can be worn around the neck and operate simply the timer through the pusher on the top left.
The watch is powered by the Omega Caliber 1131, gilt brass, 21 jewels, straight line lever escapement, mono-metallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometer regulator. A superbly accurate and well made piece of watch making history. The movement has serial number 2,033,XXX stamped onto the bridge. All of these are believed to have been made in 1966.
The watch, and accompanying case are in superb condition. There is no issue to report on either the watch or the case that holds it. This is a superb piece of both Omega and sports timing history that rarely come up for sale, especially complete
