Normally, we look at the dial to evaluate and enjoy the watch, but sometimes we enjoy looking at the movement, too.
And that is what I am doing right now. A pristine 561 from 1965 in a constellation case with a nice dial. And when it falls into the group of best performance movements of Omega, the joy of collecting vintage watches is so great.



Cheers.

 

For those interested, Desmond's essay on these special movements is here:
https://omega-constellation-collect...06/as-ryan-rooney-noted-here-in-his-blog.html

 

I also like Hamiltons:

992B


M982

 

Gorgeous piece. I have a stainless Constellation 167.005 in that same serial number range, and the movements certainly are special. .

 

The pre-Swatch Omega movements have a beauty all their own compared to modern Omegas.

 

Hamilton’s changed over the decades. From an aesthetic point of view, I like the older movements better. Like my Hamilton 952, first model, circa 1920. 100 years old. But the Hamilton 950 is even prettier.

 

This is what made me fall in love with watches when I was a kid- pocket watch movements. I collected them and would stare at the movements for hours as they ran. I even dabbled with trying t repair junk watches...I had no clue what I was doing and usually ended up with a table full of parts. I stick to just looking at them now.

 

Beautiful Omegas!

One of my favorites in the automatic category is the AP cal. 2071 (2072 with date). Côtes de Genève finishing, ruby rollers and (part) 18k gold guilloche rotor. Vacheron & Constantin made a virtually identical movement called the 1071 (and 1072). Both were based on an exclusive JLC ébauche.

 

How about a 135?

 

How about a Cal.89 from IWC?

 

I love these threads where the senior members like @hoipolloi , @MSNWatch and @Tony C. bring out their killer watches and pics...

 

Movements simply fascinate me. All those parts working in harmony. Keeping accurate time. It almost seems impossible. I love these pictures.

 

IWC on a well known Omega background - naughty boy!

 

Hamilton pocket watch circa 1908

 

Movement decoration evolved over decades. Here I show a 23-jewel Hamilton grade 950 (left) from circa 1920, and its newest iteration from about 1950, 50 years later, a 23-jewel Hamilton 950B (right). The two are basically the same grade, and I guess the 950B is not one to be sneezed at, but the more highly decorated grade 950 is (to my mind), the prettier movement.

The 950 has the ruby jewels set into gold chatons with each inset into a milled recess in the plates, and each held in place by two or three screws with polished heads. Gold train wheels with oval spokes, gold screws on balance wheel, more decorous flourishes in the engraving. The longer pendant neck of the earlier 950 indicates its earlier vintage.

The newer 950B uses synthetic ruby jewels friction fit into brass chatons which are friction fit into the plates. Brass train wheels, flat spokes, gold balance screws, plainer bib for the upper escape wheel cap jewel, Swiss style system for retaining upper balance wheel cap jewel, all over less decorative. The squat pendant with the bar over crown evokes this one’s later vintage.

These compromises in the “window dressing” of the later grade 950 B in no way compromised the performance of the watch. The changes were made owing to advancements in metallurgy, improved manufacturing procedures, to lower production costs of the movement, and also to made the 950 B easier to work on. All the American watch manufacturers simplified production in later years, resulting in plainer watches.

 

How about beautifully simple.

 

From February 1949. In 1946, the Westclox Dax sold for $4.75.

Here is an Ingersoll Yankee from prior to 1910. The movement was produced by the Waterbury Clock Co. of Waterbury, Conn., for the Ingersoll Bothers five and dime stores in New York City. These were called a “dollar” watch because they sold for $1.00. Does such a warranty even exit any more?

 

Yeah, you got me! I really enjoy your book for all the information given, and the Cover looks great as a background. Thanks for it again.

 

That's interesting, I find the 950B much more attractive. No screws (to hold the chatons) and no excessive decorative machining to distract the eye: as if someone removed all the muck and left a beautiful movement! Less is more!