I was recently gifted this Omega chronograph. Massive at 50mm. Stainless steel. Signed by the Czechoslovak Armed Forces. One button through the crown operates the chorine. I requested an "Extract from the Archives" from Omega however Omega has no records from that era.

Any additional information would be helpful. Thanks

 

A re-cased pocket chronograph possibly?

 

You didn't happen to win it in a Catawiki auction did you?

 

Hi @Dv8daddy and welcome on OF

It is not a true Omega in the sense that it has been put together; as @Dan S says, it's an old pocket watch movement (relatively cheap) in a newly produced wristwatch case and with a fresh dial. It has no value to most collectors, but if the style is to your liking, it's a great conversation piece.

 

NO, It was given to me by an elderly relative along with his his other Omega.

 

Apologies I just had a slight giggle when I read this, no disrespect to your Grandfather's watch DV8Daddy.

Indeed it's a pocket watch movement in a wristwatch case. I think it would have value with the right person since it's stamped by the air force. It's a nice piece of history and if you keep it, keep it well.

 

You think the case-back engraving is legit? I don't know of any Omega "MAJETEK" watches, but I would be excited if such a thing was real.

 

I understand your belief however I have history from approx 1950 on this watch. The case is absolutely old. The dial has been redone about 15 years ago. I have the bill. These were the other watches gifted to me by the same relative.

 

The case may be "old", but it is not as old as the movement, which dates to the 1910s, and was originally in a pocket watch. I don't really want to spend the time explaining it all, but the style of the case, the material, the engraving, all make it absolutely clear.

 

Ooh let's see some more of these.

 

The engraving is actually worn from use on one side. The engraving is IDENTICAL to my Longines MAJETEK. My thought is that this was purchased by the Czech forces for testing? Rejected for cost?

 

It might be legit, surely the Czech Army would have stamped their watches right?

However you're correct, I've never seen a watch with such a caseback before either, but surely Dv8Daddy's Grandfather got the watch from the Army right?

 

Really nice pieces.

 

In what sense "identical"? The engraving on Longines Czech Pilot watches does not go in a circle.

 

Longines, Eterna, and Lemania Czech-military-issued "MAJETEK" watches are well-known; I have examples in my collection. That's why I would be excited to know of an Omega version, but I have never heard of one.

 

Indeed I've not heard of an Omega one either, according to Dv8 even Omega hasn't heard of it since they can't pair it with an extract.

It's quite the mystery.

 

Well, the extract would only be for the movement, which clearly cannot be original to that case. Unless we are speculating that the case-back is original to a 1910-ish pocket watch that was a Czech military prototype, and was then moved to a wristwatch case at a later date. I think that @ConElPueblo's explanation is much simpler and more likely.

 

ConElPueblo's explanation is likely, I agree. I can see why too, a wristwatch would be far more useful than a pocket watch, especially if the whole Czech AF theory is true.

Still it's an oddity of a watch, whatever it's history is.