Just received this through the post from Australia. What a beauty. I don’t know much about them but have seen similar in the past.
Does anybody know if watches/clocks like this design were Omega shop only pieces back in the day or not?
Cheers, Michael

 

Nice clock. Does it always stay on Eastern Standard Time?

 

Looks like you have a few more to collect Michael, there's quite a few timezones!

 

AFAIK it was

1) used by the watchmaker to adjust the repaired watches

2) for the shop window - so people walking by could set their watches precisely - and it was AD of course

 

Ah, makes sense.
I didn't expect the second hand to jump like a quartz but it does. Interesting thing really.
Cheers, Michael

 

The same jump-second ("dead second") movement was used in the more adorned table clocks



they are nice collectibles

 

This is what my Uncle Art, an Omega AD and Patek trained watchmaker, had at his bench to check his repaired watches.

 

That’s enormous fun !, Michael

Superbly preserved…delightful patina

Very shrewd purchase

 

Wow, very cool Michael! Love that dial and a pretty 20 jewel movement too!

 

That looks very cool Michael, and with a dead beat even more interesting, congratulations. How big is the dial?

 

I'm a bit sad that it has left our shores, an Eastern Standard Time clock would have suited my needs perfectly (well, for about half of the year).

You can watch the dead second complication here.

 

with the eastern standard time inscription these were for shop windows. have only seen 2 others. very nice example ! i had mine serviced here in Sydney. my watchmaker had parts left for the jumping second section. i have another shop window clock , that i might sell before christmas. Too much stuff..... enjoy that one. it is in very good nick ! kind regards. achim

 

Yours is a 59-8D SCS T1 ‘jump second’ (which later became Cal.120). The movement dated from 1941. Mine (with similar movement number) dated from 1951. I haven’t seen them with the gilded letters applied to the surround – usually the wooden surround was plain, coming in two different types of wood (lighter walnut or darker mahogany). Maybe yours was therefore specially prepared for a shop window display – but they were available for purchase by the public (and appeared in several catalogues from the period). Ref 5508-1. This particular version usually came with a rating certificate.

The ‘basic’ version (without gilded letters) appears in AJTT p.192, (Item 1616) – together with the history of use on TV.

The difference between the original and the T1 (yours) was the hacking method. The original hacked with an (extra) twist button at the top – on the T1, hacking is by pressing down the time setting button.

A special movement in its day. The Cal.372 jump second wristwatch movement would also have been ‘special’ – but didn’t make it.

 

just listed my shopfront chronometre` and had a closer look at the movement. it is caliber 40,6 L+S T2. 17 rubis. 1928-1935 apr. .Intern Omega old Factory number : 75 + 76. i had that mixed up with the earlier grading system. like DDR. CCR. A and B grades . if somebody here is interested, i can always end the listing and we talk. kind regards. achim

 

Interesting~