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Opinions welcome on this 19 lignes caliber

Tire-comedon
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I have this rare grade C 19 lignes caliber in my drawers, currently a project looking for a case. It's particularity is to have the balance on the right side of the winding stem (it is a lepine so the winding stem is at the bottom on my pic) so it is a perfect symetry of the usual Omega disposition. I had my attention drawn on this specific caliber reading a thread by Zen, on French Forumamontres (here : http://forumamontres.forumactif.com...-omega-le-calibre-inverse?highlight=invers%E9). He is the one who unearthed this model. I saw pictures of only three other ones (all owned by Zen) with the same disposition. I'd be interested in specialists opinions, especially if anyone else has a similar one :

eokv.jpg

a45l.jpg

g9hk.jpg

i0af.jpg
 
watchyouwant
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could be the remontage` from 1905. was done in 9 different qualities. best was DD. quantity unknown. i think i saw one at the munich watchfair in the mid 90`s in a " car clock like case ". kind regards. achim
 
Bill Sohne
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Hi

its a early 19"' omega caliber .... Hmmm, what are you questioning? Where the winding is a mirror inverse to other open faced examples? 17 j C grade , I don't know if you would call it uncommon . I think I have a 17 j D grade with the winding wheels were mirror inverse . I need to find it. But in my opinion , i would find the Cccr Cccr and the d grade dr DDR very best etc are more interesting and valuable in my opinion. Or the wwi pilot cockpit watches from Omega catch my eye.

I wanted to look at zen post , but I do not have access to that site and I don't read French.

Best regards

Bill Sohne
 
Tire-comedon
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Bill Sohne Bill Sohne
Hi

its a early 19"' omega caliber .... Hmmm, what are you questioning? Where the winding is a mirror inverse to other open faced examples? 17 j C grade , I don't know if you would call it uncommon . I think I have a 17 j D grade with the winding wheels were mirror inverse . I need to find it. But in my opinion , i would find the Cccr Cccr and the d grade dr DDR very best etc are more interesting and valuable in my opinion. Or the wwi pilot cockpit watches from Omega catch my eye.

I wanted to look at zen post , but I do not have access to that site and I don't read French.

Best regards

Bill Sohne
Hi Bill
I am not talking about the winding wheels which will be in different positions depending whether it is a lepine or savonette. On this movement, the balance is on the right side and the mainspring on the left, where it is the mirror on all other movements. According to Zen, who contacted Omega museum when he found one like that, they only had one drawing of a caliber with this disposition, showing a grade D. I agree that grade C are not uncommon and not among the interesting ones, but I wanted to know if inversed movements like that were really rare or if many of them could still be found. I know that you are a reference for older Omegas, therefore the question. If you have pics of movements with the same disposition, I would be interested.
Best regards,
Yann
 
Bill Sohne
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Hi Yann

fyi, the D grade drawing popping up was probably from my request 10 plus years ago... I would not use the term rare , as that how I would order a steak . I find uncommon a better term to use ... As every other post on eBay is fir a " RaRe " items.

I think the real question, why did Omega produce them? I wonder if there was a slight advantage from a technical / time keeping ability? When I asked that , Omega did not have an answer.

Best
Bill
 
Tire-comedon
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Thanks for this explanation. Was your inversed caliber with the stepped balance bridge or with the flat one? Do you have a picture?
Best regards.
Yann
 
Fritz
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EEEKK!! I had one of those a few years back, it was in a nickel railroad case with a jewelers dial signed "J.S.Walker, Sudbury". The serial number dated it to 1905 and it presumably did service on a Canadian railroad. It was even marked 17 jewels and "adjusted" just as seen here! Little bugger kept excellent time! I think I paid $160 for it. Sorry I've no photos of it... I didn't keep decent records back then.

Wish I hadn't sold it but I think it went in a deal for a Hamilton/Ball 999B.
 
Bill Sohne
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Hi Yann

I found it. 17j d grade. Omega signed .900 silver case also marked "Chronometre Omega" movement is also marked "Adjusted To Temperature Chronometre Omega" I got this one back in april of 99. I sent fax to John at Omega before I went to bed, and he would normally send a reply by the time I woke up the next day, but i cant seem to find my paper files as I moved twice since then.... movement s/n was 1,81 slightly older then your 17j c grade . In my fax i also asked about the mirror reversed, I really need to find my paper files....

but i took some quick photos for you...
















Good Hunting

Bill Sohne
 
Tire-comedon
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Bill Sohne Bill Sohne
Hi Yann

I found it. 17j d grade. Omega signed .900 silver case also marked "Chronometre Omega" movement is also marked "Adjusted To Temperature Chronometre Omega" I got this one back in april of 99. I sent fax to John at Omega before I went to bed, and he would normally send a reply by the time I woke up the next day, but i cant seem to find my paper files as I moved twice since then.... movement s/n was 1,81 slightly older then your 17j c grade . In my fax i also asked about the mirror reversed, I really need to find my paper files....

but i took some quick photos for you...
















Good Hunting

Bill Sohne
Hi Bill,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to post pictures. This is an outstanding high grade one. Mine has the negative hour setting, which makes the finding of a suitable case not so easy. Is yours also a negative hour setting?
Take care,
Yann
 
Bill Sohne
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Hi

I already put it away, so I am not sure . But "negative hour setting" was a feature of the higher end omega caliber if my memory is not failing me.

bill
 
Tire-comedon
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Hi,
I don't know if they dedicated this mechanism to higher end calibers, but I sure know that it is a pain for repairing... I still don't understand the interest of this mechanism.
 
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