Hi all, I’m looking for something a bit unique to be my first foray into vintage Omegas and really liked the Chronostop as a fun and perhaps bit more accessible entry point. The watch I’m considering has a bit of wear on the stop watch pusher, but overall I thought it looked pretty good - though I wanted to throw it out for the opinions of those with better trained eyes than mine. Here’s the info: Omega Ref 145.009 Chronostop Calibre 865
I’m a big fan of these, certainly no expert, but a few random observations. If you can get some better lit photos straight on the dial and movement that’ll help get some opinions from the experts here. I’d be worried about what looks like corrosion in the inside of the case where the back screws in. Might just be the photo but there isn’t anything you’re gonna do to fix that. These seemed to come in a lot of variation but the chrono hand looks darker than I’ve seen on others. Usually more orange than red I believe. Again could be the lighting. Be careful what you buy, these are not cheap to service properly, I picked one up off eBay that looked like it was working properly but the pusher was stuck and the chrono hand couldn’t be stopped. The watch went to Archer he did a great job fixing all the problems it had (and basically making a new part for it himself), but I spent a good deal more on service than the watch itself. These come up in the sales forum and usually for great prices, it’s not easy but I’d recommend you wait for one to show up here before jumping into something on EBay. If you can buy something here with a known service history it’s going to be well worth it to spend a little more and not have to worry as much about it. Here’s a picture of mine, far from perfect, and has a few service parts, pusher and crown if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the inputs - great observations on the corrosion and chrono hand color. Sounds like it's worth it to wait a bit and see what comes up here rather than poking around elsewhere online and getting stuck with serious repairs. Would love to find one that looks as great as yours though, looks like it was worth the work!
I first posted the following in 2015 ........... I bought my Geneve Chronostop with date and mesh new in 1971. It was a special mail order offer and cost £21 which I had to pay in installments as I was only earning £8 a week at the time. I still have it! From 1971 to 1981 this was my everyday watch and on my wrist for everything including getting married, car repairs and DIY etc. Kept perfect time and was never serviced during this period. In 1981 I replaced it with a Cartier tank watch which was sold in 1998 when I become a 1970s digital watch collector! The Chronostop languished in a cupboard until sold to a work colleague in the late 1980s. In 2008 I came back to the Omega fold (after having a few Omega LCD watches) and remembered my Chronostop. After searching for six months I eventually tracked down my now 'ex' work colleague who had emigrated to Spain. He still had my Chronostop (now not working) and a deal was quickly agreed. When I received it from Spain it was looking very unloved and still had never been serviced so off to Omega in Switzerland it went. It was in desperate need of a case refinish but I wanted to retain as many of the original external parts as I could and so only the crystal, pusher and crown were replaced - Omega returned the original parts and I still have them. However, the hour and minute hand lume had turned black and Omega no longer had the original style hands and did not offer a relume service. When I received the watch back from Omega it went to STS for an hour and minute hand relume. Pics show my Chronostop as it is today with original dial, hand set, bracelet and clasp. The case was refinished as the aged patina look does not suit these Chronostops - IMHO. By today's standards the case is a little small and I tend to wear it as a winter watch as it fits nicely under layers of clothing and gloves. Whichever direction my watch interest takes me in the future this is one watch that will now stay with me. OPTIONS REPLY
Mines been an almost daily wearer since I got it back from Archer. I love it. I just got a SMP and I haven’t worn the Chronostop in about a week. I’m more happy now than ever that I grabbed the no date version when I did buy one, that way I can put it on the wrist any day of the week and not have to worry about cranking the date for 10 minutes
I have the driver version. It is a nice watch although, as others have said might be a little small for todays standard. Does not stop we wearing it though. I also have the bigger version and one sold only to the Italian market.