Omega Movement - Rare & Historically Important. The Omega 28.9 chronograph was Omega's first true wristwatch chronograph - the first small wrist chronograph movement made by Omega in 1932 when the company had merged with Lemania and Tissot. Made in only very small quantities, Lemania produced the movements for Omega / Tissot. A small movement by modern standards, it had some reliability issues which resulted in Omega almost immediately introducing watches based on the Lemania calibre 15CH (Omega 33.3) in 1933 at which point the 28.9 was slowly phased out of the range until it was discontinued by 1943. Stainless steel examples of this watch were used by the commanders and pilots of the Italo Balbo air force who used them on trans-Atlantic crossings. Another famous owner was Amelia Earhart who was wearing a 28.9 when she disappeared during her transpacific crossing. Despite the significance of the 28.9 not many examples exist - they are now very rare and as such are highly sought after by collectors. Diameter : 32mm without crown Movement : Tissot chronograph with Omega 28.9 T2 / Lemania 13CH movement. Case Material : Steel.
Very nice watch – thanks for posting! I doubt the claim that the case is steel, though, as there would not have been "Fond Acier" stamped on the case back if that were the case.
Congrats on a great looking Tissot! Case is chrome, with a stainless steel case back. Omega never touched these movements. They bought them from Lemania. Just like Tissot. They where replaced by the 15CH and, later, the 27CH. Omega did not make their own wristwatch chronograph movements until quite recently. Lemania sold them under their own “in house” brand name as well. Top one is chrome case dual pusher like yours. Second has a solid silver case. Third one is stainless. There are also variants in solid gold.
Anyone know what the production numbers for the 13CH were, and particularly the Omega stamped ones that found their way into various Omega references through to ~1944?
The book «Omega Saga» should list the numbers you are looking for. I’m not at home the coming days so unable to help until next week. Cheers!
Ah I’m aware of that book, but unfortunately do not have a copy. I would be most grateful if you could report back once you’ve had a chance to take a look. In the meantime, safe travels!
I haven’t gotten a hold of the complete “Omega Saga” but managed to find a single page online where the 28.9/CH13 is described (page 370, chapitre 6). There is some interesting info about the 27CH eventually replacing both 28.9 and 33.3, but nothing apparent regarding production numbers from Lemania 13CH/28.8 for Omega though. One interesting note regarding numbers though is that Omega delivered 110k watches total to the British armed forces during the entire 1939-1945 period. And as far as watches produced for sale, according to serial numbers, they would have produced roughly 150k-250k any given year between 1932-1945, with most years in that period being roughly 200k. I assume that only a fraction would have been chronographs. Then on top of it 28.9 would have been progressively phased out as soon as 33.3 was introduced in the late 30s and 40s, so perhaps it is possible to guesstimate roughly 28.9 numbers…?