Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1938 Reference No: CK 988 Movement No: 9'382'364 Case No: 9'554'580 Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 33.3, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle Dimensions: 37mm. Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by a copy of Start Stop Reset 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs book and Omega Extract from the Archives confirming production for the present watch on 5 April 1938 and delivery to Switzerland. Furthermore, the dial is confirmed bearing the retailer name Rud. Niklaus, Berne. Provenance: Phillips, Geneva 14 May 2016, Start Stop Reset 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs, lot 15. Literature: The present watch is prominently illustrated in the book Omega Sportwatches, John Goldberger, page 24 and 25.
Provenance
Phillips, Geneva 14 May 2016, Start Stop Reset 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs, lot 15.
Catalogue Essay
The present watch, retailed by Rud. Niklaus in Berne, is a stunning watch fitted with a black lacquer dial and galvanic printed arabic numerals. It is a first generation example, evidenced by the wide cylindrical bezel, and "olive" pusher at 2'o'clock. While it seems that the retailer ceases to be in business today, a number of Omega watches in the early 20th century display the retailer's signature on the dial.
Most unusual is the case size of 37 millimeters, which was quite large for the period but remains incredibly modern today.
The case is furthermore preserved in excellent condition with sharp edges and facets.
This example is fitted with the beloved caliber 33.3, which was originally produced in 1933 by Lemania, with one pusher on top, and the other operated by pushing the crown. It was only later that the movement was modified to enable two separate pushers to start, stop and reset the chronograph function.
The present watch is furthermore preserved in literature. It is prominently illustrated in the book Omega Sportwatches, John Goldberger, page 24 and 25.
Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.
Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.