1969 was a landmark in Omega’s rich history as it was the year they launched their now iconic “Speedmaster” chronograph, which travelled to the moon and back, however it was also the year they released another important tool chronograph, the “flightmaster” wristwatch. The ultimate luxury pilot’s watch, it was produced in stainless steel and 18k yellow gold, and like the present watch featured an 18k gold bracelet, making the model the “De luxe” version. According to research, Omega produced 200 18k gold non-numbered examples, with only 20 fitted with the gold bracelet. The manually wound chronograph featured a 30 minute and 12 hour registers, 24-hour indication and GMT hand with outer rotating bezel. The first generation models like the present watch (reference 145.013) housed the caliber 910 and had the 24-hour indication at the 9 position, while the next generation flightmaster (reference 145.026) used the caliber 911 and had a constant seconds subsidiary dial a the 9 o’clock.

The oversized tonneau-shape case has a decidedly 1970s vibe and is the complete opposite of the streamlined Speedmaster that went to the moon. The watch is bold and masculine and sits high on the wrist, with the first example sold to King Hussein of Jordan. The present example is nicely preserved and is a fine time capsule of the design and production Omega issued in the late 1960s and 1970s.