Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1931 Reference No: KMA 741 AV Movement No: 7’567’893 Case No: 8’206’353 Material: Nickel chromed Calibre: Manual, cal. 39 CHRO, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Chrome Dimensions: 44mm diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming date of production on September 24, 1931. Literature: For a similar example see Omega Sportwatches, by John Goldberger, pg 12-13.
Catalogue Essay
The present Omega chronograph can certainly be considered an important piece of the company’s early history, being one of the earliest chronograph wristwatches ever made by the firm.
This extremely rare Reference KMA 741 AV bears a substantial diameter and is fitted with the manual-winding Omega caliber 39 CHRO. The delicate enamel dial has been well preserved over the years, and is elegantly paired with Breguet hands. Prominently placed at the 3 o’clock position is the large gold plated winding crown. The single-button push piece, also large in size and gold plated, is discretely positioned in between the wire lugs at 6 o’clock.
Rarity, originality, and exclusivity are all characteristics of this marvelous timepiece. In the horological community, this piece is not only a gorgeous watch to grace one’s collection, but also is a shining example of Omega’s rich, storied history of manufacturing exceptional chronograph watches.
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.
Ref. KMA 741 AV An extremely rare and oversized nickel chromed single-button chronograph wristwatch with enamel dial, Breguet hands and hinged caseback.