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 CHRO, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle Dimensions: 37.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed, dial further signed Rud. Niklaus, Bern Accessories: Accompanied by 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, Bern, further accompanied by a copy of Start Stop Reset 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs book with this watch on the cover 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, pp. 24 and 25.
Provenance
Phillips, Geneva 14 May 2016, Start Stop Reset 88 Epic Stainless Steel Chronographs, lot 15.
Catalogue Essay
A large steel case with flat bezel, a beautiful black dial and rare retailer signature make the present watch a wonderfully attractive example of Omega’s reference CK 988.
The first generation of reference CK 988, recognizable by its wide cylindrical bezel, olive shaped start stop pusher at 2 o’clock and reset pusher set within the crown is considered to be one of the most beautiful chronograph designs ever made by any watch manufacturer. Its large case diameter measures 37.5mm, and houses the lovely caliber 33.3 CHRO 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 black dial features a silver printed telemeter scale along the outer rim of the dial, as well as a snail-shaped tachometer ring circling along the center. In addition to Omega’s signature on the dial, this chronograph also bears the retailer name “Rud. Niklaus Berne”. A retailer whose name is rarely seen but a variety of examples that can be dated to the first half of the 20th century including watches and clocks by Omega and Zenith are known today.
The present example is in excellent overall condition, and retains superb proportions and crisp edges. The present watch is furthermore preserved in literature and is prominently illustrated in the book Omega Sportwatches, John Goldberger, pp. 24-25.
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.