Omega - STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them New York Wednesday, December 5, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Omega
    Year: 1960
    Reference No: 2998-2
    Movement No: 17'302'542
    Model Name: Speedmaster
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 321, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Omega bracelet, end links stamped 6, max length 200mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Omega deployant clasp, stamped 4.60
    Dimensions: 39mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and clasp signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by an Omega Extract from the Archives confirming the sale of the present watch to Japan and produced on June 23, 1960

  • Catalogue Essay

    Omega’s original Speedmaster, the reference 2915, was the first tool watch to feature a tachymeter scale on the bezel opposed to the dial, which had been the norm for chronograph wristwatches throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. This innovative design would be a game changer and within a few years, it was employed to many brands. First released in 1957, the reference 2915 featured the foundations for all future Speedmaster timepieces, and it is from this lineage the series of reference 2998 was born. Released in 1959, early examples like the present watch used the famed Lemania caliber 321, which is revered amongst watch enthusiasts for its robust chronograph mechanism. The manual wound caliber was used by Omega from 1946-1968, and while small in size at 27mm diameter, it offered optimal performance and reliability.

    Early Omega Speedmaster watches are rare in today’s market and when combined with its original unpolished condition, the present chronograph is a collector’s dream. The dial has aged nicely with the lume plots and hands matching in a light yellow hue. The very rare "base 1000" tachymeter has aged beautifully with minor signs of wear – especially difficult to find in such well-preserved condition. Today, the reference 2998 is an icon known for its classic modern aesthetic. The legendary Speedmaster would later be chosen as the watch brought to and worn on the moon, and this early, high quality example offers a great opportunity for the savvy collector.

  • Artist Biography

    Omega

    Swiss • 1848

    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.

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Ref. 2998-2
A very rare and highly attractive stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with tachymeter bezel and bracelet

1960
39mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement, and clasp signed.

Estimate
$25,000 - 50,000 
CHF24,900-49,800
€21,700-43,400
HK$196,000-392,000

Sold for $32,500

Contact Specialist
Paul Boutros
Head of Watches, Americas
+1 212 940 1293
pboutros@phillips.com

STYLED. Timeless Watches & How to Wear Them

New York Auction 5 December 2018