Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1924 Reference No: KOT 741 AL Movement No: 5'422'917 Case No: 6'474'843 Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Manual, 18"' SOPB CHRO, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Vintage leather folding NATO strap Dimensions: 45mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed. Literature: A similar watch is illustrated and described in Omega: A Journey Through Time by Marco Richon, p. 527. Another similar example is illustrated in Omega Watches by John Goldberger, p. 68.
Catalogue Essay
Produced in April of 1924 and delivered two days later to a client in Italy, the present Omega is one of the earliest wrist chronographs produced by the storied manufacture, with an adapted pocket watch movement, wire lugs, and an unusually placed chronograph button at 6 o’clock. Indeed, so important is this movement and reference that in 2018, Omega released a limited edition of 18 watches in 18K white gold with 18K Sedna™ gold accents housing original calibre 18 ‘” movements sourced from examples in the Omega Museum vaults. These modern renditions, measuring 47.5mm in diameter, with their refurbished vintage movements come with a hinged caseback, like the original, though in this instance the cuvette is transparent as to allow the owner to view the venerated movement at his or her leisure.
Though finding examples of the KOT 741 is extremely difficult, what makes the present example even more of a treasure is its immaculate condition. At a venerable 95 years of age, this Omega chronograph still displays its original sublime beauty and remains in absolutely superb condition. In particular, the enamel dial, with delicate tachymeter scale in vivid blue and red, black Arabic numerals, and porcelain white dial remains pristine, surviving without any degradations or flaws over the past century. Even the leather strap is believed to be original to the watch, as the styling and construction are the same as those described in Omega leather strap ledgers for this reference.
A true museum-quality piece, this KOT 741 has survived the turmoil of the twentieth century with grace and emerged as a highly collectible relic of early Omega chronograph production. Without this calibre 18 SOPB CHRO, there would be no consequential calibres 33.3, 321, or 861 movements which power some of the most iconic and historically significant Omega chronographs. Of the few examples of these first chronograph wristwatches from Omega that have surfaced in recent times, and coming from an important collector of Omega watches, the present lot is by far the finest to have appeared on the market.
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. KOT 741 AL An extremely rare, well-preserved, and historically important yellow gold oversized single-button chronograph wristwatch with enamel dial
1924 45mm Diameter Case, dial, and movement signed.
