Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

Omega, A heavy gold wristwatch with date and bracelet, Ref. 196.005, Electroquartz Beta 21 F8192, circa 1972
Movement: cal. 1300 Beta 21 electroquartz, 13 jewels, no. 00001347
Dial: gilt, baton indexes, centre seconds, aperture for date
Case: 18ct gold, back secured by four screws, 18ct tapering bracelet
Signed: case, dial, movement and bracelet
Dimensions: length 42mm x width 37mm, bracelet circumference approximately 190mm
Accompanied by the original receipt dated 18th November 1972
£5,500-£6,000

Introduced in 1969, the Omega Electroquartz was a collaboration of 20 Swiss watch companies which included Rolex and Patek Philippe among others. It was the first Swiss quartz watch produced as part of the so called ‘Beta 21’ watches. Accurate to 5 seconds per month, they were more precise than the automatic or manual movements of the day.
The movement number of this watch, no. 00001347, would indicate that this was a prototype model.