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Homage To Bienne - Omega Constellation Marine Chronometer

6980 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  watchking1
4


THE CONSTELLATION MEGAQUARTZ 2400
MARINE CHRONOMETER








It was produced in 1974 and yet nearly 38 years later, remains the most accurate and arguably, most technologically advanced wristwatch in the world. First unveiled to the world at the Basel Fair in 1970 when it was powered by the calibre 1510, this unique watch was developed by OMEGA in collaboration with the Battele Institute of Geneva. The first production model was made available to the market in 1974, again powered by the calibre 1510. Its’ measured rate of accuracy was around 10 times superior to a standard quartz watch and achieved through a specially-designed tiny disc-shaped resonator vibrating at an incredible 2,539,296 times a second.

The pinnacle of its’ development was a high frequency version, powered by the calibre 1511 which earned the title of Marine Chronometer from the Astronomic and Chronometric observatory at Neuchatel. At the conclusion of a 63-day rigorous test, the mean rate of variation was no greater than 2 thousandths of a second per day – that’s 0.73 second per annum!!! It therefore meant that OMEGA has been the only company ever to produce a wristwatch that has received Marine Chronometer certification.

The Megaquartz 2400 was also the first watch to be equipped with an adjustment device which allowed the changing of the hour hand without affecting the minutes and seconds timing mechanism. It also provided a fine second adjustment for synchronizing seconds with an official time signal.

The steel watch featured a 14k yellow gold bezel and an integral OMEGA bracelet with deployment clasp. The bezel was secured with four screws. The fine adjustment for seconds was located on the side of the case at 4 o’clock while the serial number of the movement is to befound on a 14K gold inset on the inclined of the case in the 6 o’clock position. The legend "MARINE CHRONOMETER" was signed across the top of the black dial. This distinguishes the two versions of the watch which merit the official and unique certification. Only the watches powered by the calibres 1511 ( case reference ST 398.0836 as pictured above ) and calibre 1516 ( case reference ST 398.0832 which is pictured below ) merit this certification. Production volumes for the two calibres were 1,000 for the cal 1510 in 1974 and 7,000 in respect of cal 1516 in 1976.







Pictures – antiquorum.com
Information – omegawatches.com and Bill Sohne




Hope you'll enjoy this masterpiece of horological engineering






Houston



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I'm not going to pretend they're beautifull. IMHO they're not :blush: but that might have been different in the 70's of course... But that accuracy level is just amazing... I do not believe many modern quartz movements even come close to that, if any... :thumbup:
To square for me. In fact, I thought it was a clock at first!

But, for the accuracy..........amazing!
I think a lot of the stuff that came out of the 70's (Mrs Fergie and I not included!!) were a tad hideous. But I can see the charm in this ugly duckling of a and wouldn't be put off wearing one. And that accuracy :w00t: and :eek: and a bit more :w00t:
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It's very 70s but then we have an everlasting treasure as well in the Speedmaster. I have a feeling the Speedy will go on and on.

That accuracy of the Marine Chronometer though is out of this world.


Y'all have a nice day pals


ZIN
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It's a fantastic acheivement accuracy-wise and yet another land mark in horology for Omega. However, I'm more interested the externals of this watch than the internals, which I would not be with a high accuracy mechanical watch. As an electonics engineer I now how relatively simple it is to minaturise a circuit like this. The way that Omega were able to case this circuit up and keep it as accurate is impressive.

I'm not so sure about those 70's aesthetics though.

There's just some periods of design that I just don't get on with. When I look at my child hood photos (I was also a product of the 70's) I really do wonder at what my parents made me wear and what they wore themselves.

Thanks for sharing.
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Man I recall the gear worn in the 70s. I was just thinking about the long hair young men wore in those days. Heh, they looked like girls :lol::lol::lol:

Wonder what they'll be saying about us thirty years from now?


Have a nice day pal


ZIN
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Man I recall the gear worn in the 70s. I was just thinking about the long hair young men wore in those days. Heh, they looked like girls :lol::lol::lol:
Never ever talk like that if you don't wish to sound old :lol:

Actually (I start a lot of sentences that way!), when I pass the local college I often wonder at the way the lads dress nowadays. Flashed hair, obviously straightened using straighteners, make up, skin tight jeans and carrying what can only be described as a large hand bag. Can someone please tell them the 80's were as crap as the 70's when it came to styling and it's not a good look.
Omega megaquartz 2400

I have only joined today to find out a little bit about a watch that I have inherited from my late father's estate. The watch is an Omega chronometre de marine. Calibre 1516. As far as I understand, my father bought it around 1978/79. I also have the paperwork with it. I do not intend keeping it. I would like to know much it is worth. I have never worn it. The unnamed watch that I wear, I bought from a car boot sale for £9. I understand that the Omega could be worth a lot more. Hope that you do not mind me asking for advice.

Regards and thanks in advance,

Reg
I'm confused, are they quartz or automatics?
I'm confused, are they quartz or automatics?


MEGAQUARTZ
quartz...:sneaky2:
I have only joined today to find out a little bit about a watch that I have inherited from my late father's estate. The watch is an Omega chronometre de marine. Calibre 1516. As far as I understand, my father bought it around 1978/79. I also have the paperwork with it. I do not intend keeping it. I would like to know much it is worth. I have never worn it. The unnamed watch that I wear, I bought from a car boot sale for £9. I understand that the Omega could be worth a lot more. Hope that you do not mind me asking for advice.

Regards and thanks in advance,

Reg
Hey Reg,

you've got yourself a very VERY nice MC my frined. if I were you I wouldn't sell it, but if you feel like it you can get a nice fat number for it...if it is in nice, working and cosmetic condition!! the sale price of this piece was around 2500 Swiss Francs in 1980, so do the maths:001_tongue:

anyway, some info from Omega's database

Constellation - Marine Chronometer
Gents' metal bracelet
Reference
ST 398.0832

International collection
1975

Special series
Limited but not numbered

Movement

* Type: Quartz electronic analogic
* Caliber number: 1516
* "Megaquartz"
Created in 1974, 13 jewels
Central sweep-second hand
Produced in a total quantity of 8'000 pieces only.


Functions
Date, Chronometer

Case
Stainless steel with solid gold bezel

Case back

* With screws
* Full metal

Dial
Black, with luminous hour markers and luminous "stick" hands. With "Marine Chronometer" at 12 o'clock, Omega symbol at 7 o'clock and "Omega" at 5 o'clock.

Crystal
Scratch-resistant sapphire

Bracelet
Stainless steel (integrated)

Water resistance
30 meters





and this is the late Chuck Maddox's great reference site of the watch
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I think it's kinda cool looking and I would wear it since I have no problem wearing this on weekends...
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If anyone has an MC and is interested in selling please e-mail [email protected]


Thanks :thumbup1:
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