Swiss skeletonized split-seconds chronograph Circa 1980

Gold skeleton chronograph by Omega
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A very fine and very rare, large and heavy Swiss 18 carat gold keyless lever skeletonized split-seconds chronograph pocket watch with an instantaneous 30-minute register, circa 1980. Made in a limited series for the forthcoming celebration of the 50 years of Omega’s Olympic timekeeping (Los Angeles 1932). The fully skeletonized gilt-brass cut movement filed, bevelled and engraved by hand, luxury calibre 1130 S – 24″‘, 21 jewels and with a high-frequency straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating Breguet balance spring, swan-neck micrometre regulator, split-seconds chronograph with visible work. An hour ring in chased gold, an outer matte white minute and fifths of a second chapter ring with Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, 30-minute register at 12 and fancy blued steel skeleton hands. The massive case is glazed on both sides, a co-axial button in the crown for the start/stop and return-to-zero functions of the chronograph, a button at 11 for the split-seconds, sapphire crystals. The case is signed Louis Brandt.
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Diameter: 69 mm
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Signed: Louis Brandt
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The Olympic skeleton chronograph was made in small numbers in 1980 ready to celebrate 50 years of Omega’s association with Olympic timekeeping in 1982. This model was available in three different case styles: polished like the present watch, partially chased (reference BA 143.6717) and entirely chased (reference BA 143.6718). In the early 1980s, these watches were used in Omega advertising with the caption ‘Omega celebrates 50 years of Olympic timekeeping with a creation symbolizing 134 years in the craft of watchmaking’.