Swiss 14K gold hunting cased anker chronometer Circa 1922

Gold watch with engraved monogram
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A Swiss 14 carat gold hunting cased keyless anker chronometer made by Omega in Bienne/Biel, circa 1896. A limited edition of 300 pieces. Featuring a polished case with monogram GH on the back and a cuvette marked Chronomètre Omega. A white enamel dial with Breguet hour numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued steel hands, signed Ω Omega Chronomètre Importé de Suisse.
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A rhodium plated movement with 23 jewels, going barrel with safety pinion, gold train of wheels, gold screwed chatons, an equilibrated straight line lever escapement, adjusted to six positions and temperatures, a cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel Breguet hairspring, an index regulator with swan neck spring and a precision regulating device for fast/slow by means of an eccentric snail.
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Comes with the original fitted presentation box bearing the name of the French retailer, Armand Aubert, Joaillier-Orfèvre in Nantes, a certificate from the Bureau Officiel de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres from Bienne/Biel, dated November 30, 1936. The dial, case and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Signed: Omega  Bienne/Biel
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The Grade Very Best replaced the DDR as Omega’s highest quality chronometer movement in July 1922. This caliber was made in 600 examples: 300 Lépine movements for open faced watches and 300 movements for hunting cased watches. The term Very Best was trademarked by Omega for dials, cases and movements in 1904.
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In 1929, the present watch cost CHF 1.085. By way of comparison, that same year Tiffany & Co. sold a Patek Philippe minute repeating perpetual calendar pocket watch with moon phases, split seconds chronograph and 30 minute counter for CHF 2.835 and a standard 18 carat gold hunting cased pocket watch with 20”’ movements could be bought for CHF 385. The fact that this watch costs nearly 40% more as a highly complicated Patek Philippe and over four times more as that of company’s standard production is due to the cost of manufacturing such a high precision movement.
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Precision movements are made to much smaller mechanical tolerances than standard watch movements and often take as long to manufacture and regulate as complicated movements. Precision watches were also prized possessions and were often reserved for the manufacturer’s best clients.