Swiss steel chronograph tachymeter pocket watch Circa 1900

Steel open faced chronograph tachymeter
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A fine and rare Swiss steel open faced chronograph tachymeter pocket watch, made by Omega and retailed by Kirby Beard & Co., circa 1900. This exceptional and technically sophisticated piece features a hand wound mechanical movement with a chronograph function and lever escapement. The white enamel dial is of technical interest, displaying Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numerals for the minutes, and a polychrome tachymetric scale for reading any speed between 0 and 250 km/h, alongside a totaliser for elapsed minutes from 0 to 14 at 12 o’clock. The hands are Stuart pear shaped in gilt metal for the hours and minutes, and blued steel for the chronograph seconds. The dial is signed by both Omega and Kirby Beard & Co., and bears the patent designation Cadran breveté S.G.D.G.
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The round steel case features a smooth, polished bezel and a fluted crown with an integrated push button for the chronograph function. The skeleton case back is fitted with a graduated ring scale and a blued steel hand for reading speed in km/h based on 100 metres travelled, effectively providing a second independent speed reading mechanism on the reverse of the watch.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Signed: Omega / Kirby Beard & Co.