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Lot Essay
With Omega Certificate dated 2 March 2009 confirming the sale of the present watch to Italy on 15 April 1971. The certificate furthermore confirms that the watch is part of a limited but not numbered series of 200 examples, including 20 with gold bracelet. Also delivered with a modern Omega presentation box and outer packaging.
The "Flightmaster" in gold is amongst the rarest watches ever made by Omega. According to literature and as confirmed on the Omega Certificate, the model was made in a limited but not numbered series of 200 examples, however only 20 fitted with a gold bracelet, such as the present watch.
The first example of the "De Luxe" series with gold bracelet, weighing an impressive 250 grams, was sold to King Hussein of Jordan (see Omega - A Journey through Time by Marco Richon, p. 516, pl. 1136). Consigned by a private collector, the rarity and exclusivity of the present "Flightmaster De Luxe" chronograph is furthermore enhanced by its excellent, close to mint overall condition.
Omega's celebrated "Speedmaster" launched in 1969 is unquestionably one of the firm's most popular models ever made. It is however much less known that in the same year, another icon saw the light of the day: the "Flightmaster", a manually wound dual time chronograph, designed as the ultimate pilot's watch of the time.
Impressive not only by its, for the period, large size, the avant-garde case design without an outer bezel, the model is furthermore distinguished by the engraved airplane symbol and inscription "Flightmaster" to the case back.
In order to facilitate its use, Omega's engineers ingeniously devised a colour-coding for the functions and relevant hands. The chronograph hand, distinguished by its bright orange colour, same as the hands of its 12 hours and 30 minutes register, is operated by the two standard push buttons in the right band. The two crowns to the left side are set with a blue respectively black inset, used to adjust the blue GMT-hand and the inner revolving bezel.
Marketed as "A very comprehensive instrument with a number of individual features, which tells the time in two places at once, records time from 1/5th second up to 12 hours, has a totally enclosed movable bezel and is clear to read, simple to use and looks like this", the "Flightmaster" and its typical 1970s colourful dial design has become an icon amongst collectors.
The "Flightmaster" in gold is amongst the rarest watches ever made by Omega. According to literature and as confirmed on the Omega Certificate, the model was made in a limited but not numbered series of 200 examples, however only 20 fitted with a gold bracelet, such as the present watch.
The first example of the "De Luxe" series with gold bracelet, weighing an impressive 250 grams, was sold to King Hussein of Jordan (see Omega - A Journey through Time by Marco Richon, p. 516, pl. 1136). Consigned by a private collector, the rarity and exclusivity of the present "Flightmaster De Luxe" chronograph is furthermore enhanced by its excellent, close to mint overall condition.
Omega's celebrated "Speedmaster" launched in 1969 is unquestionably one of the firm's most popular models ever made. It is however much less known that in the same year, another icon saw the light of the day: the "Flightmaster", a manually wound dual time chronograph, designed as the ultimate pilot's watch of the time.
Impressive not only by its, for the period, large size, the avant-garde case design without an outer bezel, the model is furthermore distinguished by the engraved airplane symbol and inscription "Flightmaster" to the case back.
In order to facilitate its use, Omega's engineers ingeniously devised a colour-coding for the functions and relevant hands. The chronograph hand, distinguished by its bright orange colour, same as the hands of its 12 hours and 30 minutes register, is operated by the two standard push buttons in the right band. The two crowns to the left side are set with a blue respectively black inset, used to adjust the blue GMT-hand and the inner revolving bezel.
Marketed as "A very comprehensive instrument with a number of individual features, which tells the time in two places at once, records time from 1/5th second up to 12 hours, has a totally enclosed movable bezel and is clear to read, simple to use and looks like this", the "Flightmaster" and its typical 1970s colourful dial design has become an icon amongst collectors.