103rd Auction
2020/11/7
Lot 380
Omega, Swiss, "Flightmaster", Movement No. 29137558, Ref. 145.013, Cal. 910, 42 x 52 mm, circa 1969
An aviator's vintage wristwatch with chronograph - "Flightmaster" of the first generation - with authentic traces of flight use
Case: steel, screw back with Flightmaster logo, "Omega" steel bracelet, bracelet length 140 mm, total length 180 mm. Dial: grey brown.
The 1970s were a strong decade for new and inventive sports watches. Playful designs and colours as well as technical sophistication were standard. Ticking all these boxes, the Omega Flightmaster nevertheless took a special position; it was a large, funky watch, yet quite complicated – a classic reminder of the past when air travel was exciting and pilots were heroes.
With the intention to follow the successful path of the Speedmaster, a watch was designed that was custom-tailored to the particular needs of pilots. The Flightmaster was launched on the market in 1969. With a size of 42 mm and a distinctive tonneau shape, the steel case of the first generation Flightmaster reminds us of a jet engine. The watch has three crowns and a blue 12 hour hand that can be set independently, while another time zone is displayed. The excellent design of form and colour ensures that the Flightmaster is easy to read despite its complexity. The upper crown on the left operates the 12-hour hand, the second crown on the left turns the inner bezel. The Flightmaster was produced with three different references and three different calibres. The first generation Flightmaster models used calibre 910 and had a domed mineral glass and a flatter profile than their successor. The small dial of the auxiliary seconds is half green and half black; it also serves as a day/night indication. In 1972 Omega updated the Flightmaster and began to use calibre 911. The day/night indication disappeared and the case size increased. Produced from 1969 until 1977, the Flightmaster proved to be a striking success: The American government placed an order fort the X-33 programme and King Hussein of Jordan owned a Flightmaster in solid gold. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonow wore a Flightmaster 911 during the Apollo-Sojus mission.
An aviator's vintage wristwatch with chronograph - "Flightmaster" of the first generation - with authentic traces of flight use
Case: steel, screw back with Flightmaster logo, "Omega" steel bracelet, bracelet length 140 mm, total length 180 mm. Dial: grey brown.
The 1970s were a strong decade for new and inventive sports watches. Playful designs and colours as well as technical sophistication were standard. Ticking all these boxes, the Omega Flightmaster nevertheless took a special position; it was a large, funky watch, yet quite complicated – a classic reminder of the past when air travel was exciting and pilots were heroes.
With the intention to follow the successful path of the Speedmaster, a watch was designed that was custom-tailored to the particular needs of pilots. The Flightmaster was launched on the market in 1969. With a size of 42 mm and a distinctive tonneau shape, the steel case of the first generation Flightmaster reminds us of a jet engine. The watch has three crowns and a blue 12 hour hand that can be set independently, while another time zone is displayed. The excellent design of form and colour ensures that the Flightmaster is easy to read despite its complexity. The upper crown on the left operates the 12-hour hand, the second crown on the left turns the inner bezel. The Flightmaster was produced with three different references and three different calibres. The first generation Flightmaster models used calibre 910 and had a domed mineral glass and a flatter profile than their successor. The small dial of the auxiliary seconds is half green and half black; it also serves as a day/night indication. In 1972 Omega updated the Flightmaster and began to use calibre 911. The day/night indication disappeared and the case size increased. Produced from 1969 until 1977, the Flightmaster proved to be a striking success: The American government placed an order fort the X-33 programme and King Hussein of Jordan owned a Flightmaster in solid gold. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonow wore a Flightmaster 911 during the Apollo-Sojus mission.
Sold
estimated
1.400—2.500 €
Price realized
2.500 €