OMEGA

OMEGA, SWITZERLAND, REF. 1170-9, PROJECT P 33, PROTOTYPE NO. 00, BRASS A very fine, historical, brass, manual wind central tourbillon wristwatch Brand: Omega, switzerland Model: Project P 33 Reference: 1170-9 Year: circa 1991 Caliber: 1170, 48 jewels Diameter: 38 Signature: dial, case and movement Provenance: Property of Andre Beyner Grading System: EXCEPTIONAL Case: 2-8 (Very good , Slightly scratched) Dial: 2-6-8 (Very good , Slightly oxidized , Slightly scratched) Movement: 3-29** (Good , Lacking elements , Repair required, at buyer's expense) HKD: 47,700 - 96,000 USD: 6,100 - 12,200 EUR: 5,400 - 10,800 JPY: 960,000 - 1,920,000 The Project P33 was again the fruit of the collaboration of probably 2 of the greatest watch engineers Andre Beyner and Moritz Grimm. Started in 1991 for Omega, this time the goal for the manufacture's 100th anniversary (1894–1994) was to produce something great and unusual. It was decided that a Tourbillon wristwatch would be the perfect watch to create but in order to make it truly unique they decided a central flying tourbillon would be the way to go. The gearing for the plates was moved to the periphery of the dials into the sides of the watchcase. Since the traditional position for the center cannon-pinion and time indicators was now taken by the tourbillon cage, engineers had to modify the display mechanism from the Omega Dinosaur. The hands of the central tourbillon were etched onto thin sapphire crystal disks that rotated on top of one another to display the minutes and hours. The escapement was constructed with a solid gold balance wheel and a blued Breguet balance spring with a Phillips overcoil. The seconds’ indicator was shaped into the Omega symbol and incorporated onto the tourbillon regulator as well. By using a cage constructed of lightweight titanium, the 41-component tourbillon assembly only weighed 0.46 grams; the balance wheel alone weighed 0.20g. The lightweight tourbillon and a platinum rotor mounted directly into the caseback for ideal mass and winding efficiency both contributed to achieve a final power reserve of 45 hours. This example was one of the very few original prototypes made in brass (for a similar example see Antiquorum lot 245, May 10, 2025) and was one of the personal watches of Andre Beyner. It is almost complete missing its escapement, winding crown and 1 disk with hour and minute hands.

Estimate:£4,543.43

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