Omega Marine Chronometer

(Megaquartz 2400)

 

 

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July 3, 2003, 23 hours 44.

Anxious, I wait in front of the screen of my computer which the ebay page finishes to post (not yet ADSL at that time)...

"Congratulations ! You are the best encherissor ": that is there, that which I had hoped for for a few years it is there, on my screen and it is mine !

The following day, I send a cheque to Salesman, who will receive it later one week approximately.

Of course, during this time I put myself thousand questions about the real state of the watch:

- is the movement it complete?

-Will I be able to repair this watch with the so particular movement ?

-Would I not have better done to buy a model in operating state, at the right price (approximately 2000 euros)

- will Y still have spare parts available for a watch of almost thirty years?

-...

Eight days later, I receive an email of Salesman announcing to me that it received my check and that the watch will be sent in the course of the day. The transaction seems to proceed correctly, it 's a good point.

the watch finally arrived eight days later.

At that time, I did not have yet a good camera, I was thus useful myself of the scanner of my computer.

Unfortunately it does not show the real state of the watch.

In fact, outside, it is not so bad : There are no stripes and major shocks, only glass sapphire needs really to be replaced.

In the course of the day, I buy a new 344 cell after to have find the reference on my books, I will carry out the test in the evening.

Here we are!

The four screws which maintains the back are removed and the movement appears: No trace of oxidation due to a run pile, it is a positive point. Only the seal is in a very bad condition: In fact, it broke up and transformed into a black paste.

I have already met this problem of joint on several watches of the Seventies: it would seem that it is a problem of stability of rubber in time.

The support of cell is unscrewed, the replaced cell and... nothing !

The seconds hand remains hopelessly motionless, the salesman was right: there is a problem, but which ?

In fact, the current of the cell makes vibrate quartz (2,4 MHz for the megaquartz against 32 Khz for a traditional watch).

The vibrations of quartz produce too a current which is collected by the integrated circuit. The pulsations of quartz are counted and at the end of 2' 359' 296 oscillations, i.e. a second, an impulse is given to the engine and the second hand advances of a graduation.

Here, this miraculous sequence is broken: remain to find where the bond is broken.

Impulses to the engine:

A test with a simple digital voltmeter regulated on 2 volts shows that the integrated circuit "account" correctly oscillations of quartz: Every second, the dial of the apparatus shows a variation of the voltage, which passes from zero to a value close to 1,5 volts.

The integrated circuit does not seem in question.

Test of the engine:

With a cell of watch and two electric wire, I briefly supply the engine, to see whether second hand advances of a step.

Negative test, no reaction, the anchor remains motionless: In fact, it is more than probable that the breakdown is due to a cut of the wire of the tiny coil interdependent of the driving anchor.

Unfortunately, I do not know the value of the resistance of this coil in good condition, and I am unaware of if that posted on the ohmmeter is in the standards. I have a serious doubt as for the state of the coil which, with the magnifying glass, comprises marks which could be those of a blow of screwdriver.

Cliquez pour une description plus détaillée

Click on:

- the left part of the drawing to have a description of the electronics of the calibre 1511

- the right part to have a description of the driving anchor                                            

 

The following week, I thus make an order of various parts for my watch:

New glass, a crown of winder and its stem, a basic joint, and a complete engine.

I don't think that I will receive all the parts, indeed it does not have no trace of this movement there on the catalogues of spare parts.

One month later approximately, my supplier calls me: The basic glass and joint arrived, but the remainder of the parts is not delivered any more by Omega.

There remain nothing any more but two solutions:

- To seek a movement on another watch for the parts.

- To send the watch in Switzerland, for a repairing.

The first solution appears hazardous to me, indeed the Constellations equipped with this caliber are not easy to find, and their coast increased considerably these last years .

The decision is made, the watch is sent in Switzerland to September 2003, and it is the beginning of long waiting...

 

 

March 24, 2004, Omegaaaa!

Ten hours of the morning, I unpack the small package, and rediscovers my watch after several months of waiting:

Really, it is very good work completed by the watch makers of Omega:

The case and the bracelet were restored in their state of origin, brushings are respected and in the good direction, just as the polishes mirrors.

What changed outside: The joint of glass and the crown are new, just as the side push rod of adjustment of the hour.

More astonishing, it would seem that the links are tighter than before, which makes me say that the worn springbars were replaced by new ones.

Outside, it's really perfect !

 

 

This evening, I will look at what was a movement of high technology in the Seventies...

... and here's twelve cylinders :

The electronic part is obviously new, just as the engine part as I suspected defective.

However the integrated ciucuit still seemed to function, undoubtedly a question of guarantee...

To finish, I would say that it is far from being my prettiest watch, some will even say that it is necessary to be insane to invest in similar watch!

But, a collector of Omega must have a "Marine Chronometer", with the first high frequency Quartz caliber in the world.

A precision of approximately 1 second per month, it was a prowess at the beginning of the Seventies, and that is still thirty years later...

Addition of April 25, 2004

Small outline of the precision of the Marine Chronometer :

Adjusted with the speaking clock the 24/03/04, the watch delays now less than one second (to the 24/04/04).

The deviation over one year will be of approximately 10 seconds (to be checked).

Addition of the 25/09/04: News for my Omega  Marine Chronometer.

Research of the setting instructions booklet:

notice2400.jpg (62766 octets)

(Source Ebay)

 

I put myself in search of an original booklet of the watch, by watching for the biddings of Ebay regularly...

But the paper untraceable, or is then sold with the watch, which of course does not interest me !

Remain a solution: Chronomania and its forum...

May 04, 2004, I thus post my request, and the answer is not long in arriving...

* * *

hello JF

I know a collector here which has a Marine complete (tags, booklet, boxes...). I will try to arrange you that.

regards,

Lorentz

* * *

In fact, a few days later, I receive by mail, a series of  pdf files, with all papers which were sold with the watch, including the booklet so much required !

Thanks again Lorentz !, beautiful example of solidarity between collectors.

It will not any more remain me but to assemble the files to give again color, dimensions and the aspect of origin to the booklet, with the assistance of photoshop.

...

Ater to have requested the service vintage of Omega to have information on the past and the history of my watch, I receive 3 months later (!) a mail explaining me that the service  will be again restructured, victim of his large success...

In short, no information that I do not know already, namely that my watch is equipped with a caliber 1511, that it is very accurate, that it was manufactured about 1975.

With regard to a possible copy of the bulletin, a second mall advises me to address to me to the files of the observatory having made pass the test.

Thank you Omega !

Heureusement que l'excellent bouquin de Marco Richon "Omega Saga" précise que les bulletins ont été délivrés par l'observatoire de Besançon, une information précieuse pour mon "enquête"...

With the research of the Bulletin

a research on Google enables me to find the site of the observatory, and the service to be contacted.

July 12, 2004, I thus send a mall to the webmaster site of the observatory, asking to him whether the files of chronometry are accessible

Ten days later, the service concerned answers me that research will be carried out, but in September only, being given the period of holidays and the lack of manpower which results from it.

Here is a good news!

I will thus have patience...

September 20, a mail arrives in my box:

* * *

"Hello,

Your patience and our research were profitable... Your chronometer was indeed controlled on our premises of July 17 at September 18, 1975, under the number of Observatory 136. A duplicate of the bulletin is ready to be sent to you if you wish it.

Cordially, "

J.P

Time-Frequency-Chronometry

Observatory of Besancon.

* * *

Unhoped-for!

September 23, I receive by the post office an envelope with heading of the observatory of Besancon.

After its voyage in Bienne for a overhaul, my Omega thus finds all its papers of origin, and to some extent its identity...

papiersmega1.jpg (127760 octets)

The booklet lately manufactured:

papiersmega2.jpg (130606 octets)

 

Here thus the duplicate of the "indentity card" of my watch delivered gracefully by the observatory of Besancon.

bulletin1.jpg (108241 octets)

 

My watch is the 136 th Mégaquartz 2' 400 to have received a bulletin.

A photocopy of an extract of the register of the comparisons received with the bulletin teaches me that a batch of 70 watches equipped with the calibre 1511 was deposited the 17/07/75 by a commission agent of Omega.

The tests were made on IRIS 50 the 09/18/75, there will be 3 failures on the batch.

The watches were returned on September 19, 1975 to 15 hours 30 with the commission agent from Omega...

But it is not finished, it remains to me still the original box to find...

Indeed, that presented below is same time, but does not correspond to the model.

To follow...

 

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