Articles

M.T. STefanovic Longines academy watch, the “Serbian” Longines.

These watches have been called “Serbian”, but in fact were produced for the Yugoslavian Army Academy in the 1930s. Both versions of these watches were given to graduate officers of the military academy (vojna akademija) as gifts on behalf of the Serbian king. They were probably a special order to Longines by the retailer Milan T Stefanovich (the most important retailer in Belgrade in the early 20th century).

The first series of watches, with white dials and a large caseback engraving, were given to the 62nd class of the military academy and were all invoiced in September 1937, and my watch is part of this.

The second batch, all of which had black dials and a smaller engraving, were given to the 64th class and were all invoiced in September 1939. Both watches have snap-on backs and three-part cases.

On the dial, the coat of arms, the Saint Lazarus emblem and retailer signature “Milan T. Stefanovich Beograd” are placed directly under the Longines font in Cyrillic, hence the nickname “The Serbian” or “Serbo”. Both the black and white dials were made by dial maker Flückiger & Fils for Longines. Both were located in Saint-Imier, and Flückiger & Fils was one ofin St. Imier

The calibre 15.26 is a 15½ ligne movement with a “hunter lever winding mechanism”, an ebauche similar to calibres 15.25, 14.25, 17.26 and 21.25. My watch has been serviced about 12 years ago, and rarely used since.

I have exchanged emails with the Curator of the Serbian Military Museum and received extract from Longines (see images).

Apart from its history a really great watch to wear, with its 37mm case sits very well on the wrist.

An early Omega 7077 bracelet (4/58) and its very rare first type n.6 endlinks

I was recently taking images of my watches, and had a better look at my Omega Seamaster 300,  ref 2913,   Oct 1958 from the Omega extract.

Its bracelet is a 7077, marked 4/58 on the clasp, which makes sense given the info from the extract.  The 4/58 was the first date stamp on 7077,  as before that the date was not marked.

Then I started looking to the endpieces, which are n.6 – but not normal n.6.    I think these are the very first type of n. 6, and there are some notable differences from the other n.6.

1-  The top of the endpiece looks normal, but it is different because it has a folded part (reported to exist in early n.6). This is supposed to make it easier as it retains the spring bar and last fixed link while fixing the bracelet to the case.

 

2- The back of the endlink is larger than other n.6, has one single slot and the “6” number itself is more elongated than the usual one.

 

 

I have found similar endpieces also on a 2915-1 Speedmaster sold at Christie’s – including the shape of the “6”

3- Another peculiarity is the absence of those subtle grooves in the inside of the top wing,  seen in all other n.6 (except the recent fakes).    There is only a very slight change of colour.

4- And lastly, have observed in early n.4 endlinks (18mm, were used in Rancheros and other 18mm lug Omegas), same difference exists:

They have the folded part, have no groove on the inside of the top part.  Like in the early n.6, there is only a subtle change of colour, perhaps light reflection on the slightest depression in the surface.

Omega Vintage Seamaster 300 – a review by Jack Norman

 

 

 

A Quick Guide: The Omega Seamaster 300  (1962-1969)  case  ref  165.024 and 166.024.

Originally published on TZ-UK forum by Jack Norman – July 2012.

The contents of this review are entirely the opinion and work from Jack Norman.

Read More

Omega Pilot 1953, a tale of watch rebirth (EN)

The Omega Pilot 1953 “thin-arrow” in my opinion is the most usable of all RAF assigned military watches. Very pleasant to wear, as it has a 37mm case, comfortable on the wrist and very much readable – many nowadays prefer it to the other sweep-seconds RAF pilot watches, i.e. the Mark XI from IWC and JLC. And it is also the most comfortable for your wallet, being still inexpensive compared to the other two.

Read More

Omega 30mm Chronometres (EN)

The Omega 30mm caliber

This movement was designed in the second half of the 30s by Henry Kneuss (assistant technical director Omega SA) with external advice of Paul Brandt and Otto Ahrens Lucerne.

Read More

PAF, FAP, MOD : Omega goes to War (EN)

As we know, in 1957 Omega launched the watches,the Seamaster CK2913, Railmaster CK2914 and Spedmaster CK2915.

All three had the hour hand as broad-arrow , Naiad-type crowns and were soon professionally used as indicated in this advertisement from 1957 (Three high-precision watches for special assignments).

Read More

PAF, FAP, MOD : Omega va alla Guerra (IT)

Come sappiamo, nel 1957 l’ Omega lancio’ tre orologi , il Seamaster CK2913, il Railmaster CK2914 e lo Spedmaster CK2915.

Tutti e tre avevano la lancetta delle ore broad-arrow , le corone Naiad-type e furono presto usati per l’uso professionale come giustamente indicato in questo annuncio dell’epoca (Three high-precision watches for special assignments).

Read More

Omega Pilot 1953, storie di piccoli restauri (IT)

Omega Pilot 1953, storie di piccoli restauri

 

L’ Omega Pilot  1953 “thin-arrow” (freccia-sottile) a mio parere e’ il piu’ gradevole degli orologi militari assegnati RAF. Gradevole da portare, perche’ di un buon 37mm di cassa, comodo sul polso e leggibilissimo – e’ da tanti oggi preferito agli altri due secondi centrali per piloti della RAF, ovvero I Mark XI della IWC e della JLC. E per ora anche confortevole sul portafoglio, perche’ lo si puo ancora trovare a quasi il 50% degli altri due.

Read More

Cronometri Omega 30mm (IT)

**** This article is available in both English and Italian. Questo articolo e’ sia in italiano che in inglese ****

Parte I:    Il calibro Omega 30mm

Questo movimento fu concepito nella seconda parte degli anni 30 da Henry Kneuss (assistente direttore tecnico Omega SA) con consulenza esterna di Paul Brandt e Otto Ahrens di Lucerna.

 

Read More