Omega - A steel 'Constellation Electroquartz Pupitre' wristwatch
Omega - A steel 'Constellation Electroquartz Pupitre' wristwatch, circa 1970, model 196-005 (BETA-21), serial number 31732360, tapering rectangular blue dial with silver coloured batons and hands, centre sweep and date window at 6H, signed 13 jewel quartz movement calibre 1300 CEH-B21, with 'crown to the left', case, 37-35mm wide, to a steel tapering link bracelet with fold over clasp, presented in the original case with instruction booklet and guarantee paperwork dated 4/4/1975 The Omega Electroquartz was one of Switzerland’s very first mass-produced quartz watches. The Beta 21 movement was the result of a collaboration of 20 Swiss watch companies including Patek Philippe, Rolex and IWC and was accurate to 5 seconds per month, better than any automatic or manual wind movement of the day. It was developed at the CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) research laboratory in Neuchâtel, and the first production models went on sale shortly after the introduction of the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch, produced by Seiko in 1969. The Beta 21 is significantly important to the history of watch making, as it marked the first quartz watch produced on an industrial level. With the other collaborative companies also producing their own version of the Beta 21, Omega's offering - this example - was named the Electroquartz. The rectangular case design was larger at the top than the bottom and so it gained the nickname 'pupitre' after the French word for writing desk. It is now a highly collectable item.
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Omega - A steel 'Constellation Electroquartz Pupitre' wristwatch, circa 1970, model 196-005 (BETA-21), serial number 31732360, tapering rectangular blue dial with silver coloured batons and hands, centre sweep and date window at 6H, signed 13 jewel quartz movement calibre 1300 CEH-B21, with 'crown to the left', case, 37-35mm wide, to a steel tapering link bracelet with fold over clasp, presented in the original case with instruction booklet and guarantee paperwork dated 4/4/1975 The Omega Electroquartz was one of Switzerland’s very first mass-produced quartz watches. The Beta 21 movement was the result of a collaboration of 20 Swiss watch companies including Patek Philippe, Rolex and IWC and was accurate to 5 seconds per month, better than any automatic or manual wind movement of the day. It was developed at the CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) research laboratory in Neuchâtel, and the first production models went on sale shortly after the introduction of the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch, produced by Seiko in 1969. The Beta 21 is significantly important to the history of watch making, as it marked the first quartz watch produced on an industrial level. With the other collaborative companies also producing their own version of the Beta 21, Omega's offering - this example - was named the Electroquartz. The rectangular case design was larger at the top than the bottom and so it gained the nickname 'pupitre' after the French word for writing desk. It is now a highly collectable item.
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