Omega Chronostop

About Omega Chronostop

The Omega Chronostop was released in 1966 and was aimed at offering a motorsport watch for the masses. The Chronostop was more affordable and had a more youthful, sporty appearance than the more expensive Omega Speedmaster collection. Despite the price difference, the Omega Chronostop is a premium model, with a simpler but high-accuracy watch movement and a high quality engine.

Omega used two movement within the Omega Chronostop collection, the cal.920 (with date) introduced in 1966 and the cal.865 (no date) introduced in 1968, both manual movements were only used on this collection. Simpler than professional motorsport watches, the Chronostop was still well-regarded and won 2 prizes: the 1967 Honor Prize for Chronographs and Sport Watches and the 1968 Industrial Aesthetics at the Utrecht Spring Fair.

Although similar to the Speedmaster, when the Omega Chronostop was released, it was originally intended to be part of the Omega Seamaster collection. But then in 1967 it was transferred to the Geneve collection. This set the lower-priced Omega Geneve Chronostop watches apart from the rest.

What Is A Chronostop Watch?

A chronostop watch is essentially any watch with a time tracking function, such as a stopwatch. However, unlike traditional chronostop watches which record seconds, minutes and hours with two or three subdials, the Omega Chronostop was designed for less than a minute short interval timing with a single pusher and a central hand for seconds.

What makes this start-and-stop chronostop watch truly unique as well is the Flyback function. One button starts, stops and resets the running second hand. To stop, you have to press and hold down the pusher, and once released, the handsprings back to the 12 position on the dial. This makes the Omega Chronostop stop the perfect vintage Flyback chronograph.

Despite featuring only one measurement function, the Omega Chronostop was selected at the official Omega timer at the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg and the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. The Mexico Olympics version of the Omega Chronostop used the cal.920 movement with date function, and was available in green, red, white and blue dials with matching leather straps.

Omega Chronostop Variations

Within the Omega Chronostop collection, there are a few different variations available, with different shapes and sizes. The Omega Chronostop Driver was the first variation aimed at younger race enthusiasts. Designed to be worn on the inside of the wrist to track time when racing. This model offers a stainless steel 35mm case with 17 jewel 865 cal. movement.

The Omega Chronostop Regatta was the second variant of the line-up released as part of the Omega Chronostop Seamaster collection aimed at yachting. This variation came with a 60-0 timer scale, a 41mm stainless steel case and blue and red inner rotating bezel.

Other smaller variations include the Pilots and Divers watch models. These offered the same sort of look, but the Pilot’s scale has numerals graduated in pairs from 12-24, 1-13 and 2-14 to show the time in both 24 and 12 hour intervals. With colourful trims, the Omega Chronostop Pilot got the nickname “the Roulette”. The Omega Chronostop Diver model just offered an additional diving timer.

In 1970, Omega released a Chronostop model, which featured a rounder “UFO” shaped Omega Dynamic case and the same integrated strap system made for the Italian market. This sleeker design took on the original neutral bezel colours.

Here at Ramsdens Jewellery we sell pre-owned watches, so you might find a mix of these Omega Chronostop models as our stock changes frequently.

Omega Chronostop Features

There is a wide array of features that you may find among this collection. But all of the Omega Chronostop watches offer that youthful sporty look. Due to the bulky sporty theme, this watch was originally designed to be a men’s Omega watch. Although this style can be worn by women, Omega ladies’ watches offer a more feminine look.

The case and design on the Omega Chronostop usually offers a 33-35mm stainless steel case, slate grey or black dial and orange second hand. Accompanied with a fine mesh or leather bracelet. The mesh bracelet are only made for the Omega Geneve Chronostop models with a clasp.

The overall features have exceptions from the other variations of the Omega Chronostop collection, which can either feature red and blue hands and inner rotating bezels, 60-minute timers, a larger or oval shaped dial, or even a stainless steel dial and bracelet.

Even though the look differs among the models, all the Omega Geneve Chronostop watches offer the same start-and-stop feature. And all are manual watches, the only difference being with the calibre, which just changes whether there is a date function or not.

Vintage Omega Chronostop

Omega Chronostop is a classic watch in the brand’s history, it’s great to have for a collector and it’s specialised stopwatch abilities are useful. There is also a wide range of other vintage Omega watches which embody that bit of history.

An ode to the past, this vintage watch, like other Omega watches, are all pre-owned. Buying a pre-owned Omega Chronostop means investing in a timepiece with a unique piece-of-history. And you can own a much more affordable watch inspired by the more professional Speed and Seamaster collections.

Here at Ramsdens Jewellery we stock a wide range of pre-owned watches that are all in great condition which still hold the luxury of the Omega name. All our Omega Chronostop watches are individually assessed and valued by our experts before going on sale, so rest assured you’re getting a high-quality watch. Once you have your Omega Chronostop, you’ll want to make sure your piece of history lasts, to help we have a handy watch care and cleaning guide.