1969 Omega Flightmaster ST145.013

Introducing the iconic 1970 Omega Flightmaster Reference 145.013, a true testament to Omega's horological excellence and a must-have for vintage watch enthusiasts.

Up until the creation of the Flightmaster, the Speedmaster served as the de facto Omega pilot’s watch. The Speedmaster was – and still is – an exceptional chronograph, but it didn’t meet the exacting needs of pilots during the Jet Age. The advent of air travel meant that pilots could cross time zones quicker than ever before, facilitating the need for a second time zone function. In addition, the “polar route” meant that it could be dark, or light, for an entire flight, which meant pilots benefitted from having an AM/PM indicator at the nine o’clock register. The Flightmaster addressed both of these problems and was engineered to the same standards of water resistance as many dive watches of the time.

This example is a ref. ST 145.013, featuring a caliber 910 movement with an AM/PM indicator at the nine o’clock register.  Omega adapted the Calibre .861 of the Reference 145.022 Speedmaster, adding a GMT hand to create the Calibre 910. Thus, the Flightmaster had the familiar triple register dial layout of the Speedmaster. But Omega punctuated it with a checkered chapter ring and made the hands in the 30 minute and hour counters—as well as the sweeping chronograph hand—a vibrant orange. The GMT hand was a bright blue, so that the pilot would be able to take readings at a glance.

This is an early production 1969 "no dots at 12" dial, highly sought after by Collectors. 

And all of this was housed in a large, distinctive case whose hidden lugs made it wear smaller on the wrist. The watch featured the crown and pushers typical of all chronographs, on its usual right-hand side of the case. But the left was dominated by twin crowns, the top to adjust the GMT hand and the bottom to rotate the inner bezel.

The vibrant color-scheme of the dial is even echoed in the crowns, which are color-coded for maximum efficiency.  The caseback clearly displays the stylized Douglas DC-8 and the "flightmaster" line in all lower case letters.

This remarkable timepiece, born during the golden age of aviation, embodies a fusion of precision, functionality, and striking design. Crafted with the needs of pilots in mind, this Flightmaster model combines a chronograph feature, multi-time zone capabilities, and a distinctive rotating bezel, making it an invaluable companion for globetrotters and adventurers.

Condition:

The watch has just been fully serviced and is running strong for its age with an amplitude of 315 and losing only 5 seconds a day.  The sub dials are generally clean; the dial has some interesting patina / fading (typical with many of these 1969-1972 dials) giving that truly unique vintage look.  The dial and hands are all original to the watch.  The case has been professionally restored to its original factory finish.  A fantastic piece for the collector!

Specifications:

Dimensions: 43mm diameter; 15mm thickness

Material: Stainless steel

Crystal: Tempered mineral glass, domed

Caliber: Manual wind caliber 910 

Bracelet/Strap: Omega stainless steel no. 1159 with 155 end links

Lug Width: 22mm