Omega Number 9 Milestone 1941 Museum Collection

The new vintage-styled Omega Number 9 Milestone 1941 watch is a breath of fresh air in –let’s face it– a long line of elegant but dull and not particularly inspiring modern timepieces sold under the Omega brand.

The Omega Number 9 Milestone 1941 is based on a 1938 Omega CK 2080 reference model that was especially popular among high-ranking officers of the pre-war time.

Therefore, it is coming in a rather small (but very comfortable) 38 mm round case made of polished 18-karat white gold.

I must admit that this is a great pleasure for me to see that Omega decided to offer the “homage” limited edition in an authentic 38 mm case without “scaling” it up to more modern megalomaniac proportions when a watch starts to look like a can of tuna on your wrist.

Presumably referring to analogue cockpit gauges of the time, the Number 9 features rather broad “Rolex-style” hour hand with enough SuperLuminova on it to light a small bedroom.

Being a part of the Swatch Group, Omega doesn’t need to buy “vintage” or “historic” movements from early 1960s. Instead, the Swiss watch maker equips the Milestone 1941 with a modern COSC-certified OMEGA calibre 3203 with co-axial escapement.

The hand-wound column-wheel chronograph movement also features a free sprung balance wheel and is reserved exclusively to this very model.

As far as I understand, the Caliber 3203 is based on the well-known Omega Caliber 3200 hand-wound movement, which, in its own turn, is based on the Piguet 1285 ebauche. The only difference between the Cal. 3200 and Cal. 3203 is, to my knowledge, an introduction of a more efficient co-axial escapement.

Omega plans to limit production of the Number 9 at mere 1941 watches. Considering the model’s estimated retail price of just below $20,000, I can only wish them good luck in selling the whole lot.

Photos: Omega

Omega Number 9 Milestone 1941 Museum Collection watch specification

Price range: $19,000
Movement: Caliber 3203, hand-wound, co-axial escapement, free sprung balance wheel, COSC-certified chronometer
Complications: Chronograph
Power reserve: 55 hours
Case material: Polished white gold, 18-carat
Case shape: round
Case size: 38 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black with two sub-dials and a telemetric scale
Hands: Skeletonized
Water resistance: N/A
Strap: Leather
Crystal: Sapphire