Jerky Second Sweeps on Omega Constellations

I’ve received a couple of emails from collectors querying the cause of erratic second sweeps that appear to “stick” and then jump forward or that have a very jerky action. In both cases, the movements themselves were keeping reasonable time. So what could be the likely cause of the problem?

The answer to that question lies in Omega’s preference for an indirect centre seconds design that was a trademark of Omega movements at the time. Even the last in-house 1000 series automatic movements featured indirect centre seconds. Omega saw a number of advantages in isolating the seconds gear from the power train - one being it facilitated the placement of the balance wheel close to the rim of the plate, offering better visibility and access.

The process is explained by the above picture which you can click on to enlarge. The sweep seconds pinion A (removed and placed on the main movement plate) passes through the centre wheel at location B. The third wheel C drives the pinion A. Resting on the pinion A is the sweep seconds friction spring D. The friction spring D in the picture has been rotated away from the position B where it belongs. Follow the arrow in the picture to see where the friction spring sits.

The problem of jerky or stop-start movement of the second sweep is caused by the friction spring either being in need of some adjustment or replacement. The friction spring stabilises the sweep second hand motion preventing the jerky action that is caused by play between the teeth of the third wheel and those of the sweep second pinion. A faulty friction spring allows the play to occur.

Taking the watch to a watchmaker who has long experience of Omega movements and plenty of parts movements available is probably the best option.

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The Father of the Omega Constellation Dies at 94

Above Rene Bannwart late last decade and in 1940 when he was appointed Omega's first Head of Creations

One of the scions of the Swiss Watchmaking industry, Rene Bannwart, died earlier this month at the age of 94.

Born in Zurich on March 16th 1915, Bannwart spent his entire working life in the service of the Swiss watch industry, joining Patek Philippe at the age of 18 and spending seven years working his way up until he left the company in 1940.

At 25 years of age, Rene Bannwart became Omega’s first Head of the Creations Department in 1940 and presided over one of the most significant periods of Omegas history.

During World War 11, Omega was largely pre-occupied with manufacturing utilitarian watches suitable for combat and the sombre times, however Bannwart created excellent designs that exploited the 30mm hand wind calibres and also oversaw the wartime introduction of the first of Omega’s automatic series - the 28.10 and 30.10 calibres.

In 1946, Bannwart was central to Omega’s expansion plans and was the creator of some of the company’s most famous marques. He was responsible for the design of the Cosmic Moon Phase models 2741, 2473, 2486, 2606 and the iconic model 3944. He designed the beautifully refined Omega Centenary models that morphed into Omega's flagship brand, the Constellation. Bannwart designed the first Constellation models and oversaw the building of the Constellation brand and identity. He will always be associated with the creation of the legendary pie pan dial, a breakthrough design that is much loved by collectors today.

Rene Bannwart was almost the involuntary creator of the Seamaster brand. Working on a design series at the request of Omega’s Commercial Director, Adolph Valat, who wanted a sporty, robust and water-resistant watch to capitalise on the success of pieces produced for the British armed forces, Bannwart was one day confronted by an impatient Valat who demanded he show him something……anything. Rene produced some preliminary drawings he was working on, but said he wasn’t happy with the large size and styling of the designs. Valat immediately responded that they were exactly what he wanted……and the Seamaster was born.

Bannwart left Omega in 1955 having created some of Omega's most emblematic and popular models. He went on to found the watchmaking house Corum with his uncle, Gaston Reis, and built the brand into a formidable and successful entity that even today is celebrated for its innovative styling and meticulous attention to detail.

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Omega's Cold War Offensive

It's hard to imagine in 2010 the dark shadow of paranoia that enveloped the western world in the late nineteen-forties and fifties. Fear of enslavement by the communist hordes reached levels of hysteria unknown since those jolly old horde-fearing days of Genghis Khan.

We all know now that despite having the appearance of great might and resolve the Soviet system was diseased to its core. But, back then, nations like the US, Australia and parts of Europe were so fearful of finding "reds under the bed" that they turned on their own citizens in witch-hunts of appalling ferocity.

Today, of course, we have other races, creeds and countries to demonise, but anyone interested in how fragile our democracies can become when hysteria overtakes the rational exchange of ideas about ideology should study the McCarthyist years in detail.

What has this got to do with Omega vintage watches, do I hear you say? Well, back in the late forties  the yanks were giving the Swiss a hard time over their non-partisanship. The logic went that the communist threat was so great that it was basically a crime to sit on the fence. The Swiss, with their record of studied neutrality during two world wars, were on the defensive against the "Either you're with us or against us" rhetoric of the time.......Now where have we heard that recently?

Omega and other major Swiss exporters were worried that accusations against the Swiss for the crime of neutrality would damage a lucrative market. And so, the company went on the offensive during its centenary and the years immediately after with a series of beautifully crafted propaganda appeals direct to the American public. Click on the image above to read the text.

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