Omega 1310 Constellation Quartz

Omega's first in-house quartz movement!

Description:

The Omega 1310 Megaquartz has the distinction of being Omega's very first wristwatch with an in-house produced quartz movement.

In the early 1970s, Omega made a significant investment in the development of quartz technology. This development was so expensive that it required a consortium of 20 swiss watchmaking companies to jointly fund the CEH research center (Centre Electronique Horlogerie) to develop the technology.

Omega Constellation Advertisement

Quartz wristwatches required the development of three separate new technologies to make them possible.

1. precision manufacturing techniques for creating precise quartz oscillators
2. integrated circuit technology to create the tiny computer chips used to count the oscillations of the quartz crystals
3. miniaturized stepper motors to move the hands in response in fixed increments in repsonse to the computer chip

Each of these technologies was a significant acheivement of its own. The first quartz prototypes were developed in 1962-1967 but it took until 1972 before these were released as a commercially available quartz watch movement, the Beta 21. Surprisingly, the last of these to be developed was not the integrated circuit, but was the stepper motor technology. The stepper motor technology wasn't available for the Beta 21 so that movement used an Accutron like indexing mechanism rather than a stepper motor like modern quartz watches.

Omega Quartz Advertisement

Omega used the Beta21 in its Omega 1300 Electroquartz watches, but this movement was so expensive to produce that Omega concurrantly developed their own in-house quartz movement. This movement came out a short time later in 1973, the Omega 1310 Megaquartz.

The 1310 Megaquartz features a unique mechanism for setting. On the right side are two recessed buttons. Pushing the lower one increments the date by one. Pushing the top one stops the second hand for precise synchronization.

This Omega Megaquarz model features a very 70s "TV shaped" case and an attractive dial. The dial is printed with round tick marks and has shiny silver markers placed at each hour which reflect the light along their sloped faces. This watch is rather heavy but is still amazingly comfortable due to the wide case back and well designed bracelet. The quartz movement is remarkably accurate and is nearly silent.

Condition:

Case: Excellent.
The machined stainless steel case is in excellent condition with the original brushing on the sides and polished bezel.

Face / Hands: Excellent.
The face and hands are in excellent condition with almost no signs of age or wear.

Crystal: Good.
The crystal is in good condition with just a few very fine marks as shown in the photographs.

Band / Bracelet: Excellent.
The heavy stainless steel bracelet is in excellent, almost perfect condition. The Omega signed clasp works perfectly and securely. The bracelet will fit an 8" wrist.

Function / Accuracy: Excellent.
This watch functions perfectly and keeps fantastic time. The date and day of the week advance properly at midnight each day. However, the bottom pusher for setting the date is sticky. So, to set the date, you have to advance the date by rotating the crown instead.