zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

It was extraordinarily expensive for its day.

From the OVD

La Magique
Gents' leather strap
Reference
BA 191.8523 Z

International collection
1982

Special series
Limited but not numbered

Movement
Type: Quartz electronic analogic
Caliber number: 1356/1357
Cal. 1356, created in 1981, superflat
Produced only in 643 pieces
Cal. 1357, created in 1981, superflat
Produced only in 261 pieces
Case
18K solid yellow gold

Case back
Transparent (sapphire)
Transparent (sapphire)
Dial
Transparent disc on the center with “floating ” hands, surrounded by a black background with gold hour markers

Crystal
Scratch-resistant sapphire

Bracelet
Crocodile leather strap

Water resistance
No

More product information
Swiss ref. = LA 523.1025
Delicate transparent version (2.6 mm thickness) derived from the "Dinosaur" watch style, sapphire crystal and back, 18K gold case with bow, hinged support stand on back transforms the watch into a tiny table clock.
International Collection : 1982-1983
Swiss retail price (1982) : CHF 6’250.-
Also available in 18K solid yellow gold with 92 diamonds on bezel and case lugs (0,41 ct.) and "grain d'orge" 18K solid gold chain bracelet (BA 491.8525, CHF 14'800.-) or in 18K solid yellow gold with 92 diamonds on bezel and case lugs (0,41 ct.) and crocodile strap (BA 291.8525, CHF 9'200.- to 9'600.- depending on case lugs).JLM
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To put things in perspective, at the time the Swiss franc (CHF) was about CHF 2:US$1. In other words, cut the above prices in half and you have the 1981 US dollar price, say a little over US $3,000.

Adjusted for inflation, prices (measured by the US consumer price index) have more than doubled since then, so in effect, the Swiss franc prices quoted above roughly equal what the US dollar prices would be today if watch prices had gone up with the CPI (and exchange rates were the same), or about $6,250.

By the way, exchange rates aren't the same -- in 1983 a Swiss franc cost about US$0.51. Today it costs about US$0.93 or about 80% more . . . . which would mean this watch would cost way more than I would pay, somewhere over US$11,000 (if Omega kept the inflation adjusted price the same in terms of Swiss francs)!!!