zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

Nice those, red-backed Omega symbols, aren't they!

Glad to hear you are getting a Megaquartz. I like 'em!

The Electroquartz was the first of the quartz watches made by Omega. It came out in 1970 and was a huge watch containing Omega's version of the Beta 21 movement. Some years before, 21 of the Swiss watch makers had got together to design a quartz movement and the Beta 21 was the result. Rolex and other makers also produced watches with the movement in them. Cal 1300 was Omega's version of the Beta 21; they followed it with the 1301 which was a touch smaller and the 1302, which was even smaller. As a matter of interest, I have never seen any Electroquartz advertised for sale with anything except the 1300 movement, so maybe there were only a few 1301 and 1302 movements.

The Megaquartz watches started, I believe, with the 1500 in 1970, a prototype named the Elephant. It was followed by the 1510 (1972) and 1515 (1973) movements which went into a rather plain, square case and the result was called a Constellation. More accurate versions of these movements, then followed in 1974, winning fabulous accuracy results - they are said still to be the most accurate wristwatches ever in general production. They were advertised as being accurate to 12 seconds a year.

The quartz vibrated a bit quickly - like 2,400,000 times a SECOND... And they were called Omega Marine Chronometers, bearing the name Constellation as well.

Later Megaquartz watches, starting in 1973, were more modest, both in size and in speed of vibration. The typical speed was 32kHz. That, I take it, is what you have bought, Greetz.

The Megasonic was a different kind of watch, having a cal 1220 or 1230 tuning fork movement. Here's a link:

http://members.iinet.com.au/~fotoplot/acctech720.htm

There were other tuning fork watches made by Omega. The movement had been designed by Max Hetsel and produced by Bulova in America. He later joined Omega and developed his design. The watches are fascinating, even if just for they continuous hum they make and they way their second hands sweep round without any apparent jerking. I love 'em!

I hope this is of interest and also that it it is all correct!

Derek

: Hi there,
: Just bought myself an Omega megaquartz.
: Starting to look like a little collection at
: the moment :) I will receive my time piece
: in about three days. Besides sharing this
: new knowledge, I have a question. Can anyone
: tell me the difference between the
: megaquartz, electroquartz and megasonic?? I
: noticed that they all wear the same 'red
: Omega badge'.
: Tnx in advance.

: Greetz,
: Erik