Today's offering showcases this very interesting, and historically significant Omega "Deluxe Marine" Standard - one of our favorite early Omega watches - here presented in an exceptionally rare 14K pink gold case.

This is only the third Marine Standard that has come through these halls in our fifteen years in business. The first was purchased from us by the Omega Museum for display at their headquarters in Switzerland as part of their permanent collection and was featured in Marco Richon's authoritative authorized book, Omega: A Journey Through Time on page 133. For those not familiar Mr. Richon was for a number of years the curator of the official Omega Museum at the company's headquarters.

The vast majority of these watches were made in steel. This isn't the only Marine Standard we've ever owned in pink gold - it's the only one we've ever seen. While we're not suggesting that it is piece unique, you will be the only person you know who has one.

The "Marine Standard" Baumgartner design.

Omega is perhaps best known as a sports timekeeper, recording the world's most important competitions, from the Olympics and America's Cup to the CART World Series. In the 1930's, after fulfilling their role as the official timekeeper for the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, Omega dedicated themselves to developing a waterproof sports watch that would be protected against perspiration, humidity, and even watertight for diving.

The first watches they developed were made in fairly limited quantities, the Marine and Marine Standard models. This reference occupies an essential place in horological history. As Mr. Richon discusses in his book, the Marine Standard "guaranteed long-lasting water-tightness" under two atmospheres of pressure thanks to its ingenious double-case construction with a patented hook-and-compression system that sealed the inner case against a rubber gasket - without the use of screws or hinges. The result was a watch that Omega marketed and tested specifically for underwater use.

The designs for the Marine Standard were patented by Frédéric Baumgartner, a Geneva based case maker and well-known figure in case making particularly because of his contribution to field of waterproof cases. If you would like more technical information on the patents and designs for this watch, please inquire.

Despite the fact that the Rolex Oyster released in 1926 has often become thought of today as the earliest dive watch, it actually wasn't, as it wasn't marketed as intended for divers.

Rolex did not claim that the Oyster was suitable for diving or submersion in water to any great depth. Perhaps it wasn't important to Rolex diving was a commercial or military activity in 1926 for which wristwatches were not required. The Oyster was waterproof for ordinary swimming and was potentially capable of being the first divers watch, but the Omega Marine was the first watch to be specifically tested and qualified for diving depths.

This “Deluxe Marine” MK II variant is distinguished by its use of a synthetic sapphire crystal - like the ones on modern luxury watches - a remarkably forward-thinking material choice for the 1930s and something virtually unheard of at the time.

The technical ambition of the Marine Standard is matched by its aesthetic restraint: it remains elegant enough to wear with formal attire while carrying the DNA of one of the earliest true underwater tool watches.

And the solid pink gold case of this World War II watch makes this example all the more extraordinary. The warmth of the pink gold transforms what is already a technical milestone into something altogether more refined.

With the possible exception of the winding crown, it has all of its original parts down to its original sapphire crystal.

Its case is in excellent condition with fairly light wear.

Its dial two-tone salmon dial, which may be original or may be a very high quality restoration in vintage times, shows only fairly light signs of aging. And its original sapphire crystal is in excellent condition.

One of our Master Watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it. We have also timed it on a machine that simulates it being worn on the wrist. It is keeping very accurate time essentially on par with a new Omega.

For the finishing touch we have equipped it with a brand new Teju lizard strap and aftermarket pink gold tone Omega style buckle making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

Included with the purchase is a one-year international warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.

The Marine Standard's page on the Omega website can be found here.

Note: Several published examples of this model including the last example that we sold are featured in Marco Richon's work Omega: A Journey Through Time, 2007, pg. 133 and also reside in the Omega Museum. To commemorate the Marine series, in 2007, Omega released ony 135 valuable examples of the first edition "Marine" as a limited edition as part of its special “Museum Collection” series.

Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.

Manufacturer: Omega
Country of origin: Switzerland
Serial no.: 9,197,956
Year sold: 1942
Model: Ref. OJ 3637
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
Designed for: Men - a midsize watch by today's standard
Case material: 14K pink gold
Case condition: Its case is in excellent condition with fairly light wear.
Dimensions: 23.5mm diameter (excluding crown), 36mm long lug tip-to-tip
Dial: Salmon with black painted Arabic numerals, outer white railroad minute track, signed Omega, subsidiary seconds dial, original or may be a very high quality restoration in vintage times, shows only fairly light signs of aging.
Note: The tone of the dial looks just slightly darker in most of the photos than it does in person.
Hands: Original, blue steel batons
Movement type: Cal. 19.4 SOB, rhodium plated, 15 jewels, cut bimetallic balance, Breguet overcoil balance spring, index regulator
Jewels: 15 rubies
Beat frequency: 18,000 BPH
Band: Crocodile, fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn, equipped with new Omega buckle
Width between lugs: 18mm
Crystal type: Original, flat top, synthetic sapphire, excellent condition
Serviced by C.O.T.: One of our watchmakers has disassembled it down to its last screw and cleaned and oiled it making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

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