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The last of the manual wind time only chronometers....

By: Bill Sohne (registered) Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

Hi all

As Omega entered the 1960s the demand for manual wind watches was on the decrease.  The sales of automatic watches was on the rise, time only, time and date, and even chronometers.

By 1962-63 Omega retired tbe 30 mm movement line.  They replaced it with the caliber 60x line.  The 600 series caliber is a stripped down 55x automatic.  Most Omega collectors hold the 552 as one of Omegas best calibers period.

With all the above said the future of Omega’s manual wind time only chronometer wristwatch was coming to a close.   They released caliber 602 time only manual wind with bulletin ( chronometer rated) caliber.  This caliber was used in only one case reference 137 001.   The watch was part of the Geneve line.  It was a simple 33 mm round with thin lugs and thin bezel.  Its monocoqe caseback is marked “tool 105” which was the proper tool to remove the crystal and to open the case.  It was offered in white, pink and yellow gold only.  


The Omega Saga book list the movement as “uncommon” approx 4000 made.   In contrast to millions of automatic chronometers Omega was producing at the same exact time.   I did find a mistake in the” Omega Saga” as it list the 602 ” as used in manual wind Constellations”.

Until the release of the Railmaster manual wind chronometer a few years ago the Geneve Chronometer was the last in-house time only manual wind wristwatch that Omega produced.

Here is an example from my collection…  I have come across two dial and hand configurations:  one is luminous hands and markers and the other non-luminous.

I have come across the Geneve Chronometer in a few places over the years.  But most people just pass them by…   

Here are some pics of mine.







and here is a sheet from a authorized dealer reference book ( part number for the crystal, crown etc…)



Good Hunting

Bill Sohne