Omega Ref 2279 Appraisal

Vintage Omega 18K Yellow Gold Chronograph (Ref. 2279 or similar)

This is a vintage mid-20th century Omega chronograph wristwatch, likely dating from the 1940s to early 1950s. The watch features a circular case crafted from 18K yellow gold, characterized by its smooth, down-turned lugs and rectangular 'pump' chronograph pushers at the 2 and 4 o'clock positions. The dial is a silvered or off-white tone, displaying a sophisticated two-register layout with sub-dials for running seconds at 9 o'clock and a 30-minute recorder at 3 o'clock. Applied gold-tone dagger indices and an Arabic numeral 12 mark the hours, complemented by thin alpha hands. The outer perimeter of the dial includes a detailed tachymeter scale, essential for measuring speed over a fixed distance, which is a hallmark of sporting chronographs from this era. Condition-wise, the gold case appears well-preserved with a warm patina and soft rounding of the lug edges consistent with age. The luminous material on the hands and dots shows significant aging and darkening. The crown appears to be a later replacement as it lacks the standard Omega signature and exhibits a different finish than the case. It is paired with a black lizard or croc-embossed leather strap. Under the hood, this model typically houses the esteemed Calibre 27 CHRO T1 (later known as the 321), renowned for its column-wheel construction and high-grade finishing.