Omega’s earliest self-winding chronograph movement, calibre 1040, was relatively short lived. Its patents date to very late 1970, and they weren’t made or sold in large numbers until 1972. By 1976, with the Swiss Watch crisis looming, Omega had retired the calibre in favor of calibre 1045, a less expensive to movement to produce.
In that short time, Omega made and sold cal. 1040 in seven distinct steel case shapes (eight counting cal. 1041), three of which were also offered in 20 micron gold-plated steel.
The self-winding chronograph was the last great complication. The Swiss watch industry was at the height of its dominance. Omega owned bragging rights thanks to the Speedmaster going to the moon. And it was the early 1970s. The bold, non-traditional watch cases used for the 1040 family represent all of this.
Case Measurements:
Guides For Each Calibre 1040 Reference
ST 176.001 Seamaster Chronograph
ST 176.002 Speedmaster Mark III
ST 176.004 Seamaster Diver’s Chronograph, “Big Blue”
ST 176.005, MD 176.005 Seamaster Chronograph
ST 176.007, MD 176.007 Seamaster Chronograph “007”
ST 176.009 Speedmaster Mark IV
ST 176.010, MD 176.010 Seamaster Yachting Chronograph
ST 378.0801, ST 178.0002 Speedmaster 125 Chronometer
Looking for a guide to dials? Click here.
Looking for a guide to bezels? Click here.
