Posted by EDIT: When this post was originally published, I wasn’t sure solid gold 176.007s were a real production model. I’ve updated the text below to reflect that it exists.
As I’ve discussed before, one of the great things about Omega’s 1040 and 1041 chronographs is the seemingly endless variety of watches. Consider the eight case shapes, three case materials, and over thirty dials. And then there are all the handsets and bezels I haven’t fully inventoried yet. Omega put together many configurations using these parts and many more are out there in configurations that Omega never intended thanks to the compatibility of all those parts.
The variety isn’t just a challenge for determining what is or is not correct and original, but also for those collectors looking to complete a set of 1040s. What is a complete set, exactly?
Does the Speedmaster 125 Count?
The Speedmaster 125, ref. 378.0801/178.0002, uses the chronometer-rated cal. 1041, which is technically not a cal 1040. So do you need one to complete a 1040 set? I think so. It might be a different movement number, but the 1041 is essentially the chronometer version of the 1040. They only differ by three parts. So I say no 1040 collection is complete without one and for the remainder of this article (and as I do pretty much throughout this site) we’ll treat the Speedmaster 125 as a member of the 1040 family.
The Simple Approach: Eight
I think the most cost-efficient and easiest way would be to acquire one each of the reference numbers, or case “shapes”. This means just having one each of the three references that came in more than one material. It also means just picking either your favorite dial option for each reference or just the best example you can find.
My own collection is complete in this sense. See here for the current state of my 1040 collection.
The watches you need: (click here for the case reference guide)
176.001 (steel)
176.002 (steel)
176.004 (steel)
176.005 (steel or gold plated)
176.007 (steel or gold plated, or 18k solid gold)
176.009 (steel)
176.010 (steel or gold plated)
378.0801 (steel)
Difficulty:
Moderate. Finding a 176.001 can take time, but if you aren’t too picky about the others this could be completed pretty quickly.
The Complete Case Set: Twelve
This is the same as above, but now you need to find one of each reference and material, so two each of the 005 and 010, three of the 007. To do it right you probably want to avoid duplicating dials too.
The watches you need:
176.001 (steel)
176.002 (steel)
176.004 (steel)
176.005 (steel)
176.005 (gold plated)
176.007 (steel)
176.007 (gold plated)
176.007 (18k solid gold)
176.009 (steel)
176.010 (steel)
176.010 (gold plated)
378.0801 (steel)
Difficulty:
High. This is going to take a while, since you’re unlikely to see more than one or two gold plated Yachting chronographs for sale worldwide in a given year, and you have to actively be looking. And the solid gold 007 shows up even less frequently than that. But all twelve do turn up, so not impossible.
Reasonably Complete Dial and Case Set: Twenty-Six
If you set out to collect all the dials in addition to all the cases, the list suddenly gets big. This list includes all of the dials you could reasonably expect to come across, in the most appropriate cases, although there could be some mixing and matching on some dials that are seen on multiple references. Excluded are the really rare dial variants and the prototype / pre-production dials.
The watches you need: (click here for the dial guide to see what I mean by the dials below)
2x 176.001 (steel) dials A1 and A3 (dial B1 could also be used)
6x 176.002 (steel) dials D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, and E4
1x 176.004 (steel) dial F1
2x 176.005 (steel) dials G1 and G2 (I2 could also be used)
2x 176.005 (gold plated) dials G3 and G4
3x 176.007 (steel) dials A2, B1, B2 (dials A1, A3, I1 and I2 could also be used)
3x 176.007 (gold plated) 3 of the following: dials A4, A5, C1, and C2 (I3 could also be used).
1x 176.007 (18k gold) dials A4, A5, C1, or C2. Find whatever dial you can in gold and get the rest in gold plated.
2x 176.009 (steel) dials H1 and H2
2x 176.010 (steel) dials I1 and I2
1x 176.010 (gold plated) dial I3 (or C1 or C2)
1x 378.0801 (steel) dial J2
Difficulty:
High. This would probably take many years to find all of these combinations in acceptable condition. It would be a lifetime project I imagine.
Complete Dials and Cases Set: Thirty-Two or More
Now we’re getting into fantasy land. Adding in the prototype and rare dials makes it all but impossible. These dials exist, or did at one point, but some may only be at the Omega Museum, others I’ve only seen in books or marketing materials, and a couple I have actually seen in the wild, but only once. And there are no doubt more prototypes and rarities out there. The rare dials are in bold below.
The watches you need:
3x 176.001 (steel) dials A1, A3, and K1 (dial B1 could also be used)
7x 176.002 (steel) dials D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, and E4
2x 176.004 (steel) dials F1 and F2
2x 176.005 (steel) dials G1 and G2 (I2 could also be used)
2x 176.005 (gold plated) dials G3 and G4
4x 176.007 (steel) dials A2, A6, B1, B2 (dials A1, A3, I1 and I2 could also be used)
3x 176.007 (gold plated) 3 of the following: dials A4, A5, C1, and C2 (I3 could also be used)
1x 176.007 (solid gold) dials A4, A5, C1, or C2 (I3 could also be used)
2x 176.009 (steel) dials H1 and H2
2x 176.010 (steel) dials I1 and I2
2x 176.010 (gold plated) dials I3 (or C1 or C2) and I4
2x 378.0801 (steel) dials J1 and J2
Difficulty:
Extreme to impossible. It would take years upon years, and even then it might not be enough. A few of these dials may only exist as single examples already as part of the Omega Museum collection.
I suppose factoring in one of every possible legitimate and likely legitimate configuration including hand and bezels could add dozens more to the ultimate completionist list and possibly get that list into the hundreds. (Recall that Omega made four different scales as options on the bezels)
So what would you consider a complete set? I personally hope to one day have one each of the twelve case and material options, in twelve different dials. I am only two away from that goal. Anyone out there have what they consider to be a full set?
This calls for a Complete Cal 1040 Collection Poster, Andy!!!