OMEGA - Lot 107
OMEGA Seamaster 1000 "Pilot Case Mérou" prototype Ref. 166.093 No. 5 038 Steel diving wristwatch Case: steel "Pilot Case" cushion tonneau, luminescent graduated and numbered black bakelite fluted bezel, left-hand fluted screw-down crown with logotype and crown protector, grooved caseback Dial: black, painted white baton minute track, tritium luminescent baton hour markers, luminescent white baton hand, luminescent orange glaive minute hand, central seconds, date window at 3 o'clock, signed Movement: automatic with oscillating weight signed Omega - Calibre 1012 Strap/Fastener: Omega shark-mesh bracelet and clasp with Omega buckle and isophrane extension - Reference 1247/237 Dim. 53 x 44 mm Wrist circumference: 17 cm approx. Provenance: a former Club Méditerranée diving instructor and coral hunter Condition report given as an indication: sold as is, traces of wear and tear throughout, bezel insert partially detached, case unpolished and original, dial with slight bubbled patina, serviceable seconds hand, movement functional as described, provide for servicing, no warranty. This Omega 1000 Seamaster prototype was made available to a Club Méditerranée training diver, after his previous watch, an Omega 600 Ploprof, showed signs of malfunction. We have exchanges of correspondence between the diver and the SSIH from the time, in which the latter describes the malfunctions encountered with the Ploprof, and asks the brand to find a solution. In response, the SSIH, under the direction of Mr. Chessex, proposed this specific prototype. The proposed model is a prototype, a precursor to the famous Omega Seamaster 1000, specifically designed for the extreme needs of professional divers. This model was designed to withstand the deep pressures encountered during prolonged deep dives, and is equipped with all the features necessary for use in harsh conditions. This timepiece has been worn on almost 3,000 dives, mainly for training amateur divers and for coral fishing missions in Tunisia, a particularly hazardous practice. Coral fishing in deep, murky waters, particularly with the use of oxygen/helium mixtures, represents considerable risks, both for the safety of the divers and for the precision of the equipment. Oxygen/helium mixes, often used for deep dives, present a specific danger: the risk of accidents due to nitrogen narcosis and the pathophysiological effects of decompression, elements that this experienced diver had to take into account in his missions. Not only is this set a collector's item, it also bears witness to the history of professional diving and the technical exchanges between a renowned diver and the manufacturer. We have copies of written exchanges between the diver and SSIH, in which the specific needs of the user are discussed.
