Omega Caliber 1250

Omega Caliber 1250

Omega Caliber 1250

Brand Omega
Caliber Number 1250
Base Caliber ESA 9162
Movement Type Electronic
Diameter
13”’ (29mm)
Thickness
4.8mm
Jewels
12
Tuning Fork Frequency 300 Hz
Battery Cell
344
Functions Hours, minutes, central seconds, date at 3:00
Country of Manufacture Switzerland
Known Models Add yours in the comments below…

Omega caliber 1250 tuning fork movement from a vintage Electronic F300 Hz wristwatch circa 1960s.

AKA ESA caliber 9162

Although this tuning fork movement was designated by Omega as a caliber 1250, the base movement is an ESA (Ebauches S.A) 9162 found in several other watches from Baume et Mercier, Eterna (1550), Cerina (29-151), IWC (150), Longines (6312), Tissot (2010), Zenith (50.0) etc.

This base movement was designed by Max Hetzel, the designer of the Accutron 214. used in the famous Spaceview watch. This movement began production in 1969.

This movement is licensed by ESA to Bulova.

From Wikipedia:

The Accutron, an electromechanical watch developed by Max Hetzel and manufactured by Bulova beginning in 1960, used a 360 hertz steel tuning fork powered by a battery as its timekeeping element. The fork allowed it to achieve greater accuracy than conventional balance wheel watches. The humming sound of the tuning fork could be heard when the watch was held to the ear. –source

How it Works:

“The tuning fork watch is like no other battery driven watch, or mechanical for that matter: it is driven by a tuning fork vibrating at 300-720 times a second, depending on the model; as a result, it doesn’t tick, but hummms. The index mechanism also means the tuning fork watches are characterised by a constant sweeping seconds hand.” –electric-watches.co.uk

Caliber 1250 vs 1260:

The caliber 1250 is based on the ESA 9162, there is also a similar caliber 1260 based on the ESA 9164. The 1250 is a three hand watch with a date, whereas the 1260 also has the day of the week.

Caliber 1250 vs 1255:

Another movement in the same family is the caliber 1255 based on the ESA 9210. The 1255 is a chronograph with a day/date.

Similar Calibers From Other Brands:

The base caliber 9162 is also found in other watches from Baume et Mercier, Eterna (1550), Cerina (29-151), IWC (150), Longines (6312), Tissot (2010), Zenith (50.0) etc.

Spinning Seconds Issue:

Many owners of caliber 1250 or any F300 watches may experience an issue where the second hand spins erratically when setting the time. This could be caused by a worn index wheel or index pawl adjustment.

“Nothing inherently wrong with the f300 index wheel; it is as fragile as the ones found in Accutrons. But they do wear out and loose their teeth, especially if the pressure of the indexing pawls is too great. They are lots of stories about never turning the hands backwards on an f300 because you’ll strip the teeth on the index wheel — rubbish. On a well worn index wheel, the second hand will sometimes spin forward or backwards when winding the hands, but by this stage, the index wheel is probably useless anyway. And a spinning second hand does not always indicate a worn index wheel; it can also occur if the index pawls are poorly adjusted.” –source

Omega 1250 Photo Gallery:

Video of an ESA 9162 Running:

Share your experience with the Omega caliber 1250 in the comments below…

You are reading Caliber Corner, the world's most popular resource for watch movement pics, specs, mods and DIY repairs. Follow @calibercorner on Twitter, Instagram but NOT Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Join our mission to spread movement awareness!

Join the discussion on Omega Caliber 1250?

  • Keep comments respectful and follow our community guidelines.
  • Keep comments on the topic of Omega Caliber 1250

For off topic or general watch questions, post in the Caliber Corner Forum.

guest

10 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Sestrel
Sestrel
4 years ago

1. What are the two adjusters for bottom of the movement?
2. Why are these always marked ‘unadjusted ‘?

fLaMePr0oF
fLaMePr0oF
1 year ago
Reply to  Sestrel

Those are for regulating the watch (i.e. tweaking the frequency at which the fork vibrates)

Adjustment vs regulation: Adjustment is where a watch is calibrated for accuracy in a number of different positions, this only really applies to fully mechanical watches where the position can affect the oscillation of the balance. ETA mark most of their unadjusted movements as so and they carried on the convention here even though traditional adjustment would simply not apply to a tuning fork as it is not really affected by gravity

Landry
Landry
3 years ago

I just purchased a Omega Constellation Chronometer 1976 it hadn’t arrived but I purchased it not running assuming it would be the battery I’m hoping!, I paid considerable amount for it now just waiting for it to arrive. Below is the 1250 movement. Thank you. Bless all.

Brad
Brad
3 years ago
Reply to  Landry

Just got watch and it’s in perfect condition BUT I put new battery and it will not run please someone help me, this is s very nice watch but won’t run?????????????????

GKS
GKS
3 years ago
Reply to  Brad

Did you get it cheap on eBay?

Brad
Brad
3 years ago
Reply to  GKS

Do you know ehst the trouble ?

Brad
Brad
3 years ago
Reply to  GKS

GKS why do you ask?

Brad
Brad
3 years ago

I need help with Omega 1250 in perfect visible condition but won’t run with new battery

5E8BBC6D-DF64-41F3-848C-776927789043.jpeg
Ponentino
Ponentino
3 years ago
Reply to  Brad

Tap it with your finger (to make it “ring,”) and it might start running. Sometimes the 9162 doesn’t want to start on its own. If it hums but does not move, it’s an index wheel problem. If it doesn’t hum, it’s an electrical problem.

Glen
Glen
10 months ago

I’m tired of no parts or watchmakers to repair my movements. What automatic movement can I use to replace this that’s the same side and will fit my omega 198.002?

Seagull Caliber St19

Join our mission to spread movement awareness!

Members Online

 No online members at the moment

Recent Forum Posts

Trending Comments

ggibby
2

Slava Caliber 2427

Lum-Tec gave up trying to fix my C2 with this movement, now I'm trying to…


keepthetime
2

Seiko Instruments (SII, TMI) Caliber NH34

Hi mrdibujante, from the specs chart above: "Rotor Direction: Bi-directional (Magic Lever)" indicates that it…


2

Citizen Caliber 8210

Es más preciso de lo que anuncia. Unos 12 segundos se adelanta al día, para…


1

Ingersoll Caliber 520

Mine is weird. It doesn't like to be fully wound. It looses seconds if I…


Sponsors

10
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x