This watch

A proper piece of early Omega theatre – an elegant full hunter pocket watch from around 1910, housed in a wonderfully uncommon niello-decorated case with silver and gold detailing. The hinged front cover opens to reveal a previously restored but niceley aged, classical silvered dial with bold black Arabic numerals, a clean outer minute/seconds track, and a neatly proportioned sub-seconds register at 6. The hands are beautifully traditional too – blued-steel spade hour and a fine blued-steel minutes hand, giving that instantly recognisable Edwardian pocket watch look.

Turn the watch over and you get the real talking point: the case work. The surface has that striking contrast you only get with niello – the deep black inlay set into engraved silver, then finished with warm gold highlights. It’s an unusually decorative piece, but still tasteful, with the pattern flowing around the case in a way that feels more like jewellery than “utility timekeeper”.

The Niello technique involves inlaying a black mixture of metals (sulphur, copper, silver, and lead) into engraved lines on the silver surface, which is then fired and polished to create a high-contrast, permanent design. The detailed, geometric patterns on this case perfectly capture the spirit of the Art Deco movement. It is in fantastic, almost unused condition, a rarity for Niello work which is often prone to chipping. The case also maintains a surprisingly slim profile for a full hunter.

Extra Points

Founded by Louis Brandt in 1848, Omega started out as La Generale Watch Co., an unassuming, but international business.   It wasn't until 1885, when the company had been taken over by Louis' sons, that the first mass-produced caliber, the Labrador, was released.  By 1903, the company had renamed itself Omega and only two years later were they the official timekeepers at many sporting events across Switzerland.  Omega stepped onto an international stage in 1932 as the official timekeepers at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the first of over 20 Olympic Games. Omega were one of the 12 companies, now known as the Dirty Dozen, commissioned to produce watches for the British Military during the Second World War.  One of Omega's most iconic watches, the Seamaster, was introduced in 1948 to celebrate their 100th anniversary.  Over 70 years later, it is still one of Omega's best selling watches.  Omega made headlines in 1962 when Wally Schirra wore the Speedmaster as part of NASA's first crewed spaceflight programme, making the Speedmaster the first watch to enter space.  It was only a few years before the Speedmaster became the official chronograph for the American space missions and was worn by Buzz Aldrin as well as the Apollo 13 crew.  Omega are still involved with NASA and have been instrumental in creating vital pieces of equipment for space exploration. 

“Grand Prix Paris 1900” medals – what they mean:
Inside the case you’ll notice the famous “Grand Prix Paris 1900” wording and medal motif. This refers to the accolades Omega used in period advertising around the turn of the century. It’s best understood as brand-level exhibition / award marketing rather than “this exact watch won a prize” – Omega used these marks across many watches to celebrate awards and build confidence in the name.
(Which, honestly, is exactly what you want on a vintage piece – a little slice of how the company presented itself when these were new.)

What We Think

If you like pocket watches that feel special rather than just “nice condition”, this one ticks the box. The dial is wonderfully readable and balanced, the hands are spot-on for the era, and the hunter format makes it feel practical as well as collectible. But the big draw is that niello silver and gold case – you don’t see them every day, and when you do, they’re often worn flat or poorly restored. This example has real presence: deep contrast, strong pattern, and a lovely sense of craftsmanship that modern pieces simply don’t replicate.

The case decoration shows stylised Art Nouveau / late Victorian botanical scroll. The blooms have tall, flared petals and long, blade-like leaves, which strongly suggests iris / lily-type flowers rather than roses or daisies. The engraver has leaned into elegant curves and sweeping stems, so it’s not “botanically literal”, but the overall silhouette is very much in that iris/lily family – a classic motif for niello work because it suits strong outlines and contrast. In our opinion adds to its beauty.

Spec Stuff