This Watch

This beautiful piece of history is 116 years old, this is officially “Antique” and it still looks incredible both on and off the wrist, best part is it's still running well too and has been fully serviced via our onsite workshop ! This is an early 1910 Silver Trench watch, the enamel dial has survived in fantastic condition 

a particularly rare and historically important Omega wristwatch dating from 1910, housed in a solid silver case and presented on a beautifully made reproduction WW1-style two-piece leather wrist strap with a 925 sterling silver buckle.

This is one of the earliest all-original Omega wristwatches we have had in stock for many years. It sits right at the beginning of the wristwatch story, when watches were only just moving from the pocket to the wrist. Pieces like this are often referred to today as “trench watches”, though at this very early date they were still very much a transitional object: part pocket watch, part wristwatch, and now a fascinating piece of wearable horological history.

The case is solid silver with a hinged construction, wire lugs and a very period round form. It still retains its original glass and crown, which is quite remarkable for a watch of this age. The case has a lovely soft antique silver tone, with honest age and light surface marking, exactly as you would hope to see on something over 116 years old. It has not been made to look modern or over-polished, which is very important on a piece like this.

The dial is a beautiful white enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute track and subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock. The red XII at the top of the dial is a wonderful period detail and gives the watch just enough colour without disturbing the otherwise clean, classical look. The black Roman numerals are sharp and elegant, and the blued steel hands have that lovely early wristwatch shape, with open-circle detail and fine tapered tips.

Amazingly, the watch also comes with its original two-piece leather wrist strap and silver buckle. We have not fitted this to the watch because the leather is no longer safe for use. Original leather dries out over the decades, becomes brittle and can split or fail without warning. It is therefore included with the watch as a historic artefact rather than a practical wearing strap.

For actual wear, we have fitted a very attractive reproduction two-piece WW1 military-style leather strap. This keeps the correct period look and feel, while allowing the new owner to enjoy the watch safely. The reproduction strap also has a 925 sterling silver buckle, which works beautifully with the solid silver case.

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.