This Watch

We have here a classic Omega Bumper Automatic wristwatch with the most spectacular, original, two-tone dial with radial, Arabic numerals.  We love the way the off-white/cream dial has aged inside the railway-style minute tracking to create a nice and even patina.  If you look closely at the Arabic numerals, you can see that they are somewhat Art Deco in style and painted in old, luminescent paint that has also aged.  At 12 o'clock the watch is signed 'Omega, Automatic,' with the famous Omega logo and the tapered hour and minute hands and the subsidiary seconds dial create a nice sense of symmetry to the watch.

The 35mm, stainless steel case has a clip and ring case back with sculpted lugs that are reminiscent of the Omega Constellation, which was first launched in 1952.  Inside is one of the earliest Omega automatic movements, cal. 30.10 R.A. with 17 jewels and fully serviced by us and running strongly.  We've paired this watch on a brown suede strap to match the patina but it looks great on anything.

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.  Omega's reputation continued to soar in the 1990s with Omega Seamaster worn by Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.  As well as post-1995 James Bonds, Omega has been worn by the likes of Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, Prince William, Rory McIlroy, Ringo Starr, Michael Phelps, Cindy Crawford and George Clooney.

This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.

What we think

Introduced during the early 1940s, Omega released the 2374 model and it was the flattest, self-winding model ever produced.  You'll be owning a real piece of Omega and horological history with this watch!  It's a stunning, 1940s Omega that would be a lovely addition to any collection, a perfect size for today's requirements and definitely an original watch!  

Spec Stuff