Omega

Era of pop art and protests also brought fresh design beyond the earlier ‘tool’ template

The Omega Seamaster 300, launched in 1957 simultaneously with the Railmaster and the Speedmaster, appears in numerous variations.

Watches with military associations carry a certain cachet with collectors.

Tennants’ recent sale of Jewellery, Watches & Silver included, at a top-estimate £9000, a rare Omega aviator’s watch.

This Omega Seamaster 300, issued to members of the British Army in the 1960s, appeared at Fellows (23%/15% buyer’s premium) in Birmingham.

Alex Stevens began selling collectables aged 14, going on to specialise in vintage wristwatches. He launched Alex Stevens Vintage in late 2020.

At the peak of his fame in the 1969, the Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima was invited by Omega to create what would become the About Time collection.

A recent Sotheby’s New York (26% buyer’s premium) sale included this rare ‘Red Racing Dial’ Speedmaster consigned by the original owner.

Watch parts such as replacement dials, cases and hands from well-known models can add up to a lot of interest at auction, as recent results show.

This Omega Seamaster 300, c.1967, has been consigned for sale at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on November 17-18 by a career member of the Royal Engineers.

Perhaps the quirkiest of all of the many Omega Speedmaster models is this one with a cushion shape or ‘TV’ dial.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Speedmaster Professional as a space exploration tool in 1997, Omega created the Missions Collection.

The highlight of NASA’s 1965 Gemini IV mission was the first space walk by an American. As astronaut Ed White floated free outside the spacecraft for approximately 20 minutes in June 3 he wore an Omega Speedmaster Ref 105.003 strapped by Velcro to the outside of the left-side sleeve of his G4C space suit.

This ‘pre-Moon’ Omega Speedmaster purchased new in Berlin in 1960, came for sale at Aston’s (24% buyer’s premium) in Dudley on June 11.

The Omega Seamaster 300 ranks among the most desirable of all diving watches.

The Watch Sale at Fellows in Birmingham on November 26 includes this Ref 105.002-62 Omega Speedmaster chronograph.

A cache of military diving watches sold in Hampshire and a £125,000 Daytona spotlight the thriving market for vintage mechanical ‘tool’ watches.

On January 4, 1940, the London subsidiary of the Omega Watch Co received an urgent order from the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company for 2000 watches intended for Royal Air Force crews. Delivery was to be made by March 10, 1940.