Don't miss the next drop
During the Second World War, the entire world was focused on the war effort, and this had a profound effect on watch design. The need for robust, supremely legible timepieces for soldiers created a powerful design language that came to define an entire generation of watches. While many were issued as official equipment, countless others, like this stunning Omega, were built for the civilian market but embodied that same purposeful, military-grade spirit.
Omega in the 1940s was at the peak of its powers, producing some of the most reliable and robust manual-winding movements on the market. A watch like this was the perfect choice for anyone, soldier or civilian, who needed a timepiece they could count on when it mattered most. Its design is a masterclass in functionalism: a highly legible dial with clear Arabic numerals, a robust stainless steel case, and a workhorse movement built for durability. It is the pure, undiluted essence of a 1940s tool watch.
This particular example is, simply put, breathtaking. Its dial is the kind of thing collectors spend a lifetime hoping to find. What began as a standard black dial, designed for maximum contrast, has aged over nearly eighty years into a spectacular, warm, and even “tropical” brown. This is a completely natural and unrepeatable patina—the watch’s own unique history written across its face. The original luminous material has aged to a beautiful khaki color that perfectly complements the rich tones of the dial.
The honest stainless steel case wears its history proudly, and adding to its incredible character is a period-correct “Bonklip”-style steel ladder bracelet, a popular and authentic choice for watches of this era. This isn’t just a watch on a strap; it’s a complete package that transports you right back to the 1940s.
