There is a pure, unpretentious beauty to a mid-century, time-only Omega. Long before the brand became synonymous with moon landings and movie spies, it built its unimpeachable reputation on watches exactly like this one: honest, incredibly reliable, and designed with a timeless elegance that has only deepened with age. This watch is a direct link to that golden era, representing the bedrock of quality and style upon which the entire Omega legacy was built.
In the 1950s, Omega was a master of the simple three-hand watch. Powering this example is the robust Calibre 420, a manually-wound movement from a family of calibres celebrated for their durability and straightforward, brilliant engineering. It is a true workhorse, designed to provide accurate timekeeping for generations. The design of this watch, a Reference 2667-2, is particularly compelling. It features what collectors affectionately call an “Explorer-style” dial, with bold Arabic numerals at the cardinal points of 12, 3, 6, and 9. This layout, rooted in military designs of the era, is prized for its perfect balance and supreme legibility.
This specific watch is an absolute stunner, distinguished by the incredible patina its dial has acquired over the past seven decades. The original surface has aged to a spectacular and perfectly even creamy, custard-yellow hue. This warm, organic color provides a fantastic backdrop for the applied steel dart markers and stylized numerals. The sharp dauphine hands show a touch of honest oxidation that perfectly complements the dial, while the all-stainless steel “Acier Staybrite” case provides a cool, durable frame for the warmth within. It’s a design that was perfect in the 1950s and, in our opinion, remains perfect today.