Tresor with customised enamel 'Saudi' dial

nitediver · Oct 29, 2023

Peemacgee
Have had a chance to look at my AJTT.
Pages 713/4/5 are great to reference thank you.

Omega did produce some very short runs of bespoke and obscure enamel dials - like coats of arms - but also maps of countries such as Brazil and Palestine.

However, they are all of very high quality and all have the Omega symbol.
So, I'm more than ever convinced that the 'Arabia' or 'Saudi' dial at auction is an after market addition and may be a one off.

A quick snap of Omega enamel dials, from AJTT, for those that are interested.

Thanks for sharing, really instructive and interesting. I have never seen this dial before anywhere online, it looks like the Lebanese Cedar tree.

Any additional informatin about it?

Stefan.

Peemacgee · Oct 29, 2023

nitediver
Thanks for sharing, really instructive and interesting. I have never seen this dial before anywhere online, it looks like the Lebanese Cedar tree.

Any additional informatin about it?

Stefan.

I took it for being a dial for Lebanon.
I'm afraid there is no other info other than that shown in the AJTT excerpts above.

Those 'dials' shown on that page are design drawings, so they might never have been made or as is suggested in the 'info-box' they might have been one-off productions and have never seen the light of day since they were delivered to the buyer.

nitediver · Oct 29, 2023

Peemacgee
I took it for being a dial for Lebanon.
I'm afraid there is no other info other than that shown in the AJTT excerpts above.

Those 'dials' shown on that page are design drawings, so they might never have been made or as is suggested in the 'info-box' they might have been one-off productions and have never seen the light of day since they were delivered to the buyer.

Nice! I'll keep an eye out if it ever pops up in auction. I would be curious to see more pictures of that beautiful dial!

Thanks again @Peemacgee ! 👍

Peemacgee · Oct 29, 2023

nitediver
Nice! I'll keep an eye out if it ever pops up in auction. I would be curious to see more pictures of that beautiful dial!

Thanks again @Peemacgee ! 👍

Well, you might have to have deep pockets if an Omega enamel-dialled watch did ever show up at auction.

Neptune - Christies 2012 - CHF 243,000
Observatory - Philips 2017 - CHF 106,250
Green 'flower' - Philips 2018 CHF 56,250

A Cedar of Lebanon dial might have a limited market but any enamel Omega dial is going to cost a king's ransom (and I've met some pretty wealthy and competitive Lebanese folks on my travels)

nitediver · Oct 29, 2023

Oh yes! A lot of Lebanese businessmen are cuthroat and filthy rich, most notably Carlos Ghosn, former chairman of Renault and Nissan or Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Selim Helu which has a lebanese descent. I wish I had deep pockets to afford any enamel dial Omega, but it would certainly be a nice sight to see the Lebanese one perform in auction and get some more information about its story. I really liked the small detail of the small red and white flag in the corner and the big Cedar tree. Really intricate work... Someone, somewhere is probably enjoying it as we speak! 😀
Best, Stefan.

steversaurus · Nov 2, 2023

Even those blue/purple boxes look sublime.

Peemacgee · Nov 18, 2023

So, a bit of an update to finish off this thread for now

Alongside the UG 'naked' enamel dials, in my further research I did manage to find two 18k Omega watches with naked enamel dials - both with an alternative but same 'Saudi' enamel image as each other
One a 2642 like the OP watch and one a 2643
The 2642 on sale on Chrono 24 for £42,917
The 2643 sold at Antiquorum 2007, estimate $9150-13,700 - hammer $53,964

Serials of the three are quite interesting
1952 - 2643 - 12,436,xxx
1952 - 2624 - 12,464,xxx
2624 - 12,998,xxx (advert says 1950 but I suspect it is not correct)
with the OP watch being in the middle

(@nitediver - note the Antiquorum 2643 was 'property of a Lebanese gentleman' )

I also managed to get an open dial pic of the OP watch

You can see the damage and repair top left but I do still like the stylised rendering of the Middle East - it is unlike any other regional depiction that has come to the market (and for the better IMHO)

My Saudi friend was very interested in the watch but after a discussion about condition we decided he shouldn't bid.

I followed the WOK auction today all the same, and - to the great surprise of the auctioneer - the OP watch only made its bottom estimate (which is often the reserve at WOK)
Hammer £7,000, so all in around £8,848

As an aside - a lot of nice watches - of all brands - either didn't sell or made bottom estimate.

Tresor with customised enamel 'Saudi' dial

nitediver

Peemacgee

nitediver

Peemacgee

nitediver

steversaurus

Peemacgee

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