I believe this is genuine wristwatch with silvercase. Kailber 13LB. How old is it?

Best rgds

Peter

 

Your serial number indicates a production range from 1915 to 1923.
Based on the case style I'd say 1916 or so, but based on the high serial I'd say 1920s.
So most probably around 1921 1922.

 

Thank You!

Best rgds

Peter

 

Really? Looks like a pocket watch to me

 

I believe the watch above is a original wristwatch. The arabic figures on the dial is rather special. Study for instance the figure 7. Is this dialdesign known by Omega?

Below some photos on another early Omega wristwatch. Silvercase with number 4746338, movement with number 3951820. The watch need to be restored. The case is marked "Depose 9846". I believe this is a patent regarding the wires on the case. How old is this watch and do you know the caliber? Perhaps same as the first watch..? There is no calibermark visible...

 

Well, for the first one, a lepine caliber and therefore no small second at six, I suppose at least the caliber is from a Pocket watch. The case could be original. Difficult to say for the dial.

 

Could be a caliber from a pocketwatch but probably original to the case. The dial and case looks original to me..

 

Hi again,
Never saw a 13lignes in a wristwatch case without small seconds in my catalogs. The only men's wristwatches without small second were the rectangular ones that had, if I remember well, 10 or 11 lignes inside. This is why I have strong doubts that it was originally a wristwatch movement. It doesn't mean that it can't be, but the only way to be sure would be to ask for an extract from the Omega archives. Unless I'm wrong, period women's pocket watches had 13lignes calibers, but usually no second hand.

 

You could be right but then I wonder where the enamelled dial with the Omega symbol came from?
Perhaps Omega used some of their movements for ladys watches for this type of Watch? WIth such movement they didn´t have to make any alterations. Only make a new dial. Their is no signs on the case that it was modified from a pocketwatch to a wristwatch, but of course if someone did a very good job there wouldn´t be any signs.. Do you know the price to have an extract from the archives?

 

Hi,
I checked this afternoon, there were some wristwatches without small second in 1917, but all for women, with 11-10 or 9 lignes caliber. None with 13lignes. The men's ones had the 12-13 or 15 lignes ones with small second.
I don't remember how luch is an extract, but it is rather expensive. The price is on their website.

 

Quoting from AJTT, the first Omega wristwatch (in 1900) was a Cal.12 ligne (lépine, with no sub-second hand). There follow (in AJTT) two watches without sub-seconds (Cal.15 ligne for men, Cal.12 ligne for ladies – both lépine) – both were ‘left-handers’ (crown at 9 o’clock).

Below is a French advertisement from 1911 (from Kirby Beard). Advertised specifically for men is a wristwatch, either Cal. 12 or 13 ligne – without sub-second hand. Of note, ALL the watches shown in the advertisement (for men and for ladies) are ‘left-handed’!

It would seem that all the dials of the above watches were enamel.

The period covered by the above watches was ‘early days’ – anything and everything happened. The watch shown by Mr.Watch would appear to date about 10 years later (with a more daring, avante-garde dial) and furthermore was probably after WWI (when watches did develop) – but maybe it was a leftover?

 

@dougiedude has one very similar to the one pictured in your last photo.

Mine is a later version, also with enamel dial.

 

@Darlinboy:
I think the important factor (as highlighted by Tire-comedon) is that Mr.Watch’s movement is lépine – as usually used in pocket watches. Hence the lack of sub-second hand. However, in those early days, they clearly did use them for wristwatches.

There were any number of enamel-dialled savonette wristwatches of the ‘traditional’ style that also had sub-second hands (exactly as shown on your certificate). But Mr.Watch’s is different. I haven’t seen dougiedude’s.

Tom

 

Great seeing some other early Omega wristwatches here!

Here's mine :


And an ad from 1906 for the version like mine:

 

Adam Harris, the early wristwatch expert at NAWCC, has this watch in the 9 o-clock version that he says is from 1908; mine he thinks is probably 1910-15. Case is 36mm diameter, # 4796xxx. I don't know the movement #.

 

I feel I am dipping into Yann’s territory (only a brief visit!). The following is from a Kirby Beard (Paris) catalogue from about 1912.
Tom

 

I feel that Yann loves the company!

There are plenty of folks accumulating the Speedy's and the Connie's.
We have plenty of time to conserve the coaxials and the Bond watches.

What we really need is to secure the beginnings of our hobby, to preserve the work of Mr. Brandt and others!
We need to protect the fragile from the ravages of time and to fend off the scrappers that measure value by the Troy ounce.
I think the antique and the old are really the most valuable.

Glad to see you here, Tom, and wish you well!

 

I'm always happy to see people interested in older Omegas, and glad to learn which exchanges. Tom has a remarkable collection of Omega time instruments (whether watches or clocks) in an outstanding condition. His expertise and knowledge is really impresive so his contributions are always very informative.

Going back to the lepine calibers in wristwatches, we should probably consider the very first periods 1900-1910/12 and later. I remain of the opinion that after the trench watches boom, around 1915-17, men's wristwatches had savonette calibers and a smell second hand. The serial number of the first watch shown places it around 1917-1920, that's why I exrpessed some doubts. Once again, I may be wrong, I have no evidence sustaining that and we all know that, whith Omega production, we must remain very humble and avoid certitudes.

A friend of mine has a 40mm metal wristwatch with an enamel dial, crown at 9, without small second, no Omega logo on the dial (name of the distributor), that is undoubtedly original. But its case serial at 4.24X.XXX makes it much earlier than the one posted above, and it has the crown at 9.
Once again, the only way to have some certitude, is to ask for an archive extract.

 

Hello everybody,

What do you think about my one. It is in mint condition. I think it was probably never been worn.
Follow the case and movement number it if from 1905-1906. Everything original. The case solid 14k gold.
The diameter of the case is 34mm without the crown.