LaGenerale
·Hello Omega experts,
my name is Steffen from Germany and I am new to the forum. A friend of mine told me, that I can find the most experienced Omega Experts of the world here in this forum. This was the reason for me to sign up. I really need some help, because I have done a lot of research concerning my old wristwatch, but there are still some open questions.
First of all -the things I know about my wristwatch: The watch must be 100 years old or even older. It has an enamel dial with red 12 and blued hands. The case is a typical trench watch case with wire lugs. I bet you think: Ok, but why do you write all this stuff in an Omega forum. Well, the main reason is the dial signature. It says: La Generale - Successeur de L´s & FRÈRE . After some reading I could find some things out:
The La Generale Watch Co / General Watch Co was founded in 1880 by the company Louis Brandt (sen.) & Fils to produce cylinder watches. Although La Generale produced almost all lever movements of enhanced quality. In the year 1880 the company Louis Brandt (OMEGA) is already 32 years old (founded in 1848). 1885 Louis Brandt & Fils transfered the trademark Helvetia and others to the new La Generale Watch Co. Soon after the death of the company founder Louis Brandt senior (1891) the company was renamed "Louis Brandt (jun.) & Frére" . Louis' sons developed a revolutionary inhouse manufacturing and total production system that allowed component parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with this techniques were also marketed under the brand of La Generale . The trademark OMEGA appeared not until 1903 (55 years after the company was founded) soon after the the death of the Brandt brothers. A pocket watch called omega from 1894 won a lot of prizes and made the company even more popular in the following years. So the company decided to change their name in S.A. Louis Brandt & Frére, Omega Watch Co.
Because of the success of the new Omega brand the company withdraws from La Generale in 1906. The Helvetia brand remained there. From 1903 on the Name Louis Brandt disappeared from the company's dials and was replaced by the OMEGA brand name. This must be a hard decision after 55 years just because of marketing reasons. But did it really disappear? The dial of my trench watch says no. I would doubt, that the watch was made before 1903. But it could be made in the years between 1903 and 1906 before OMEGA's withdrawal from La Generale Watch. The dial of my trench watch is printed with La Generale and the additional specification Successeur de L´s BRANDT & FRÈRE . That means "Successor of Louis Brandt & Frére ". My theory: After 1903 OMEGA was still undecided what to do with the La Generale brand. Perhaps there were even some sentimental reasons for the dial print La Generale - Successeur de L´s & FRÈRE . Maybe they did not want the famous name Louis Brandt to disappear from all the company's watch faces. Or they wanted to push the OMEGA sub brand La Generale by adding Successeur de L´s BRANDT & FRÈRE . It could have been another marketing idea to emphasize the connection from La Generale and the long history and tradition of Louis Brand/Omega on the watch dial.
In 1906 the company strategie changed and the La Generale Watch Co became independent. I can not imagine, that La Generale was allowed to use the "Louis Brandt"-print on their dials after the withdrawal of OMEGA in 1906. Later on the independent La Generale Watch Co / General watch co. printed Helvetia, Orta or Paradox (in stead of La Generale) on their dials. So my trench watch could be produced between 1903 and 1906, if my assumptions are right. But please correct me if you know more about the early Omega history. That would be very nice. Unfortunately I could not identificate the movement, which could be helpful to date the watch. Maybe here are some movement experts.
I hope you can understand my English...Tried my best ;-)
Have a nice week
Steffen
Here are the watch pics:
my name is Steffen from Germany and I am new to the forum. A friend of mine told me, that I can find the most experienced Omega Experts of the world here in this forum. This was the reason for me to sign up. I really need some help, because I have done a lot of research concerning my old wristwatch, but there are still some open questions.
First of all -the things I know about my wristwatch: The watch must be 100 years old or even older. It has an enamel dial with red 12 and blued hands. The case is a typical trench watch case with wire lugs. I bet you think: Ok, but why do you write all this stuff in an Omega forum. Well, the main reason is the dial signature. It says: La Generale - Successeur de L´s & FRÈRE . After some reading I could find some things out:
The La Generale Watch Co / General Watch Co was founded in 1880 by the company Louis Brandt (sen.) & Fils to produce cylinder watches. Although La Generale produced almost all lever movements of enhanced quality. In the year 1880 the company Louis Brandt (OMEGA) is already 32 years old (founded in 1848). 1885 Louis Brandt & Fils transfered the trademark Helvetia and others to the new La Generale Watch Co. Soon after the death of the company founder Louis Brandt senior (1891) the company was renamed "Louis Brandt (jun.) & Frére" . Louis' sons developed a revolutionary inhouse manufacturing and total production system that allowed component parts to be interchangeable. Watches developed with this techniques were also marketed under the brand of La Generale . The trademark OMEGA appeared not until 1903 (55 years after the company was founded) soon after the the death of the Brandt brothers. A pocket watch called omega from 1894 won a lot of prizes and made the company even more popular in the following years. So the company decided to change their name in S.A. Louis Brandt & Frére, Omega Watch Co.
Because of the success of the new Omega brand the company withdraws from La Generale in 1906. The Helvetia brand remained there. From 1903 on the Name Louis Brandt disappeared from the company's dials and was replaced by the OMEGA brand name. This must be a hard decision after 55 years just because of marketing reasons. But did it really disappear? The dial of my trench watch says no. I would doubt, that the watch was made before 1903. But it could be made in the years between 1903 and 1906 before OMEGA's withdrawal from La Generale Watch. The dial of my trench watch is printed with La Generale and the additional specification Successeur de L´s BRANDT & FRÈRE . That means "Successor of Louis Brandt & Frére ". My theory: After 1903 OMEGA was still undecided what to do with the La Generale brand. Perhaps there were even some sentimental reasons for the dial print La Generale - Successeur de L´s & FRÈRE . Maybe they did not want the famous name Louis Brandt to disappear from all the company's watch faces. Or they wanted to push the OMEGA sub brand La Generale by adding Successeur de L´s BRANDT & FRÈRE . It could have been another marketing idea to emphasize the connection from La Generale and the long history and tradition of Louis Brand/Omega on the watch dial.
In 1906 the company strategie changed and the La Generale Watch Co became independent. I can not imagine, that La Generale was allowed to use the "Louis Brandt"-print on their dials after the withdrawal of OMEGA in 1906. Later on the independent La Generale Watch Co / General watch co. printed Helvetia, Orta or Paradox (in stead of La Generale) on their dials. So my trench watch could be produced between 1903 and 1906, if my assumptions are right. But please correct me if you know more about the early Omega history. That would be very nice. Unfortunately I could not identificate the movement, which could be helpful to date the watch. Maybe here are some movement experts.
I hope you can understand my English...Tried my best ;-)
Have a nice week
Steffen
Here are the watch pics:
Edited: