I thought I would share with you guys (and Megan) my latest acquisition - an Omega '53 military watch with "thin arrow" dial. This watch was issued only for one year in 1953 in a somewhat limited number. This particular watch went to Omega in Bienne in the 1990s for a new dial and hands and an overhaul of the engine. As I understand it, Omega no longer has the replacement dials and hands available for the Omega '53. The original dial and hands were lumed with radium but the replacement dial and hands are lumed with tritium. The case diameter is about 37mm, which sounds small, but it wears just right for me and I usually prefer 40-42 mm, except in dress watches. I have developed a thing for military watches (I also have a Heuer Bund and a Record WWW). For one thing, the legibility is great. Hope you enjoy the pics. except in dress watches.

 

Of course this post belongs in the Vintage section. My bad. Sorry.

 

Maybe the mods can move it?

 

Hi rbob99

I dont give a Damn if the mods move it or not . Your Vintage British Military Masterpiece deserves a mention here

OH MY GAWD ! Are you Shitting Me ???? Pardon my language... but i'm like.. Sooooo Jealous of You right now... NO.. Actually I HATE YOU RIGHT NOW !!!

Goodness Gracious Me !! That's a Bloody extremely Rare .... Highly collectable Highly Prized British Military watch ordered from Omega in 1953 for a period of 1 yr only....

6B/542 means ( 6B =RAF ) /
( 542 = Pilot wrist watch) so it means this watch was reserved for the British Royal Air Force worn by a Pilot or Aircrew members of a fighter squadron or British Mlilitary Cargo plane

627 means house number 627 /5900 pieces limited

53 means Only 1 yr production in 1953
It's a very important Yr because of Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation , her ascend to the throne of England

The digits 6645 101000 is a Nato Military Code , the first four digits means Nato wrist watch , the last six digits refers to the model which is Omega Broad arrow ( not thin arrow as you have mentioned ok ? ) , the original strap must have been Nato black nylon

The backcasing arrow means containing H3 / Tritium. The previous thin arrow Radium dials models were radioactive

I just love the vintage dials &... those...thin arrow hands .?...no no rbob99 ..those are beautiful sword hands reminds me of the Rolex British Mil Subs 5517. Superduper Rare !!!!.. No Mercedes Hands ..Good ! ..& the "Murph watch" style dial of the movie Interstellar.....

rbob99 ?? Am i Right ? TELL ME Something.... Anything !!!!!
Sorry i'm a little hysterical right now ....my mind's racing furiously thinking about this Awesome Incredible Omega Military 53 Thin Arrow ( It's Fat or Broad Arrow style ok ?.. i know what you're gonna say ) Historical timepiece...Did i miss out anything.......??? Hmmm..??
In Auction Houses by my modest estimates , your watch can fetch a price of btwn USD 8000 - USD12000 easily but Sky's the Limit if the buyer is off his Bonkers !

I seriously Hate You Right Now!

 

OP - probably a better fit for the Vintage forum. In the meantime, here is a link to a recent thread with relevant content.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-few-of-a-kind-omega-raf53-content.35883/page-2#post-407819

 

Joe K. -yes I hope the mods can move this to the vintage section.
Meganfox - thanks for your enthusiasm. It's like catnip to the old cats around here. Your value estimate is a little high, though. These trade at around $3000 in this condition. A bargain in my opinion as I think military watches are likely to hold their value and increase with inflation or even better.

 

Hi rbob99

Ahhh.....so you think i overestimated the price ..yes ? Ok You have a point there but..
I watch PawnStars ( Not Porn stars ##$€☆ ) every week on History Channel so i can explain a few criterias here.
The price would depend on

1) pristine condition of the watch itself & original Nato strapings

2) the house number itself. For example 0001/5900 1st Edition , 2653/5900 or 1953/5900 would be more valuable than the other serial numbers as those numbers mark the date of Queen Elizabeth II coronation & ascend to the throne of England

3) It the watch itself was worn by famous British military Generals like Sir Gerald Templer or Air Marshals like Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery before the Cold War Erupted. History is one subject in school i always scored an A+ ! Ha6x!

4) If the watch itself was worn during a war conflict e.g The Suez Canal War 1956 with documented evidences

5) Bears the engravings of other worldly famous people like Sir Paul McCartney , Sir Cliff Richard...etc.. you get my drift.. !

6) A sister watch is also on display in the Omega Muzium in Bienne/ Biel !

 

Well, the only provenance I'm aware of is that it was owned by the proprietor of the Military Watch Resource site for many years. I don't think that necessarily adds value but it does add to my confidence that the history of the watch relayed to me is accurate, as the gentleman has unimpeachable credibility.

 

Back to school for you young lady!

Montgomery was never an Air Marshal, although he was a Field Marshal as you rightly note, but I'll comment no further on Montgomery.
Maybe a suitable candidate for an Air Force connection would have been Hugh Trenchard, but of course he would never had the opportunity to wear one of these watches in anger, but he may have had one he "forgot to return" for use in his retirement.

 

Thank You Sir @ jimlnOz

I should brush up my World History.. kindda rusty i guess.

Although i 'm a Malaysian , it was our British Colonial Masters who gave us our Parliamentary Government based on the Westminster system & protected us from the early days of Communist Insurgency War in Malaya

p/s : Sir , i wouldnt mind if you knock my knuckles now.. for making a military Rank error !

 

It's OK, you are forgiven.

And I have some experience with the Malayan Emergency

 

@JimInOz Sir !

Talk about a Living Legend in the forum ! Those Medals & OMG!!! That military Omega !!
LIKE WOWW !! That is Why the older generations of Malaysians are very grateful & loved the British, the Australians , New Zealanders & Canadians in the
50s thru 60s till early 90s. I grew up in an Australian neighbourhood in Butterworth, that was the Royal Australian Airforce Base command centre. I use to watch those fighter jets take off & land everyday !
( now RMAF) .Was the only little Asian girl playing soccer with the Aussie children !!! ..& ..they were a tough breed ! The Aussies even had their own Radio Australia funded by the families. So Sir...i know more about your Gallantry medals than you give me credit for.... !

Thank You for protecting Malaya/ Malaysia

 

Well, I don't know about protecting Malaysia, maybe Malaysia should have been protected from us

We were a pretty wild bunch.

I lived on Penang and served at Butterworth for three years, some of the funniest years in my younger lifetime.
Also some of the saddest when we lost mates in accidents/operations (both RAAF and RMAF).

Anyway, better get back on topic, who has another nice Ω MIL?

 

Mine says hello. I don't have any history I'm afraid apart from the archive extract.

 

That is an amazing watch. Pretty clearly the original thin arrow dial and I would guess original hands. Not many of those around. Thanks for posting it.

 

As far as I know all is original, though I had to find a soft iron inner cover and the correct crown (thank you STS).

 

Stunning, if it had aged colored new lume.... Pure Lust!

 

Hi @davidswiss
Hi @rbob99
Hi @JimlnOz

You know i'm fascinated by Omega Vintage Military thin arrow dials & i adore all the watches in this thread. Your watch is in excellant condition.I would be absolutely thrilled if you could show me a pic of the backcasing .....please?

Thanks a Bunch
-Meganfox-

 

very cool watch! I don't think I mind the omega overhaul given to it. Love it.