Looks like Omega calibre163 as per this listing in Ranfft. What is stamped inside the case back. Answers to some of your questions might be there. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&Omega_163
38M-L from the Geneva factory circa 1926, manufactured in very small numbers and the only Omega PW with this serpentine bridge. 14k yg with yg & wg caseback, blue enamel. Came with original box and paperwork from 1931 sale at a jeweler in Krakow, Poland. Additional shot with niello chain and deerskin bowsaver, pardon the dog hair.
Beautiful! So often, watches with vitreous enamel (that’s not acrylic, folks) trim on the case, have damaged enamel. Rare to find one in such condition. And the niello chain! That is something I had never heard of, let alone seeing one! And a full set to boot!
Right you are, my wording was incorrect. To clarify, the serpentine bridge layout only came out of the Geneva factory. The 38 M.S. also of Geneva manufacture in hunting case has this bridge. I'd love to pick up an M.S. cousin to go with my M-L, one is currently on Ebay with an exorbitant price and an incorrect hour hand.
It was a BIN on Ebay and the seller stated that she was liquidating an estate. I'm assuming that this was a family heirloom and obviously saw very little use, stored in a drawer or a safe. Original buyer also purchased a diamond ring, first item on the paperwork.
Also French market like @Zapatta's. I wonder if that specific dial was unique to that market. Mine is similar but definitely not identical.
The 35M and 38M – the most beautiful products. We saw the (delightful) watch from @Fulton8or back in July, and there is more detail on that thread: https://omegaforums.net/threads/seeking-knowledge-on-omega-38m.148656/#post-2026216 The ‘M’ stands for ‘mince’, meaning thin, slim or slender in French. And thin they are, each having a movement thickness of 3.15mm (wristwatch thickness!) - in comparison with the 30mm wristwatch, which had a movement thickness of 4mm, the SC was 5.1mm. 35M and 38M next to a 30mm SC. Thin indeed! Mostly 35M, two 38M (detail to follow). 38M detail. Some of the cases are yellow gold, some are mixed yellow and white gold. All 35M apart from the two at the bottom.
Stunning collection! I'm somewhat surprised to see the J.E. Caldwell dial in the mix. Granted, the Geneva factory production was "special" with the exceptionally thin movement and very high-grade cases, but I'd think that with the small production runs they would all be Omega branded.
All thre dials (yours, Zapata's and mine) are different, slightly but different (see the 3-6-9-12 markers and the subdials, inner circle beteen the minutes track and the hours). The catalog picture I showed, with the same dial as mine, is a British catalog si I doubt this dial design was unique to French market. Yours is a different ref as the bow doesn't have the CK1021 design. I didn't find its reference number but it is probably also not specific to French market. I found it in a1937 Italian catalog with, among others, the same dial (see top right) and hands (see bottom right) as yours. Another evidence that the dial-hands combination was not fixed. Too bad the period Italian catalogs don't show the Omega ref but use a specific codification :
I've always thought that bow was especially appropriate for Omega. It's easy for me to see an Ω in its shape.
Great pictures. Any idea why they have different decorations on the movement. This one is quite ornate but many are plain
Hi all, nice thread! I recently acquired this beauty, 47mm, two-tone dial with cal 37.5 from end of 1930s, I believe. I saw a few with this dial configuration, but never with this exact case. It reminds me of the omega flying saucer, with the crown visually integrated within the case, I love it. Does anyone know the reference or has seen this case before?