Hi guys,
I obtained this watch from France. What I do know is that the swan hallmarks indicates imported silver to France and the movement is dated between 1912 and 1916. Patent 9846 is a patent for an early wristwatch with fixed lugs and this patent is seen on some other watches of this period. I have seen this dial before in other trench watches of this period. What I find unusual is the case. It is marked Omega but I have never seen such a case or a silver trench watch with such thick fixed lugs on an Omega. Have any of you further information as to what this watch is and any background to it? It seems like a cross between a trench watch and some of the later WW2 military watches. Nobody on the Military Watch Forum (Broadarrow) has seen one before. Any insights would be much appreciated and thankyou in advance.

 

Looks like the lugs were added to a pocket watch...

 

Thats essentially what trench watches were. It would have to be a very small pocket watch. I have taken a pic of it beside my seamaster to give an idea of size. Ideally i’d like to know if this case is original Omega and as intended. This is a pic of a watch with the same dial and similar crown and age that was on ebay recently. That doesn’t discount the possibility that either watch is some kind of Frankenwatch mind you but the Patent number confirms that my watch was intended to be a fixed lug wristwatch from manufacture.

 

Very interesting. You have us at a disadvantage; you have it in hand.

I wonder if the case was originally converted with the same primitive wire lugs and then twenty to thirty years later, the original wire lugs were removed and replaced with these more modern ones, maybe in the 30’s.

These apparent marks on the case suggested that to me. But, having it in hand, you’ll be a much better judge of whether it really looks like this could be true.

The lugs on the watch are very modern for an old fashioned hinged, double back case.

 

Assuming it's silver, are there any hallmarks on the lugs?

I suppose the options are that:

1 - It left the factory like that.

2 - The lugs were added latter.

If 2, given the configuration with crown at 9, I'd take a punt on it starting life with wire lugs, as per your pictures from the watch that was on eBay.

Not sure how you could find out for certain - there's nothing in A Journey Through Time that matches your case, but that's not necessarily conclusive proof of anything.

 

Beat me to it by a second!

 

No there are no hallmarks on the lugs. I cant see any remains of previous wire lugs either under my magnifying glass. Thanks for your opinions anyway. I suppose it’ll have to remain a mystery. At least its a trench watch that looks pretty modern and wearable. Cheers guys.