Men’s 1947 Oversized Omega Wristwatch

In 1848 23-year-old Louis Brandt opened a comptroir d'etablissage, a "sales office" through which he would sub-contract watch manufacture by the local Swiss cottage craftsmen. By 1880, having proven themselves as reliable purveyors, sons Louis-Paul and Cesar Brandt began a modern watch production unit in Bienne. It was at this level that they began manufacturing their own movements under the names Jura, Patria, Helvetia, Celtic, and Gurzelen. Within nine years of this move, Louis Brandt & Fils were the largest watch manufacturers in Switzerland, producing 100,000 units a day – well BEFORE wristwatches were mass-produced.

Omega began timing sports events at the 1909 international ballooning contest for the Gordon Bennett Cup. By 1919, they took first prize in accuracy competitions in Neuchatel, followed by years of first place chronometer ratings.

By 1940 René Bannwart founded the new "Creation Department" of Omega with the idea of capturing the "haute couture and prêt-à-porter of the Glorious Thirties." For the next 15 years he introduced such classics as the ultra-slim Automatic (1942), the Cosmic date with moon phase (1947), the legendary Seamaster (1948), the Constellation with 12-sided or "pie-pan" dial (1952) and the seductive Ladymatic (1955).

This men's rare oversized stainless-steel example features a magnificently restored pearlescent dial highlighted by spear hands and gold foil numerals and a sub-seconds register. One cannot help but be impressed by the beefy lugs and overall strength of this watch. Its very large stainless-steel case, measuring 46mm lug-to-lug by an immense 38mm in diameter, is in fine overall condition. A fine un-engraved back opens smoothly to reveal a fully restored 1947 15 ruby jeweled caliber 265 manual-wind movement.

We're pleased to offer this work of wrist art fitted with a peanut crocodile strap and period buckle in an equally magnificent Omega presentation case.

We love our overseas buyers, but if the watch is purchased outside the U.S., we must replace the strap with a leather one.