Oversized Open Face, Enamel Dial with Red 13-24 Ring, c.1909
An Omega open-face watch from about 1909, in an unusually large 58.8mm case, with a white enamel dial carrying a second ring of hours from 13 to 24.
Black Arabic numerals 1 to 12 run around the outside of the dial. Set within them, on a toned centre field, are red numerals 13 to 24 for the afternoon and evening hours. There is an outer minute track and subsidiary seconds at six. It is signed OMEGA at twelve in small black capitals, with blued steel hands.
The movement is Omega's 19''' calibre in lépine form and B grade, the 19''' LOB. It has gilt plates, 15 jewels, large exposed crown and ratchet wheels, and a scroll-engraved balance cock with a regulator index lettered S R and F A. The Brandt brothers introduced the 19''' in 1894 and named it Omega. It was built in series, with parts any watchmaker could replace without modification, and it did well enough that the firm took the name for itself in 1903. As on most Omega movements of this date, the bridge side is plain; Omega engraved the movement number on the dial side.
The case is plated base metal, with a plain back, a hinged back cover and a hinged dust cover. Inside the back is Omega's trademark stamp, and the case number 3492887 is struck on both the back and the dust cover. At 58.8mm it is a large case for this calibre.
The watch winds, sets and runs steadily. The red numerals inside the toned centre have partial losses at 24, 21, 19, 17 and 16. There are a few hairlines in the white outer chapter; the black numerals and signature are intact. Inside the case back the plating is worn through, with spotting and pitting, and the outside shows general light wear. The crystal is a later acrylic and the fluted crown is a later replacement.
