SPECIFICATIONS
Extremely rare Omega Automatic with 18Kt rose gold case designed and produced by Antoine Gerlach, rose gold guilloche dial, rose gold bracelet, Omega 342 self-winding movement inside, from the early 1950s.
18Kt solid rose gold case measuring 35mm x 42mm
Rose gold guilloche dial
Rose gold bracelet
Genuine crystal
Omega 342 self-winding movement
ANALYSIS
This is a special watch. A combination of craftsmanship that makes this piece a truly and extremely rare masterpiece. The early 1950s saw an evolution in taste and design: artists were freeing themselves from the burden of the tragedy of World War II and were opening themselves to the exploration of new aesthetic concepts. This extraordinary Omega is a concrete example of this evolution.
The gold dial is a display of craftsmanship. Its surface features a guilloche-decorated exterior. A very thin internal frame separates it from the center of the dial, which is treated with delicate grooves in parallel vertical lines. At the center of the dial, at 12 o’clock, is a rectangular raised section featuring the Omega signature and logo. The applied indexes contribute to this imaginative flair of the layout: they are shaped like double diamonds; further inward, at 12, 3, and 9 o’clock, are stunning circular-based indexes that rise like three small, shimmering pyramids. This magnificent dial is finished with razor-sharp douphine hands and a double-sloped surface.
The solid 18K rose gold case with “hood” lugs is a masterpiece by Genevan master Antoine Gerlach, active from the 1930s to the 1970s (key hallmark: “4”). He is the artist who, starting in 1932, created some of Patek Philippe’s most beautiful and iconic cases. He crafted the iconic gold case of the Calatrava 96R (1941) and that of the “Disco Volante” perpetual calendar 3448 (early 1970s). Gerlach also collaborated extensively with Omega. He designed and produced the Constellation cases with “immature” pie-pan dials (or “pseudo-pie-pan” dials) between the 1950s and 1960s. In short, a great master casemaker, who created some of the most iconic watches of all time in Geneva.
This splendid case is paired with an equally splendid bracelet constructed with intervals of four and three very small, soft links. It ends in an adjustable clasp to ensure comfort and security on the wrist.
Beneath the precious and thoughtful caseback of this watch is the Omega 342 automatic bumper caliber. It went into production in 1949 and redesigned the caliber 340 from a few months earlier to improve its winding function. The Omega 342 is 28.5mm wide and 4.8mm thick; it has 17 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve, and a frequency of 19,800 vph.
