1930's Omega Watch

Omega  
Stainless steel  
1934 
Manual wind    
15 jewels  
Movement cal. Omega T.17  
Swiss made  
37/32 x 22 mm

This Omega is Art Deco refinement in its most effortlessly charming form. A sleek, handsome gentleman’s watch with a wonderfully restrained 37 mm lug-to-lug length and 22 mm width, crafted in ‘Staybrite’ stainless steel alloy. The case is glossy, apart from the narrow stepped outer rim, a small flourish of geometry that gives the whole affair just enough attitude.
Inside beats the Omega T17 caliber, designed by Charles Perregaux and introduced in 1934. A rather impressive little engine, boasting a remarkable 60-hour power reserve. More than 140,000 were produced between 1934 and 1943, so clearly this particular gentleman was not without admirers.
​The movement enjoys the added protection of a snug dust cover, which sits neatly between the movement and case back. And they certainly didn’t neglect the details: both the case back and dust cover feature an elegant engine-turned finish. Inside the case back you’ll find “Ancier Staybrite”, the Omega logo, Fab. Suisse, Swiss-Made, and the reference number, quietly doing the talking, as it should.
The crystal is fine mineral glass, perfectly suited to a watch of this age. The subsidiary-seconds dial has survived remarkably well, with the original numerals and hands still carrying lume. Will it glow under the sheets? Unlikely. But at this age, expecting nightlife from him would be slightly unreasonable.