Tennants Auctioneers
Lot 2367
Omega: A World War II Military Wristwatch, signed Omega, Known by Collectors as one of "The Dirty Dozen", (calibre 30T2) manual wound lever movement signed and numbered 10263212, split bimetallic balance with a blued overcoil hairspring, black dial with luminous Arabic numerals, signed and with a military broad arrow, seconds dial, stainless steel case with a screw back engraved with a broad arrow WWW Y22500 10686699, fixed bars between the lugs, inside back cover numbered 10686699, broad arrow and maker's mark Omega Watch Co 35mm wide 'The Dirty Dozen' is the name given to a group of 12 watches commissioned by the Ministry of Defence for use by soldiers during WWII. The MoD ordered custom-built wristwatches from 12 Swiss watchmakers: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor and Vertex. Each company was given the specific brief of providing watches that were accurate, reliable and durable, with a black dial, Arabic numerals, luminous markers, a railroad minute track, shatterproof glass and a stainless-steel case. No matter the maker, these watches can be identified by the engraved 'W.W.W.' on the reverse, as well as the broad arrowhead mark on the dial, inner case, and reverse, and both military and civil serial numbers on the reverse. Case with surface scratches, case with minor dents in parts to edges, case is dirty in parts, back cover with small opening tool marks, later strap, glass with scratches, original dial finish, luminous Arabic and outer hour markers are nicely aged and have a good even patina, hands have been later painted, hands missing luminous, hand setting correctly and winding smoothly, movement in going order.
