Why We Love It
Part treasure hunter, part storyteller.
That's how we describe our jobs to our non horologically-inclined friends when they ask us what it is we actually do every day.
Hunting vintage watches is an all-consuming passion, and one we're fortunate to also call a career. Whether its trolling the estate sales, working with private collectors, scouring suburban pawn shops, or raising our paddles at backwater auction houses, the thrill of the hunt is very real - and the rewards can be incredibly exciting.
But few finds are as thrilling as the rare occasion we find brand new watches...that are forty years old.
It is becoming less frequent for sure, but every so often we're graced with a discovery in NOS (New Old Stock) condition, meaning an older, out of production watch that has never been worn. And its even less frequent that we stumble onto the jackpot - a gross of NOS timepieces.
Yet that's just what happened here. Secured in a private bank vault in Manhattan for untold decades, we were recently offered a small collection of unworn, solid 14k Yellow Gold Omega Genève models from the 1970s from a private seller.
Needless to say, we took the lot.
In completely unworn condition, these beautiful watches each comes with their original signed strap, buckle, box, signed Hesalite crystal, blank International Guarantee papers, and hangtag. Their case backs even feature the factory wax sealant!
Other than each showing some unique signs of age in the form of oxidation to their cases, these beauties are time capsules from an era of simpler designs, clean lines, and more rationally sized cases. Fitted with the Calibre 1030 manually-winding movement, they are slim and refined, making for a perfect dress or daily wearable timepiece for the more elegantly-minded collector.
Once they are gone, they are gone - so don't miss out on your chance to be the first to wear an as-new Omega forty some-odd years after it was made!
The Story
Though Omega is perhaps best-known for its sporty Speedmaster or Seamaster lines, the brand has been releasing—quietly and without much fanfare—dress watches with simple function-forward designs distinctive enough to catch the eye of any purist.
Omega first began applying "Genève" to the dials of their dressier 30mm watches in 1953. This was in honor of their 30mm calibre that set records at the Geneva Observatory. By 1967 the name began to be applied to models throughout Omega's range, such as the Omega Dynamic, that were produced in large volumes.
These watches used the same, high quality movements as Omega's other lines. But they were sold at a more competitive price point than Omega's other offerings, targeting a younger clientele. By the time Omega ceased production of the Genève line in 1979, pieces in this collection comprised more than 60% of Omega's total sales.
