Omega 53 6b/542

This watch was ordered by the Royal Air Force in 1952 from Omega - they laid down a comprehensive specification for a robust, highly accurate, waterproof, anti-magnetic wrist watch to be supplied to navigators and pilots. These watches were supplied by Omega in 1953, consequently they’re referred to amongst military watch collectors as Omega ’53s.

The order from Omega was for just 5,900 piece and these were regarded as tools by the servicemen they were issued to, consequently it is rare to find one in as good condition as this example. Additionally at 37mm diameter, they’re large by 1950s standards and so are eminently wearable.

The watches were constructed using the top quality Omega calibre 283, a highly accurate movement which would have been relied on for navigation purposes. The inner casing and dial of the watch was made from soft iron in order to create a faraday cage around the movement to protect it from the effects of the magnetic fields in a 1950s plane cockpit.

These watches were originally issued with a slightly different dial that used radium luminous compound. In the early 1960s the Ministry Of Defence realised the potential health hazard that large stockpiles of these watches presented. Consequently they refinished the dials using the inert tritium luminous compound, hence the encircled T on the dial.

This watch is in great condition, the movement is very clean and has been serviced and is keeping excellent time. The dial has some very slight bubbling around the ‘4’ marker, but otherwise a superb example of this watch.