Omega - The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX Geneva Friday, November 10, 2017 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Omega
    Year: 1949
    Reference No: OT.14.166
    Movement No: 11'385'480
    Case No: 10'814'249
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 260, 15 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Gold plated Omega pin buckle
    Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by a booklet on the history of the Terzian family and their relationship with the Emperor of Ethiopia, further accompanied by a spare crystal.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Certain watches tell more than time. They tell stories of friendship, of family heritage, of exile and revolutions, of adventures and sometimes of History itself.

    The present watch is the token of the extraordinary relationship between an Armenian immigrant family to Ethiopia and the descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheeba.

    Born in Addis Ababa from Armenian immigrant parents, Arshavir Terzian was a pioneer in the fields of medicine and pharmacology leading him to not only become the Emperor Haile Selassie's personal physician but a close counselor to the Emperor in all fields of health administration.

    In 1960, a coup was led to overthrow the Emperor and to replace him by the Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen who initially went along with this proclamation under duress. The coup collapsed within days and the Emperor Haile Selassie was restored. Shortly after the failed coup, the Crown Prince fell very ill and, upon personal request of the Emperor, Dr. Terzian was asked to tend the prince. Once recovered, the Crown Prince wished to retribute Dr. Terzian for saving his life, but, before the latter’s refusal in accepting any form of payment, the Crown Prince removed the watch which he was wearing, the present Omega, and strapped it on Dr. Terzian’s wrist as a token of his appreciation and symbol of the trust bestowed upon the great doctor by the Royal family.

    Its historical importance aside, the present Omega is a striking watch with its large pink gold case, immaculate cream dial and round and baguette ruby hour markers. The Omega Extract of the Archives indicates that the watch was delivered to Ethiopia in 1949, the case back is engraved with the Imperial Crown of Ethiopia and the Crown Prince’s initials.

    Further adding to this watch's desirability and underlying its importance is the fact it was loaned to the Omega Museum in 2016 for an exhibition on Imperial watches. This was the very first time it was shown to the public.

  • Artist Biography

    Omega

    Swiss • 1848

    Omega's rich history begins with its founder, Louis Brandt, who established the firm in 1848 in La Chaux de Fonds. In 1903, the company changed its name to Omega, becoming the only watch brand in history to have been named after one its own movements. A full-fledged manufacturer of highly accurate, affordable and reliable watches, its sterling reputation enabled them to be chosen as the first watch company to time the Olympic Games beginning in 1932. Its continued focus on precision and reliability ultimately led their Speedmaster chronograph wristwatch to be chosen by NASA in 1965 — the first watch worn on the moon.

    Key models sought-after by collectors include their first, oversized water-resistant chronograph — the reference 2077, early Speedmaster models such as the CK 2915 and 2998, military-issued versions of the Seamaster and oversized chronometer models such as those fitted with their prestigious caliber 30T2Rg.

    View More Works

181

Ref. OT.14.166
A very rare and attractive pink gold wristwatch with ruby-set hour markers, presumably made for the Crown Prince of Ethiopia

1949
36mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€25,900-51,800
$31,000-62,000

Sold for CHF62,500

Contact Specialist
Alexandre Ghotbi
+41 22 317 81 89
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: SIX

Geneva Auctions 11 - 12 November 2017