Manufacturer: Omega Year: 1948 Reference No: OT 2398 Movement No: 10’763’008 Case No: 10’723’497 Model Name: Fantasy Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 30.01 RA PC, 17 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: Modern 18K yellow gold-plated Omega buckle Dimensions: 34mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, and movement signed. Accessories: With Omega Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with cloisonné enamel dial in 1948 and its subsequent sale on March 31, 1948 and delivered to Switzerland. Literature: A similar example with "Fantasy" cloisonné dial is illustrated in John Goldberger's Omega Watches, p. 194.
Catalogue Essay
Renowned for the iconic Speedmaster, the first watch worn on the lunar surface in 1969, Omega has a storied history in horology, and the present timepiece with cloisonné enamel dial is part of a rare and small series of watches produced between 1946 and 1956, reflecting their commitment to workmanship and tradition. With the end of World War II, Omega offered these luxurious watches featuring extraordinary cloisonné dials with motifs such as landscapes, mythical creatures, maps of the world and like the present “Fantasy” watch, with stylized floral designs. This abstract pattern is so rooted in their history, Omega chose to recreate it in 1994 when they released a limited edition timepiece (100 pieces) with cloisonné dial to commemorate their 100th anniversary.
These rare watches combine form and function with beauty – a robust self-winding movement and the dial a veritable work of art with vibrant colors and ornate worksmanship. Cloisonné enameling is an ancient technique used throughout history to decorate jewelry, religious objects, and vessels. The intricate work begins with the enameller laying out the design with fine gold wire, then adding successive layers of enamel to each region within the wire design to achieve the desired color, then fired in a kiln.
The present example from the grandson of the original owner is in lovely original condition and remains unpolished. The case is well preserved, showing signs of careful wear, as well as retaining strong proportions and its original factory finish. In the post war era when so many brands developed utilitarian tool watches, the Omega Fantasy is a rare gem and beautiful timepiece that many will seek out, but few will ultimately own.
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.