Swiss steel dress watch with precision lever escapement Circa 1962

Large elegant steel numbered dress watch
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A large, elegant steel dress watch made by Omega in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, circa 1962. The open faced numbered case is crafted from stainless steel and is engine turned on the inside. The plain elegant dial still has the original hands and the movement with a numbered caliber has a lever escapement and 15 jewels.
Dial, case and movement signed.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 67 g
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Signed: Omega
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Omega
In 1848 a young watchmaker named Louis Brandt opened a small workshop in the small Swiss village of la Chaux-de-Fonds. It was here, in the family villa, that the 23 year old Brandt began the company that was to become OMEGA. Brandt was passionate about precision and he set about developing the most accurate watches he could. Within a few years his reputation for high quality watches was established within Switzerland and shortly after, throughout Europe.
After Louis Brandt’s death on November the 6^th in 1879, his two sons, Louis-Paul and César, took over the family business, inspired by their father’s passion for watchmaking and precision. Little did they know, they were destined to change the industry forever.
Under the new name Louis Brandt & Fils, the growing company moved in 1880 from la Chaux-de-Fonds to larger premises in the bustling town of Biel/Bienne. The company first moved to 119 Route de Boujean and then to 96 Rue Jakob Stämpfli, the address that remains the home of OMEGA.

In 1885 the Brandt brothers launched their first series produced caliber, the “Labrador”. Boasting many new technological advances and superb timing results, the new movement was of excellent quality for the time. This strong beginning provided the base for future innovations such as the 19 ligne OMEGA caliber that would revolutionise watchmaking ten years later.

The success of that movement was so great that the brothers changed the name of their company to OMEGA Watch Co (shortened). By 1903 OMEGA had become the largest manufacturer of finished watches and had taken on the role of research and development facility.