When we think of Omega, the famous Speedmaster and Seamaster come to mind, or the Calatravas of the 40s and 50s. But there are also fascinating models of the firm, created during the second half of the twentieth century.
The most interesting are those designed by the English jeweler Andrew Grima, considered one of the most important and innovative designers of modern jewelry. His success was such that he built a distinguished clientele, among which were members of British royalty, such as Queen Elizabeth II.
Andrew Grima and Omega
In 1969 Robert Forster, Omega’s production manager, commissioned Grima to design a collection of watches for the brand: About Time. The pieces he designed were sculptures, works of art that told the time “by chance”, sticking to the idea of creating the watch around the dial.
His creations were a great success, and in 1970, Omega launched a range of watches inspired by Grima’s work: Time in Style, which was marketed through the De Ville, Constellation and Jeux d’Or ranges. Unlike the About Time collection, the dials of these watches were marked with the signature, had hour markers and were manufactured entirely in the Omega factory.
The pieces from the Time in Style collection have become the most sought after by collectors of both Omega watches and Grima jewelry. One of the most interesting and rare is the De Ville “Emerald” model, which we find in our next auction of luxury watches, created in 1972 and manufactured only until 1973.
This incredible piece features a champagne dial with black painted batons and matching hands signed by Omega De Ville, with a two-piece case in 18k solid gold. The Emerald line is distinguished by the cut of the precious stone or quartz on the dial, with sharp facets, the delicate finishes, which capture and reflect the light.
