Vintage
SamJH introduces the rarely seen 1981 Omega La Magique, a testament to Omega's historical ventures into unique and technically challenging designs. His post offers a fascinating glimpse into a period when Omega pushed boundaries, providing context for how the brand balanced mass production with innovative, specialty timepieces.
Omega is sort of the "everyman's" watch today. Among luxury watches, they are the reasonably priced while simultaneously very high quality watch in the mass produced section of that market.
In the past, Omega was much more of a mass produced and relatively expensive luxury watch, as Rolex is today. The brand also dabbled in interesting specialty products from time to time, and I enjoy collecting these lesser known and less common items. In fact, my collection is largely built around having watches no one else has from Omega (because of low and/or brief production), and about having at least one of each complication.
One of these exotic watches Omega made briefly -- basically to show that they could -- was the 1981 La Magique. Produced only that year, it was to prove that Omega could make a thin, yet wearable quartz watch.
I finally pulled this watch out and properly photographed it a few weeks ago.
Yes, you are looking right through it. A variation on the "mystery dial" complication (probably technically not a complication, but a feature), this watch has four layers of sapphire in the center.
You see the setting button in profile in these photos . . .
A relatively small watch, it is even more thin, at 2.6mm thick.
For comparision, this is a US quarter dollar
It's really just a bit thicker than a nickel
Just a cool watch, and it looks great on my blonde wife
i think this is only the 2nd or 3rd i've ever seen. very clever movement. i think it was the thinnest in the world, but not sure if its been beaten. a bit of forgotten magic possibly more of a ladies watch in the days of big watches for the boys. very nice to see one best Graham
. . . and Omega has replacements!!!! The watch was over US$3,000 in 1982 -- which is the equivalent of about $7,000 today (or $11,000 if you think Omega would have charged the same Swiss franc price -- exchange rates have moved against us that much). Sam
That is fascinating. If you ever do get a chance to photograph it with the caseback removed, I love to see the mechanism. Thanks for sharing.
as I just had the battery replaced, but try this link click here which takes you to the Omega website regarding the movement And this click here which addresses the watch
This thread is active on the Omega forum with 5 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.
Join the Discussion →
