OMEGA’s journey from the trenches to Dunkirk
Tom Hardy’s RAF character – in the latest blockbuster “Dunkirk”, directed by Christopher Nolan – is seen wearing a CK2129 timepiece by OMEGA; this prods the marque to take a walk down the memory lane
The two great wars of the 20th century that marred the history of mankind were so massive in their impact that they would forever be known as the World Wars I and II. While the Allies in both the conflicts are well-known and appreciated, a horological brand that helped the Allies in both conflicts is now reiterating the critical role it played on the numerous war fields and victories.
The maison’s strong history of observatory records that proved the accuracy of its timepieces, and its incredible manufacturing ability that could deliver high quantities of wristwatches and pocket watches in short timeframes made it an ideal supplier of military watches at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Soon, OMEGA became the prime choice of Great Britain’s Ministry of Defence as well as its allies.
In the trench warfare that was a distinguishing feature of WWI, OMEGA’s wristwatch chronographs became essential tools for commanding officers to time the exact difference between the flash and sound of opposing gunfire. This enabled them to work out the distance between themselves and the enemy; a truly important piece of information when planning your attack.
OMEGA’s good reputation continued into World War II; Tom Hardy’s RAF character in “Dunkirk” is seen sporting the CK2129, the most commonly worn OMEGA timepiece by RAF personnel in the early days of the WWII. Its unique rotating bezel was highly valuable for pilots and navigators during missions as it enabled the timing of specific intervals. On bombing raids, for example, these timing intervals became crucial. The rotating bezel could also be locked by the watch’s 2nd crown, so that the timing wouldn’t be affected by accidental knocks. Two thousand models had been delivered to the MoD at the start of the war. The watch featured a contrasting cream dial with clear Arabic numerals and poire hands, making it particularly easy to read.
Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, the hero of El Alamein and Operation Overlord, expressed his satisfaction with OMEGA’s watches during the war and met with company representatives to thank them for the help that the brand had given.
