Omega Ladies Pocket Watch - 11 ligne (or 24.4 mm) - 1896? With Gold Initials LB (Louis Brandt?)

[Oldendays]

I was wondering if anyone could shed further information on the following Omega pocket watch and/or confirm that I have researched this correctly.



For comparison purposes the watch has been placed beside an Australian 20 cent coin. The exact dimensions of the Australian 20 cent coin is 23.60mm in diameter.

I can't quite tell from trying to measure the movement while it is inside the case whether it is 10 Ligne (23mm) or 11 Ligne (24.4mm) but I'm leaning towards 11 Ligne. The watch is ticking over nicely and keeping time so I don't want to trying removing it from the case.





According to Omega, for their watch serial numbers from 1 million to 2 million the year of manufacture is from 1894 to 1901

The number of this watch is 1764441.



According to the "Nomenclature des calibres Omega de 1894 à aujourd'hui" or the List of Omega calibers from 1894 to today the 11 Ligne calibre was first manufactured in 1896.

I presume the damascening on the movement means it was intended for export to the USA.

Whether it is a coincidence or not, the gold initials on the back of the watch case is "LB" which is the same as the founder of Omega - Louis Brandt. Louis Brandt died in 1879 but his company name continued on with his sons as "Louis Brandt & Fils" and Omega was born in 1894 with the 19 Ligne watch. Then the sons changed the company name to Omega after the success of their watch name. One of Louis Brandt's two sons was also called Louis Brandt.



I have not acid tested the initials to see if it is gold because I am reluctant to do so but I can't see any hallmarks - is it likely to be gold or would it be some other metal?

Any feedback is most welcome.

 

[JTD]

the gold initials on the back of the watch case is "LB"

The 'B' is clear enough, but I am not at all sure the other letter is/was an 'L'. It looks very odd, as if parts are missing or broken, and doesn't really resemble an 'L' in its present form.

The little stump on the top looks broken off, and what is happening in the middle of the 'B'?? I am not sure what letter the second one may be/have been.

Others may be able to say more.

JTD

 

[MrRoundel]

Neat little Omega pendant watch! I really like the gun-metal with the applied gold initials. My guess is that the initials are gold rather than gold filled, as gold was probably easier to work with for such applications, and it wasn't a lot of material to make. Plus, there would be a strong possibility of carving through to the underlying metal if they were gold-filled, and nobody would want to start over.

Interestingly, I have watch fob that appears to have been made in that same carved style of initial. I believe it may have been applied to a case at one time, and perhaps removed later. Something I'll never know. It too may be of solid gold, but has not such markings.

FWIW, I have an 18 ligne Omega that has a private label on the dial. It's a bit earlier than yours, 1.2 million range serial number, and is identified only by the Omega symbol on the balance-cock. It has a very similar nickel finish to the plates, and was obviously imported by the jeweler, Bartens & Rice of New York. So it being imported is probably a good guess. Good luck finding out what you want. Cheers.

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

Just seen this thread, interesting indeed. I never took much interest in my little watch, in my small collection Iron for Gold. In 1916 the German government asked their people to turn in their gold objects in exchange for Iron of the same.
Quite obviously it did not last long. This Omega could well be one of these items.







Allan.