Omega Geneve, Caliber 600

This watch was a very early purchase, and of course the thing which immediately caught my eye was the neat display back installed by a previous owner. Beyond that, I really knew nothing much about the line, it simply looked like a nice, modestly-priced stainless steel dressy watch from a reputable manufacturer, and I enjoyed it as such for quite a long time, until I became interested in the various Omega movements.

It seems that the Seamaster, Constellation and of course chronograph series get most of the attention regarding Omega, but as I have learned from Frank N's wonderful article, the Geneve was originally conceived and marketed as a higher-line watch celebrating Omega's success in chronometer competition. Despite this it appears that mine is not unusual in lacking even COSC certification, although the Geneve was fitted with a wide variety of hand and automatic winding movements. While the intentions behind this series have since been largely diluted and forgotten, in the early 1960's when my watch was produced, the Geneve's place seemed more rational, if not especially conpicuous.

Typical of most vintage purchases, I received an aesthetically and mechanically excellent watch for my money, a wonderful, brushed silver, two-tone dial, applied and accented markers and matching hands, and a perfectly fine if workmanlike caliber 600 movement , exclusive to Omega and admirably well-finished according to the standards of the time. This watch is a reasonably modern 35.5mm diameter and so timelessly styled that a non-afficionado would have no particular clue as to its age. Even though I am now a great deal more educated about my watch than when I purchased it, it turns out that my initial impressions were just about right. My Omega Geneve is a pleasantly modest but high-quality watch, representative of its age and manufacture, as comfortable on the wrist today as it was forty years ago, but now much rarer.


Click the pictures for even larger!
















Please check out the rest of my Watch Articles and Pics


I hope you enjoyed this!
SteveG
January 30, 2002

All content Copyright asserted 2003