Omega Hunting-Cased Pocket Watch with Portrait of Ras Tafari
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Sold January 9, 1929
Maker / issuer
OmegaThis Omega keyless pocket watch is a four-body, 18K yellow gold, hunting-cased timepiece. It features a Calibre 34 M.S. movement, which is rhodium-plated and contains 16 jewels.
The watch is equipped with a straight-line lever escapement, a cut bimetallic compensation balance, a blued steel Breguet balance spring, and an index regulator. The exterior is decorated with polychrome enamel and engraving. The hinged back cover bears a portrait of Ras Tafari (Haile Selassie) surrounded by an Amharic inscription. The front cover displays a blue enamel medallion with the monogram TM surmounted by an Ethiopian crown, set against a radially engraved ground.
The white enamel dial features Roman numerals, a subsidiary seconds dial, and a gilt Lion of Judah emblem. The case, dial, and movement are signed. The watch was sold on January 9, 1929, and originates from the Omega Museum collection.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Hunting-cased keyless pocket watch
- Sold Date
- January 9, 1929
- Case Number
- 6931030
- Case Diameter
- 49.5 mm
- Case Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Dial Features
- Roman numerals and Lion of Judah emblem
- Movement Type
- Cal. 34 M.S.
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement Number
- 6336712
- Maker / attribution
- Omega
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial features a gilt Lion of Judah emblem positioned below the Omega logo. • The front cover displays the monogram TM in enamel inside a laurel leaf frame. • The movement is a Calibre 34 M.S. finished in rhodium plating.
- Case and Dial Design
- The watch is housed in a four-body, 18K yellow gold, hunting-style case of the 'bassine et filets' type. The front cover is decorated with a central medallion featuring the monogram 'TM' (Tafari Makonnen) and the Ethiopian Crown, framed by laurel leaves on a radially engraved background. The hinged back cover contains a polychrome enamel portrait of Haile Selassie dressed in royal blue, circled by an inscription in Amharic that translates to 'His Highness Tafari Makonnen'. The interior white enamel dial displays bold radial Roman numerals and an outer minute track. A subsidiary seconds dial is located at the bottom. A gilt emblem depicting the 'Lion of Judah' is applied to the dial center beneath the Omega signature. The watch uses gilt 'spade' hands for time indication.
- Movement and Escapement
- The internal mechanism is an Omega Calibre 34 M.S. movement, with 'M' denoting 'Thin' (Mince) and 'S' denoting 'Hunter' (Savonnette) configurations. It is finished with rhodium plating and is constructed with 16 jewels. The technical configuration includes a straight-line lever escapement paired with a cut bimetallic compensation balance to regulate the watch. Timekeeping is managed by a blued steel Breguet-style balance spring and an index regulator. The movement, dial, and case are all signed by Omega, adhering to standard production conventions for high-grade watches from this factory period in Geneva.
- Provenance and Historical Context
- This watch is documented as having been sold on January 9, 1929. The provenance is attributed to the Omega Museum. The portrait on the case is identified as an identical enamel to one published in the reference work 'Omegamania' by Marco Richon. Although the watch was sold in early 1929, the source suggests it may have been created to commemorate the 1930 coronation of Ras Tafari as Emperor. The choice of the 'Lion of Judah' emblem on the dial aligns with the traditional imperial symbolism associated with the Ethiopian monarchy and the Book of Genesis.
Identification
- Reference
- Cal. 34 M.S.
- Serial number
- 6931030
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source notes the watch was 'probably' made to commemorate the 1930 coronation, which post-dates the recorded 1929 sale date.
- Research required: The provenance from the Omega Museum is noted, but the specific path of ownership prior to inclusion in the museum is not documented.