Omega Chicago Tribune
Here’s an exceptionally rare piece of Chicago history — a 1961 Omega with custom Chicago Tribune dial, presented to Arthur Warner in recognition of 30 years of service. Warner was a lifelong Chicago Tribune employee, later recognized in a 1990 Tribune article as the paper’s oldest active employee. Featuring a high-grade Caliber 500 automatic movement with two adjustments, this watch stands among the most elusive Omega presentation series from a bygone era.
| Attributes | Value |
|---|---|
| Model / Reference |
Omega Automatic |
| Movement |
Caliber 500 Automatic, 2 adjustments |
| Age |
1961 |
| Case Size |
34mm |
| Case Material |
14K yellow gold filled |
| Dial / Hands |
Dial with original Tribune Tower motif, cream center ring with outer silver chapter ring, applied Arabic numerals, dauphine hands, center seconds, radium lume |
| Strap / Bracelet |
Aftermarket brown leather |
Case in great condition with edges intact and minimal signs of wear. Movement is running strong, keeping time and functioning smoothly. Hands are original and radium lume intact. Dial is all original, featuring sharp Tribune Tower motif inlaid on cream center and outer silver chapter ring; dial is in very good condition with crisp text. Hour indices are sharp and undamaged.
Watch is keeping excellent time, approximately +/- 10s per day. Watch is winding and setting smoothly. Movement bridges are clean and sharp, screw-heads are polished and un-marred. Service history is unknown.
Founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Omega initially began as a small atelier workshop. After Brandt’s death, his sons Louis-Paul and César radically transformed the company through a series of industrial innovations, culminating in the 1894 launch of the revolutionary 19-ligne Omega caliber. Defined by exceptional accuracy, interchangeable parts, and the modern crown-and-stem winding system, the Omega movement set a new standard for the industry and was adopted as Omega’s namesake in 1903. By the early 1900s, Omega had become the largest manufacturer of finished watches in Switzerland.
Omega’s early embrace of standardized, serviceable movements reshaped modern watchmaking from small-scale craft toward reliable, precision-driven production. Trusted by militaries, scientists, athletes, and explorers, the brand became the official timekeeper of the Olympic Games in 1932, and in 1969 the Speedmaster was even worn on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Today, Omega is best known for its long association with exploration, scientific achievement, and reliable timekeeping in challenging conditions.
