1953 Omega "Fat Arrow" RAF CK 2777-1 with Omega Extract
Ref: CK 2777-1

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Omega box but does come with an Omega Archive Extract. The watch comes paired with a well-suited NATO strap. The watch is from Circa. April 1953 according to the Extract and is sold in worn, vintage condition and signs of wear and age can be seen throughout. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

Formerly known as the La Generale Watch Co. it was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. In 1903 they renamed the company Omega until 1982 when they officially changed their name to Omega SA. During WW1 Omega watches were used as official timekeepers for the Royal Flying Corps and the US Army. After stringent tests, NASA used Omega for all their Apollo missions including the 1969 Moon landing of Apollo 11. Today Omega is still an astronaut's first choice of timepiece. They are part of the Swiss Swatch Group.

Here we have a 1953 Omega "Fat Arrow" CK 2777-1 made specifically for the RAF. Its specification was strictly controlled by the British MoD (Ministry of Defence). This special timepiece was issued to the RAF for only one year with only 5900 pieces produced. An Extract from the OMEGA Archive is provided confirming the details of the watch. Included with the watch is a cup presented to “F/LT D.G.Shepherd” from “the Officers & Aircrew 110 Squadron”. This Squadron was first formed in World War One joining the war in 1918 when it bombed Germany, It was disbanded in 1919. Based in Rendcombe, Gloucestershire. In 1937 the squadron was reformed and was one of the first to bomb Germany in World War Two. Later in 1944, they were equipped with the famous de Havilland Mosquito, and the squadron was disbanded in 1946. A few months later it was reformed flying operations in Malaya and in 1951 it flew Vickers Valetta a twin-engine military transport aircraft disbanding in 1957. We can not say F/LT D.G.Shepherd owned this watch but they are both period-correct items and were presented together to us.

The 36.5mm brushed stainless steel case curves over your wrist with tapered fixed lugs. A lug to lug length of 48mm and a case thickness of 14mm ensures a comfortable fit on your wrist. One of the requirements specified by the MOD was that it is to be anti-magnet to achieve this they used a thick iron dial (1mm), Mu-metal (nickel-iron soft ferromagnetic alloy) dust cap and iron case back, which formed an efficient Faraday cage. On the right side is a large crown. The stepped smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a black dial. This dial was originally painted with Radium as you can see from the hands but the indices and Broad Arrow have been painted with Tritium hence the circled “T” under the Omega motif at 12 o’clock. This was done when the MOD recalled the timepieces because they felt Radium was no longer the preferred luminance to be used due to safety concerns. An outer minute track with lume pips and Arabic numeral indices marks the hours. At 6 o’clock we have the “Broad Arrow” (pheon) mark indicating British Government Issue property. “Fat Arrow” hands are infilled with its original Radium luminance. On the reverse, we have deeply engraved military markings, a large broad arrow, indicating that it was government property, designation numbers (6B/542) and beneath that its case number 5529 with the year (/53) when it was delivered. Inside a Manually Wound Omega Cal. 283 RS which was “specially adjusted” to Chronometre standards, 17 jewels, 18,000 beats per hour.

Personal Note

It's not every day a 1953 Fat Arrow lands on your desk, especially one with a story! Regardless of whether we can ever prove the story or not, the addition of the period-correct mug is really cool and only adds to the interest personally. I believe that is why we collect military watches and paraphernalia, the potential stories they hold and what they have seen, yet we will likely never know them.