Omega Dynamic

Here at Fellows, we have seen every Omega under the sun and very few watches consistently turn as many heads as the Dynamic models. Simultaneously futuristic and retro, every variation of the Omega Dynamic is a sight to behold. Built for fashion and utility, these once unloved watches are slowly gaining greater acclaim amongst watch collectors for their style, quality, and value. We had a number of fantastic examples of the Omega Dynamic range in our previous Luxury Watch Sale on the 18th May.

Dynamic in name, Dynamic in nature: The first Omega Dynamic

History appears to have treated the original series of Dynamics unkindly, with recent commenters calling them ‘downright odd’ and ‘wonky’, but these watches ought to be at the forefront of the vintage revival that has begun to dominate other areas of culture. Omega launched the ‘Geneve’ Dynamic in 1968. The original marketing material claimed that the design was ‘determined by the anatomy of your wrist’. They came with an integrated strap made from the ultramodern sounding Corfam artificial leather that had holes to ‘air-condition’ your wrist.

But the Dynamic was not just style over substance; that artificial leather strap would not get waterlogged and the watch was water-resistant to thirty metres. The dial was designed to be easily read (in ⅕th of a second the magazine advert claims) and the glass was hermetically sealed into the monocoque case. The straps could even be easily interchanged using a tool supplied by Omega. While it was the Speedmaster that became the first watch on the moon, the Dynamic really displays the attitude and ethos of the time where humans were about to reach the moon. The original dynamic was a futuristic watch with forward-thinking features.

Lot 70 from our previous Luxury Watch Sale. This is a more refined and mature variation of the original Dynamic. It features a signed stainless steel bracelet with a silver and grey dial. There is a day and date aperture to the third hour marker.

An Ergonomic Spider: The Second Omega Dynamic

Omega refreshed the Dynamic line in the 80s, placing the watch into the Seamaster line. Sometimes nicknamed ‘Spider’, these watches had quartz movements and a seashell-like case. Once again, the Dynamic places ergonomics at the forefront. The watch gently slopes towards the wearer for ease of use. While certainly a less outlandish appearance, the Dynamic II is another distinctive addition to Omega’s quirky watch line.

The Underappreciated Gem: The third and final Omega Dynamic

Launched in 1995, the third dynamic release reined in the futuristic style choices of the previous two models. This was a much more reserved silhouette. However, utility and ease-of-use continued to be paramount to the design of the Dynamic models. Rather than connecting to the space-age design of its forbearers, the Dynamic III is inspired by the military issue watches of World War II.

They were available in two models, one with a date function and the other with a thirty minute chronograph. The matt black dial of the watches provide an attractive backdrop for the luminescent Arabic numerals. This style recalls the utilitarian heritage of the watch. The pushers of the chronograph variant sit proudly away from the case. They are reminiscent of vintage stopwatches. They add to the functional design of the watch. On the earlier models, the numerals were painted with tritium paint which gave them a yellowed appearance. In 1998 Omega switched to Super-Luminova which changed the numerals from yellow to white, explaining the variations between examples. Despite the numerous features and details, the dial of the Dynamics do not feel cluttered or messy in any way. Rather, they maintain a strong legibility and an attractive, youthful look, despite celebrating their twenty-eighth birthday this year.

In a time...

 In a time where watches seem to keep growing larger and larger, the Dynamic’s relatively compact thirty-six millimetre case width is a breath of fresh air that will suit any wrist. It’s fair to say that, at the time, they were not appreciated by the wider public and by the end of 1999 Omega had discontinued the model, but appreciation for them has been growing more recently. The late 90s Dynamics are under-appreciated and under-valued workhorse watches that have a unique appearance that will look good for any occasion. In our previous Luxury Watch Sale, we had three examples of the Omega Dynamic III models, including one chronograph model.