40,120 CHF
PORTRAIT OF “RAS TAFARI” Omega, “Usine de Genève” No. 6336712, case No. 6931030. Sold on January 9, 1929. Very fine, unique and historicaly important, 18K yellow gold and enamel hunting-cased, keyless pocket watch with painted on enamel portrait of Ras Tafari “Haile Selassie”. This watch is sold with box, Certificate of Authenticity and a 2-year Omega guarantee. White enamel with bold radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, gilt emblem of the “Lion of Judah”. Yellow gold “spade” hands. Fabriqué à Genève, Cal. 34 M.S., rhodium-plated, 16 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Case, dial and movement signed. Diam. 49.5 mm. Notes Cal. 34 M.S. M = Thin S = Hunter (savonnette) Provenance: Omega Museum. A watch with identical enamel portrait is illustrated in Omegamania, by Marco Richon, Chap. 9, p. 35. Emperor Haile Selassie I (July 23, 1892 to August 27, 1975) Haile Selassie I, who was emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 to 1974, was born as Tafari Makonnen. He ascended the throne in Ethiopia in 1930, fourteen years after he led the revolution of 1916. During his 44-year reign, he survived invasion by Italy and spent several years in exile. He attempted to modernize his country. Selassie was a charismatic ruler who opposed colonial involvement in Africa and was also a founder of the Organization of African Unity. However, he was toppled by a military coup in 1974 fo
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-04-15
