I have heard people mentioning and indeed displaying photographs of laser etched Omega symbols on the inside of hesalite and other similar types of glass. When did Omega start doing this? It's just that I have seen vintage Omegas advertised on the bay that claim to have their original glass in perfect condition, and to prove the point the seller usually mentions the etching. I'm always dubious as I thought the laser etched symbols are a fairly recent innovation.
Laser etching on Omega glass.
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Hesalite is a form of acrylic, basically a plastic. The Omega symbol is molded on the inside of the crystal, not laser etched.
I have never seen an authoritative date for the first use of the Omega symbol on crystals. But . . .
- Acrylic first came into use in the late 1930s or early 1940s
- Omega replacement acrylic crystals have the symbol molded
- Crystals are commonly replaced during repair
- A crystal with a symbol only means it is a genuine Omega part
To my knowledge, Omega has not engraved a sapphire crystal with an Omega symbol. Incidentally, while sapphire crystals did not come into common usage until much later, Omega used a faceted sapphire crystal on the ladies Sapphette beginning, I believe, in 1956.
Sam
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So, we can confirm that as of right now Omeag does not use etching?
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Wow. Good information on this thread!!! :001_smile:
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How come Omega hasn't brought this back to their current line?
No perceived need for a feature not usually noticed . .
When sapphire came into common use in the late 1970s/early 1980s (and mineral crystal beforehand), there was no practical or economical way to engrave either. (Most Mark series Speedys have mineral crystals.) So Omega didn't. Gradually, sapphire replaced hesalite and mineral crystal in all but the Speedy Pro.
Keep in mind, only in the last three years have complex sapphire crystals grown with more than simple matching convex/concave curves come on the market (Corum golden bridge and Omega Hour Vision). While laser engraving of sapphire is seen, I can't bring to mind a watch-related incident. It is still a relatively difficult material to do things out of least common denominator economical norm.
Omega has made most of their watches without a symbol in the center of the crystal for a generation now. Add that it was a feature that went unnoticed by most (show your hesalite Speedy, and not 1 in 10 will see it), and you can understand why Omega hasn't leapt to include it again.
Sam
Well, all hesalite crystalled watches have the molded Omega. For the Speedy Pro, it never left.
When sapphire came into common use in the late 1970s/early 1980s (and mineral crystal beforehand), there was no practical or economical way to engrave either. (Most Mark series Speedys have mineral crystals.) So Omega didn't. Gradually, sapphire replaced hesalite and mineral crystal in all but the Speedy Pro.
Keep in mind, only in the last three years have complex sapphire crystals grown with more than simple matching convex/concave curves come on the market (Corum golden bridge and Omega Hour Vision). While laser engraving of sapphire is seen, I can't bring to mind a watch-related incident. It is still a relatively difficult material to do things out of least common denominator economical norm.
Omega has made most of their watches without a symbol in the center of the crystal for a generation now. Add that it was a feature that went unnoticed by most (show your hesalite Speedy, and not 1 in 10 will see it), and you can understand why Omega hasn't leapt to include it again.
Sam
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