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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railway pocket watch

Omega Izmir-Kasaba Railway Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This Omega pocket watch, identified as a railway man's timepiece, was produced in 1912. It features a two-body silver case measuring 58.5 mm in diameter, characterized by a polished finish and a screw-down bezel with a serrated top edge. The case back is decorated with an engraving depicting a steam engine traversing a bridge. The white enamel dial displays bold black radial Roman numerals, an outer minute track, and a recessed subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position, paired with blued steel spade hands. Powering the watch is a Caliber 20 LOB NN movement, which is a frosted gilt unit with 15 jewels, a straight-line lever escapement, a cut bimetallic compensation balance, and a blued steel Breguet balance spring with an index regulator. The watch is signed on the dial, case, and movement. The source notes that most watches of this caliber and decorative style were supplied to the Izmir-Kasaba railways.

A railway man's pocket watch by Omega, dated 1912, showing the front dial and the engraved steam engine scene on the case back.
A railway man's pocket watch by Omega, dated 1912, showing the front dial and the engraved steam engine scene on the case back. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Railway pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Omega
Reference
508.20
Catalogue / lot identifier
102
Source-reported date
1912
Source-reported place
Not established
Source-reported serial
4412049

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a solid, two-body silver case measuring 58.5 mm in diameter. The exterior finish is polished, and it incorporates a screw-down bezel featuring a distinct serrated top edge. A significant decorative feature of the case is the back, which is engraved with an image of a steam engine moving over a bridge, a motif associated by the source with railway-specific deliveries.

The watch face consists of a white enamel dial featuring bold, black radial Roman numerals for the hours. It includes a functional outer minute track and a sunk subsidiary seconds dial. The time is indicated by a set of blued steel hands in a spade shape, providing contrast against the white enamel background.

Evidence for this section
  • “Two-body, solid, polished, screw-down bezel with serrated top edge, back engraved with a steam engine traveling over a bridge.”
  • “White enamel with bold black radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel ?spade? hands.”

Movement and Escapement

The internal mechanism is the Caliber 20 LOB NN. This frosted gilt movement is constructed with 15 jewels. It is equipped with a straight-line lever escapement and a cut bimetallic compensation balance designed to mitigate the effects of temperature variations. The watch features a blued steel Breguet balance spring and an index regulator for timing adjustments.

The technical notation LOB NN indicates specific features of this movement, where L represents the Lépine construction, O denotes Omega, and B refers to the jewel count and Breguet balance spring configuration.

Evidence for this section
  • “Cal. 20??? LOB NN, frosted gilt, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator.”
  • “B = 15-17 jewels, Breguet balance spring, adjusted to less than one minute per day. NN = New negative time-setting”

Provenance and Signatures

The object is identified by the serial number 4412049, with a corresponding case number of 5108647. The dial, case, and movement are all signed by Omega, confirming the integrity of the components as a singular unit as reported by the auction description.

Regarding the specific historical application of this watch, the source indicates that the majority of timepieces sharing this particular caliber and decorative engraving were delivered to the Izmir-Kasaba railways. This information serves to contextualize the watch as a specialized piece intended for railway service, though it remains a contextual note provided by the cataloguer.

Evidence for this section
  • “Dial, case and movement signed.”
  • “Most of the watches bearing this decoration and caliber were delivered to the Izmir-Kasaba railways.”

Open research questions

  • What specific documents exist in the Omega archives to confirm the delivery of this individual watch to the Izmir-Kasaba railway?
  • Are there secondary internal markings on the case indicating railway service markings or stamps?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Omega Izmir-Kasaba Railway Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Reference number508.20“Ref. 508.20”
Serial number4412049“No. 4412049”
Case number5108647“case No. 5108647”
Date of production1912“Made in 1912”
MovementCal. 20 LOB NN“Cal. 20??? LOB NN”
Case diameter58.5 mm“Diam. 58.5 mm”
Jewel count15 jewels“15 jewels”

Visible details

  • Case back features an engraved steam engine scene
  • Dial features bold black Roman numerals
  • Serrated screw-down bezel design

Research qualifications

  • Association with Izmir-Kasaba railway remains a documented note rather than a confirmed provenance for this specific serial number
  • Exact country of manufacture is not stated in the source

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

'IZMIR-KASABA RAILWAY' Omega, No. 4412049, case No. 5108647, Ref. 508.20. Made in 1912. Very fine and rare, silver railway man's pocket watch with engraved decoration. This watch is sold with a box, Certificate of Authenticity and 2-year Omega guarantee.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 58e7c0ca55

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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