Omega 'Emerald' De Ville by Andrew Grima

The 1970s were a strange and wonderful time at Omega. Rather than simply refining existing models, the brand occasionally handed the reins to outside creative minds, none more fascinating than the legendary British jeweler Andrew Grima. Best known for creating wildly sculptural jewelry for royalty, tastemakers, and collectors, Grima approached watches with a healthy disregard for convention. His famous quip—"If you need to know the time, you ask your chauffeur"—tells you nearly everything you need to know about his philosophy. Function mattered, certainly, but form came first. Part of Grima's celebrated "Emerald" collection for Omega, this De Ville transforms a simple two-hand dress watch into a miniature piece of wearable architecture. The elongated white gold case is severe, almost Brutalist in its execution, while the dial remains remarkably restrained. The real magic lies in the sapphire crystal, faceted along each edge like a cut gemstone. As light moves across its surfaces, reflections cascade through the crystal, creating an extraordinary sense of depth that constantly alters the appearance of the otherwise minimalist dial beneath. Powered by a manual-wind Omega movement and offered in remarkable new-old-stock condition, this example represents one of the most collectible chapters of Omega's design history. Produced in relatively small numbers and rarely seen today, the Emerald collection remains a reminder of an era when major Swiss manufactures were willing to experiment—and when a watch could be as much sculpture as timekeeper. More jewel than watch, more sculpture than instrument, the Emerald remains one of the most compelling design objects Omega ever produced.