Omega Genève Ref. 2981-5

£1,600.00
Sold

  • Year: 1962.

  • Movement: Automatic Omega 491 movement.

  • Case and Crown: 35mm steel case. Original Crown

  • Dial: Silver “raised” crosshair dial with applied Omega logo. Rose gold hands and details. The dial shares some properties to the Pie-Pan Constellations and is domed to house the automatic movement in the watch.

  • Crystal: Acrylic crystal.

  • Strap: Brown leather strap.

  • Every watch we sell is fully inspected and professionally serviced to meet our exacting standards. We stand by the quality of our stock, which is why every purchase comes with a 12-month warranty as standard.

  • This watch is sold as watch only, which is typical for vintage timepieces. We place greater value on condition, originality, and overall integrity than on whether a box or papers happen to be present. Many vintage watches have lost their packaging over time, and we don’t believe in inflating prices with non-original extras.

    If a watch does include genuine box and papers, this will always be clearly noted in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and full purchase documentation.

  • Year: 1962.

  • Movement: Automatic Omega 491 movement.

  • Case and Crown: 35mm steel case. Original Crown

  • Dial: Silver “raised” crosshair dial with applied Omega logo. Rose gold hands and details. The dial shares some properties to the Pie-Pan Constellations and is domed to house the automatic movement in the watch.

  • Crystal: Acrylic crystal.

  • Strap: Brown leather strap.

  • Every watch we sell is fully inspected and professionally serviced to meet our exacting standards. We stand by the quality of our stock, which is why every purchase comes with a 12-month warranty as standard.

  • This watch is sold as watch only, which is typical for vintage timepieces. We place greater value on condition, originality, and overall integrity than on whether a box or papers happen to be present. Many vintage watches have lost their packaging over time, and we don’t believe in inflating prices with non-original extras.

    If a watch does include genuine box and papers, this will always be clearly noted in the description. All purchases come with bespoke Watts On Watches packaging and full purchase documentation.

In the early days of its production the Genève line became Omega’s stood for precision, quality, and understated luxury. Watches like this Ref. 2981-5, from 1962, were among the finest non-chronometer dress pieces Omega offered at the time — fitted with top-tier movements and a level of finishing that often rivalled their more expensive Constellation siblings.

This particular model showcases a silver crosshair dial with a soft domed profile, housing the automatic Calibre 491 — one of Omega’s most respected movements of the early 1960s. It’s a slim, smooth-running calibre with excellent serviceability and a refined winding feel. The dial features applied rose gold furniture, including Omega’s applied logo, handset, and indices, which give it a subtle, sophisticated warmth.

Look closely and you’ll see the early “cursive” script Genève signature at 6 o’clock — a charming detail that collectors love, and a feature that’s only found on these early, higher-spec Genèves. The dial design is lightly reminiscent of the pie-pan Constellations, with similar domed geometry.

Key Features

  • Year: 1962

  • Reference: 2981-5

  • Movement: Omega automatic Calibre 491

  • Case: 35mm stainless steel with original Omega crown

  • Dial: Domed silver dial with crosshair design, rose gold markers and hands

  • Crystal: Acrylic crystal

  • Strap: Brown leather strap

  • Box/Papers: Watch only

  • Warranty: 12-month Watts On Watches warranty

A Word on Condition

This is a beautifully preserved piece with strong case lines, a clean acrylic crystal, and a dial that remains sharp and legible with excellent colour in the rose gold accents. The cursive Genève signature remains crisp and clear — a rare feature that’s becoming increasingly hard to find in this condition.

Every watch we sell is fully inspected and serviced to our exacting standards. It’s backed by our Watts On Watches 12-month warranty, for total peace of mind.

Why Buy This Watch

For anyone after a refined vintage Omega with true mid-century charm, this Genève offers a premium movement, elegant design, and real collector significance. The early Genèves were never mass-market products — they were deliberately positioned as an upmarket range before Omega changed direction in the 1970s.

With its domed dial, rose gold details, and historically significant Cal. 491, this is a beautifully balanced timepiece that deserves its place in any serious vintage collection. Understated, elegant, and full of 1960s Omega pedigree.