Non-Luminous Dial 2471 Omega Cosmic Complete Calendar Moonphase

In 1947, this was the height of the Omega catalogue. Man hadn’t stepped on the moon, limited editions hadn’t been invented, and Ploprof was still just what you said when you sneezed. But post-war economic buzz was strong and this was Omega’s halo product. Known today as the Cosmic Complete (or Triple) Calendar Moonphase, this is one of those all-time great references that falls into the nobody cares bucket, yet really shouldn’t. Released two years prior to the Rolex Padellone, it is the complicated Omega for those who really just love great watches. I am asked frequently for recommendations of incredible vintage watches under 10K, and the truth is there aren’t a ton left; this is one. 

The Cosmic was made in five circular references: this 35mm (ref. 2606, 2471 and 2473) and a few 37mm cases (ref. 2485 and 2486) from 1947 until 1956. Be sure to check the metal as there are solid and capped golds out there. At the dawn of calendar wrist watches, this was in its time the most widely produced and also at release thinnest complete calendar moonphase which had been made (counting out QP). And that moonphase has a lovely tropical sky, which never gets old (many look like this). This example comes from early in production with applied elements and somewhat a somewhat uncommon non-lumionus configuration.

Like the Seamaster 321 and original Railmaster, the Cosmic Moonphases have always lived in the shadow of the Speedmaster which came after. Omega seemingly has had no reason to mention this history since, which is unfortunate. Total production was not small over its roughly decade of production. So they’ve never been hugely valuable, relatively speaking, and probably won’t be. But they’re great nonetheless. It’s doubly interesting that this watch was one which Omega marketed to further afield places of the world: many of these wound up in the Middle East. Ordering an Extract for these, Farsi dial or not, would often turn up Tehran—which is just interesting. It is a 35mm taste of Padellone from Omega and, at under 10k, that’s a wildly attractive proposition. 

The condition is almost unbelievably good. Much like the Padellone, this was not a water-resistant case and many Cosmics did not fare well with time. But this one did. This dial is unrestored and untouched, quite clearly, but also just insanely lovely condition. This is helped by the fact that it’s a rarely seen non-luminous layout, which means there’s no radium burn to worry about. I can’t recall seeing a stronger and more honest example, which just makes me happy. The case has probably been very lightly polished, but not bad at all. It comes from a well-regarded Spanish retailer.