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Vintage Omega 'Civilian' Geneve - Seamaster Cased Wrist Watch With Rich Military Provenance and Personal History  - Ref. 135.011 - c. 1960’s

This rare vintage Omega Geneve Seamaster wristwatch has a fascinating and unique military history, making it truly a one off. It belonged to Major Patrick Cooper MBE, who boasts an impressive military career with several promotions and an MBE awarded for his work in Tehran, Iran during the 1979 revolution.

Dating to the 1960s, the piece features personalised engraving on the case back by former serviceman and original owner (483001, COOPER P, QOH).

Patrick Cooper’s military service is believed to have begun around 1945 as a Trooper in the Queen’s Own Hussars (QOH), with the service number 483001 (engraved on the case back). In 1963, as an SNCO, he received the LSGC after 18 years of remarkable and unblemished service. Later promoted to Lieutenant, and again to Major, he retired and received the MBE in 1982 after a distinguished military career spanning nearly 40 years!

Upon recommending Major Cooper for promotion to Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), the Vice Chief of the General Staff John Stanier, 'very strongly recommended' Major Cooper for the MBE. Right Honourable Gentleman and fellow officer in Iran 'McCarthy' wrote the following on 27th March 1979:

"Major Cooper was Quartermaster and Paymaster to the Commissioning and Advisory Team in Iran, and stationed in Tehran with the Team's Headquarters throughout the development and culmination of the recent revolution in Iran. [...] Major Cooper's performance throughout these months was one of unselfish, cheerful and exemplary devotion well beyond the normal call of duty under very adverse dangerous revolutionary circumstances, in constant disregard for his own safety and against a background of intermittent personnel ill health and traumatic domestic upheaval."

Included with this watch sale, as well as the Army's full recommendation of promotion to MBE, we have included a clipping from the Bucks Examiner dated to the 4th of January, 1980, describing Major Cooper's awarding of the MBE in the New Year's honours list:

"Major Patrick Cooper, of the Queen's Own Hussars, was one of 20 British advisors attached to the Iranian army in Tehran. He had been there about two years when the revolution started. "It was hectic," recalled Major Cooper. [...] He is an administrator at the National Defence College and has two sons, Stephen and Jeremy, who are both in the RAF."

Major Patrick Cooper joined the army in 1945 and was deployed to various international locations, the last of which was Germany before his deployment to Iran in 1977. We believe we've only scratched the surface here and that a keen military researcher could really dig deep with a gem like this. 

The watch has model reference number 135.011 and features a matt black military spec dial with beautifully aged lume outside the white Arabic chapter along with white hands with darkened lume at the centre.

The piece has a robust stainless steel case with screw down back, crisply engraved with the Omega Seamaster logo, and has outside case number 483001. 

What’s On Offer 

This rare and fascinating piece of military history is in excellent overall condition for its age and is sold in full working order. The case in particular is in an impressive state for a military watch. 

It will be supplied on a NATO fabric strap in your choice of grey, black or khaki. 

We have recently (19th August 2020) received an official extract from the Omega archive which tells us that the watch was supplied to Major Cooper in Singapore on 25th March 1968. Singapore, having defeated the British forces in the Battle of Singapore in 1942, achieved its independence in 1965. The Singaporean Armed Forces, having been partially run by British, Australian, and Kiwi forces, saw all British forces withdraw in 1971, and so Cooper will have purchased this during his passive stationing in Singapore. 

Additional information

Made from

Case: Stainless steel.

Dial: Matt Black.

Crystal: Acrylic. 

Bracelet: The watch will be supplied on a NATO fabric strap in your choice of grey, black or khaki. 

Technical specifications

Winding: Manual.

Movement type: Mechanical Hand Wound

Calibre: 601.

Jewels: 17j.

Power reserve: 48-hours. 

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent, for its age and in full working order. 

Model Reference Number: 135.011. 

Date of issue: 1960’s.

Guarantee

Comes with a 12-month VWS guarantee.

Dimensions

Width: 34mm