The Omega Reference 2777-1 SC, better known among military watch collectors as the 1953 RAF Fat Arrow, was produced specifically for British military aviation and has become one of the most recognisable post-war RAF wristwatches.

Issued in 1953, the watch was designed as a functional piece of equipment for RAF aircrew. The specification demanded far more than straightforward timekeeping: reliability, excellent legibility and resistance to magnetic fields were particularly important in an aircraft cockpit surrounded by electrical and navigational equipment.

Omega equipped the watch with its manually wound Calibre 283, a 17-jewel movement from the celebrated family descended from the company's 30mm movements. The movement was protected within a substantial stainless-steel case incorporating additional anti-magnetic protection, while fixed strap bars provided the security expected of a military-issued watch.

The watches originally left Omega with radium luminous dials. During their military lives, however, most were recalled and converted to tritium. The replacement design carried a much larger Broad Arrow on the dial – hence the enduring collector nicknames “Thin Arrow” and “Fat Arrow” for the two configurations. The circled T beneath the Omega signature identifies the later use of tritium.

Far from detracting from these watches, the Fat Arrow dial is part of their service history: it represents an official military modification made while the watches were still pieces of working RAF equipment.

What's On Offer

Here we have a superb 1953 Omega Fat Arrow RAF-issued pilot’s watch, Reference 2777-1 SC, complete with its distinctive military markings and powered by the correct 17-jewel Omega Calibre 283.

The black dial is an absolute classic of military watch design. Large white Arabic numerals provide excellent contrast, surrounded by a highly legible railway-style minute track. Luminous hour plots sit around its perimeter, while the broad luminous hour and minute sword hands are accompanied by a slender central seconds hand and display their original lume. 

Beneath 12 o’clock sits the Omega signature and the important circled T, identifying the tritium luminous material used during the military conversion. At 6 o’clock is the oversized Fat Arrow, the British government property mark that gives this particular version its familiar collector nickname.

The lume has now mellowed to a wonderfully warm tone, providing just enough contrast against the black dial without detracting from its purposeful military appearance.

Turn the watch over and its history becomes even more apparent. The stainless-steel caseback carries the large Broad Arrow together with 6645-101000, the RAF stores designation 6B/542, and the individual issue marking 1158/53, with the final digits confirming its 1953 issue year. Comparable surviving examples show the same system of military caseback markings.

At 36mm across and approximately 48mm lug-to-lug, this is a vintage military watch with surprisingly contemporary proportions. The stainless-steel case shows honest marks of wear commensurate with its age and military background, while the Plexiglass displays some small abrasions consistent with use.

Inside sits the manually wound Omega Calibre 283, with 17 jewels and an approximate 45-hour power reserve. The watch is fitted to a black NATO-style strap, perfectly suited to its RAF origins and adjustable for a wide range of wrist sizes.