June 6, 1944. D-Day. Codenamed Operation Overlord, the Battle of Normandy saw the Western Allies launch a pivotal attack by air and sea on Nazi-occupied France. Over 150,000 troops stormed the beaches of Normandy that day, attacking at strategic locations along the coast. The battle’s toll was steep, with over 226,000 allied casualties by the end, but the payoff was incalculable. By August, over two million Allied troops were in France and the tide of the war was turned. In remembrance of the 80th anniversary of that historic day, French watch brand Le Forban Sécurité Mer introduces the Omaha Chronograph, named in tribute to the American soldiers who stormed Omaha Beach, helping to liberate occupied France.
Le Forban Sécurité Mer was launched in 1969 with the goal of producing tool watches fit for military service. Indeed, Le Forban Sécurité Mer was one of the very few watch brands selected to equip the French Navy and PATMAR (maritime patrols) with timepieces throughout the 1970s. Though Le Forban eventually became a casualty of the quartz crisis, the brand was revived by two passionate watch enthusiasts in 2019, bringing new life to classic designs from Le Forban Sécurité Mer’s storied past.
Given that Le Forban Sécurité Mer was producing watches for the French military throughout the 1970s, the brand had a vast catalog of inspiration upon which to draw. In particular, chronographs have been a central focus; though the styles varied over time, Le Forban chronographs were characterized by legibility, toughness, and a characteristic rotating bezel. The Omaha is a worthy successor in a long and distinguished line of Le Forban chronographs.
As the Omaha was designed to pay tribute to the most pivotal event of the 1940s , Le Forban Sécurité Mer attempted to capture the spirit of the era, imagining a water-resistant chronograph that wouldn’t look out of place at the time. Gilt sub-dials, large numerals, and “pear” crowns — all were hallmarks of the era and form the foundation of the Omaha.
The Le Forban Sécurité Mer Omaha is available in two dial colors: green and black, with the Omaha Green limited to just 44 pieces. Whichever dial you choose, each is housed in a 39mm case that measures 46mm lug-to-lug and manages to keep the height in check at just 13.9mm (11.82 not including the box sapphire crystal). Designed as a versatile, water-resistant chronograph, the Omaha features a pared-down, unidirectional rotating bezel with an aluminum insert. The stainless-steel case features a mix of brushed and polished surfaces and maintains a classic profile, allowing the forties-inspired dial to shine.
Channeling those classic elements from the 1940s, the dial’s oversized numerals circumnavigate the dial and are filled (along with the hands) with Old Radium Super-LumiNova for an aged, vintage aesthetic. Continuing with a vintage theme, the two gilt subdials shine against the deep, sunray hues of the dial. Tying the piece together is a 20mm custom, aged leather strap — brown on the Omaha Green, Black on the Omaha Black), complete with a custom buckle.
Enabling the chronograph functionality of the Omaha is the Seiko NE86 caliber. The Japanese movement features 34 jewels, beats at 28.8kbph, and has a power reserve of ~45 hours. The bicompax layout features a central chronograph seconds, running seconds at 3 o’clock, and a 30-minute chronograph counter at 9 o’clock.
The courage and bravery displayed on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago changed the trajectory of the war and ultimately the course of history. The Le Forban Sécurité Mer Omaha pays homage to the events of that day with a horological tribute that evokes the aesthetics of the era and the brand’s entrenched history with the French armed forces. The Le Forban Sécurité Mer Omaha is available now for €1,690 EUR for the Omaha Black and €1,944 EUR for Omaha Green, which is limited to just 44 pieces and comes with a dedicated military box. To learn more about Le Forban Sécurité Mer and the Omaha chronograph, please visit the brand’s website.
