Television presenter James May spotted wearing a Omega

James May, co-presenter of Amazon Prime's The Grand Tour and one of television's most openly passionate advocates for mechanical objects, was caught on camera wearing a vintage Omega Genève Dynamic — a watch that suits his sensibility far better than any modern luxury piece ever could. The sighting appears to come from a European filming location, May standing arms-crossed in a floral shirt, the watch barely visible on his left wrist but unmistakable to trained eyes.
The Omega Genève Dynamic was produced between approximately 1969 and 1975 and represented Omega's push into mod, space-age design. The case is its defining feature: an elongated cushion shape with integrated lugs that flow organically into the strap, giving the watch a sculptural quality unusual for its price point. The dial shown here is the classic two-tone configuration — a navy centre disc surrounded by a silver-toned chapter ring with applied index markers, with vivid blue hands providing maximum legibility. The text reads 'Omega Genève Dynamic', confirming the Genève designation which Omega used to denote watches cased in Geneva to meet strict quality standards of the period.
Movement inside is typically the Omega calibre 625, a 17-jewel manual-wind movement, or in some references the automatic calibre 565. Both are robust and repairable, contributing to the Dynamic's reputation as a genuinely usable vintage piece rather than a shelf ornament. Case diameter sits around 38–40mm depending on how you measure the asymmetric form.
Among collectors, the Dynamic occupies an interesting niche: too quirky for mainstream Omega collectors focused on Speedmaster or Seamaster references, yet deeply appreciated by those who prize 1970s design and Omega's more experimental output. Prices on the secondary market remain accessible, typically ranging from $400 to $1,200 depending on condition and dial variant, making it an intellectually rich but financially sensible choice.
May's choice of a vintage Omega over a contemporary luxury watch is entirely in character. He has spoken publicly about preferring objects with history and mechanical interest over status signalling. The Genève Dynamic, unglamorous by modern standards but historically significant, is precisely the kind of watch a genuine horological thinker would reach for.