When import laws give you lemons, Omega makes a Century. Sold almost exclusively in Canada, the Omega Century is one of the brand’s more elusive regional releases and not by accident. In the post war 1950s, strict tariffs on imported Swiss watches pushed Omega to get creative. In turn, they shipped uncased movements to North America and cased them locally using 10K gold-filled cases from the Star Watch Case Company. This 1954 example (based on serial #) stands apart with a stunning gilt waffle crosshair dial, a rare configuration even among Centuries. Gold toned Arabic numerals at 12-3-6-9, faceted indices, and sharp dauphine hands all catch the light against that textured dial with just the right amount of aging to show it's lived a full life. Under the hood beats the Caliber 283, a robust manual wind movement found in early Seamasters and the legendary Ranchero. Sized at 33mm, the case wears classic and low-key but up close, it whispers rarity. In the end, you're met with Canadian exclusivity, mid-century grit, and a design you won’t find catalogued. The Omega Century was built by necessity, but it aged into something pretty special.