1908 Military Omega Cal 19"

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roboelv

·Aug 21, 2022

Hello Everyone.

I would appreciate any comments on this "Military" Omega pocket watch I have just bought. The serial number (3853551) appears to date the watch to 1908.

The watch has been fully serviced and is accurate to about +/- 1 minute per 24 hours.

I believe it is a CAL 19" / 15 jewel movement and on the back of the case (sold nickel) it has the British military War Department WᗑD markings.

I was just curious though if perhaps the case may have been changed at some point as it does not have an Omega marking or the Grand Prix 1900 illustration that a lot of 1908 Omega watches seem to have ... although possibly if issued for military use it would not have them or they were fitted with generic cases???

I think its a lovely watch although I would really appreciate your thoughts on the case. Thank you.

 

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kaplan

·Aug 21, 2022

When I see a dial like that I always assume it's a redial

 

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roboelv

·Aug 21, 2022

kaplan

When I see a dial like that I always assume it's a redial

Thanks for replying. Is a redial bad? The dial does have a hairline crack going from the 4 to the sunken seconds sub- dial.

 

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kaplan

·Aug 21, 2022

A redial is considered bad as most collectors don't collect redials

I'm not an expert though, someone more experienced can make a more definite comment, but logically it's a redial too as the condition is just too good for 100+ years

Not really an issue if you're just going to enjoy the watch as a watch

 

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Waltesefalcon

·Aug 21, 2022

I'm no Omega expert but I believe it is a 19 ligne, though it's certainly not a 15 jewel movement.

It's not a redial. The dial is vitreous enamel, they hold up exceptionally well as long a they aren't roughly handled. Here is one of mine made in 1883.

 

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TexOmega

·Aug 21, 2022

Yes, not a redial........no such thing with these.

Edited: Aug 21, 2022

 

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JimInOz

·Aug 21, 2022·Melbourne Australia

Very nice example.
It's possible that the British War Department ordered some watches (movements) from the local Omega agent and had them cased in a material more suited to the intended environment. Doesn't explain the Omega style case serial though.
In that era, it wasn't unusual to buy a watch movement and select a case to match it, although this practice was more widely seen in North America.

 

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roboelv

·Aug 22, 2022

Thankyou for all the replies, it is great to learn more about the watch. I have pocket watches from the 1870s onwards but this in my first Omega pocket watch. 😀

Edited: Aug 22, 2022

 

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bubba48

·Aug 22, 2022

 

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roboelv

·Aug 22, 2022

bubba48

That's superb thank you, so is it still a watch made in 1908? 6 years seems a long time for it to be in storage until it was issue by the War Department circa 1914?

 

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DaveK

·Aug 22, 2022·Yoda of Yodelers

R roboelv

Thankyou for all the replies, it is great to learn more about the watch. I have pocket watches from the 1870s onwards but this in my first Omega pocket watch. 😀

We would be very grateful if you’d share some of your collection and stories with us here https://omegaforums.net/threads/calling-all-pocket-watch-buffs.127856/

 

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bubba48

·Aug 23, 2022

R roboelv

That's superb thank you, so is it still a watch made in 1908? 6 years seems a long time for it to be in storage until it was issue by the War Department circa 1914?

The movement serial number says 1911/12 IMO

 

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roboelv

·Aug 23, 2022

bubba48

The movement serial number says 1911/12 IMO

Thanks, that would make much more sense. I was going off a site that dates by the serial number. I am even more delighted that I have ended up with a WW1 Omega pocket watch. 😀