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1939/40 Omega 26.5

G
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I've been looking at a lot of vintage Omegas lately (as you will see from my posts so apologies) and you guys have always been truthful in telling me if the watch is rough!

I've now seen what I want and I'm loving the 26.5 Art Deco style. I've seen 2, the seller says it's all original for the first one, just wanted to get your guys opinion on if it looks refurbished in any way please.

The second one I'm in waiting for the seller to contact me but would also like your opinion on the originality of it. Thanks as always!
 
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Biezmez
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I can really appreciate that buying your first vintage watch is a minefield. However it’s a great hobby and there’s loads to learn.
I can see you currently have five posts you’ve recently put out. You’re receiving help, but it would also show some consideration if you also started putting some effort into doing your own evaluations.
What kind have conclusions have you begun to draw from the research on the watches you’ve looked at.
What’s your opinion of these two watches? From the research you’ve done do you consider that the crowns original? Are they over polished? Are the hands original? Do the dials seemed redialled? What about the movement? When did they last have a service.

I’ve already given my views about dial on the second watch in a previous post.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of people here supporting guys just dipping their toe into the market, but at least put in some effort and provide some of your own conclusions and then let us help you along the way.

Best of luck with your hunt.
 
TexOmega
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We all started where you are at now, best to just jump right in with your evaluation and opinions, we can ease you through the steep learning curve and most of us around hear don't bite and many more even shower, occasionally.😁


Welcome




You know these two examples are very small by today's standards, correct?
 
G
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Ok here goes...

The first one- I think seems original, the case and lugs have sharp edges, the dial seems to have consistency in the indices, fonts for numbers are all the same, the hands are all of the same style and from this era. I would say the crown for this age watch is correct too, it's different from the later 50's type with the Omega logo but this seems to be the style on most of these type of watches. The movement is something I'm.not clued up on but at a glance, it looks clean compared to some. The ref number on the movement doesn't match the number on the base of the case cover and I'm not sure if it's supposed to?

The second watch- dial looks clean, correct fonts, indices, hands match up. I think the case has been polished at some point due to it having more of a shine but then again the case is different to the top one. The crown is more of a ball type but I have seen this on a watch this age before so couldn't say.

For both these watches, I'm unable to find a model number to look it up on the vintage database as the later models have a xxx.xxx type model number on the inside of the case cover.
 
SkunkPrince
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G General85
For both these watches, I'm unable to find a model number to look it up on the vintage database as the later models have a xxx.xxx type model number on the inside of the case cover.

If this had a case number, it would likely be four digits but three wouldn't be out of the question.
 
G
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TexOmega TexOmega
Welcome

You know these two examples are very small by today's standards, correct?

Thanks! Yes, luckily I have small wrists! 😁
 
G
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
If this had a case number, it would likely be four digits but three wouldn't be out of the question.
I don't think these have it printed anywhere. From what I've read online, did they usually start with a 1 or 2 with a - after it?
 
Biezmez
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G General85
Ok here goes...

The ref number on the movement doesn't match the number on the base of the case cover and I'm not sure if it's supposed to?

For both these watches, I'm unable to find a model number to look it up on the vintage database as the later models have a xxx.xxx type model number on the inside of the case cover.

No, you wouldn't be able to find the model number for these watches. These were made prior to the introduction of the model numbers that I believe was introduced in the late 30's/40's.
My understanding is that the case numbers are all individual as are the movement numbers. The cases and movements were numbered as they were made, The movement numbers and cases will never match on these watches, I think the first one with the two different number is certainly as one would expect for these watches.
 
Biezmez
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G General85
The first one- I think seems original, the case and lugs have sharp edges, the dial seems to have consistency in the indices, fonts for numbers are all the same, the hands are all of the same style and from this era. I would say the crown for this age watch is correct too, it's different from the later 50's type with the Omega logo but this seems to be the style on most of these type of watches. The movement is something I'm.not clued up on but at a glance, it looks clean compared to some.

The second watch- dial looks clean, correct fonts, indices, hands match up. I think the case has been polished at some point due to it having more of a shine but then again the case is different to the top one. The crown is more of a ball type but I have seen this on a watch this age before so couldn't say.
I view that the dials on both are original, the first one looks rougher, some of the indices are missing and the seconds dial looks rough, so there's been some potential water ingress? I view that the crown is original on the first watch.
As you point out the second one is for me overpolished and has lost some of its charm.
Without any info regarding history of service, you might want to potentially factor that into the purchase price. These are basic movements and are easy to service, depending on where you're based I would expect to pay approx £200 for a watch service. As I'm sure you're aware with these watches, you'll most likely not recover the cost of the watch plus a service if you ever want to sell them again.
 
G
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Biezmez Biezmez
I view that the dials on both are original, the first one looks rougher, some of the indices are missing and the seconds dial looks rough, so there's been some potential water ingress? I view that the crown is original on the first watch.
As you point out the second one is for me overpolished and has lost some of its charm.
Without any info regarding history of service, you might want to potentially factor that into the purchase price. These are basic movements and are easy to service, depending on where you're based I would expect to pay approx £200 for a watch service. As I'm sure you're aware with these watches, you'll most likely not recover the cost of the watch plus a service if you ever want to sell them again.

Thank you for your input, so I wasn't wrong about my inspection? 😁 I just missed out the possible water ingress.

I'm glad you pointed out the service cost, as it's my first time looking for a vintage watch, I was unsure how much it would be. I'm based in the UK so £ would be relevant. The piece I'm looking for is not something I would look to sell any time soon. May sound cliche, but I'd like to pass it down to my son in years to come.
 
Biezmez
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G General85
I'm glad you pointed out the service cost, as it's my first time looking for a vintage watch, I was unsure how much it would be. I'm based in the UK so £ would be relevant.

Then you've got some great options regarding watch repairers in the UK....simonfreesewatchmakers.com, watchguy.co.uk and mitka.co.uk are all good places to start plus many others.
 
TexOmega
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G General85
I don't think these have it printed anywhere. From what I've read online, did they usually start with a 1 or 2 with a - after it?


-1 came before -2

first production run, then second production run, ect.
 
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