1940’s Omega 2292

TheNomad15 · Jun 20, 2022

Hi Guys,

I was going to pick your brains for information please.
I have recently received my grandfathers watch as a birthday gift from my mother. The watch has sat unused tucked away for over 30 years. I have had it appraised for insurance reasons.
What I do know about the watch is the ref. number, that the bracelet and crown aren’t the originals and I have the serial number, I have no doubt that it’s genuine. But after some online research I haven’t been able to find any similar watches in gold. May it be the watch was reworked into a gold housing and bracelet?
Please if anyone can share some information I’d really appreciate it.

ConElPueblo · Jun 20, 2022

Welcome on OF, @TheNomad15 😀

It looks like a recased ref. 2292 as you say. I don't know how common gold recases are compared to steel ones, but perhaps @watchyouwant who I recall knows a fair bit about these can help out?

Re. "I have no doubt that it’s genuine" I can only say that when we are talking locally recased watches we are entering a slightly grey area. I am sure that others would like to share their feelings on the subject.
I assume that you have seen the inside of the caseback - any pictures of that or the movement? It would help a lot... I am guessing it is an English made case?

TheNomad15 · Jun 20, 2022

Hey,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Appreciate your reply.

Yes I can appreciate that it’s a grey area and that peoples opinions will be split. Although no I haven’t seen the watch with the caseback off, it was sent away for valuation. But I do have a detailed report from that, with serial number off the movement which I have checked and is from the 1940’s and the hallmark on the gold is London 1949 which is why I believe it has been re-cased.

ConElPueblo
Welcome on OF, @TheNomad15 😀

It looks like a recased ref. 2292 as you say. I don't know how common gold recases are compared to steel ones, but perhaps @watchyouwant who I recall knows a fair bit about these can help out?

Re. "I have no doubt that it’s genuine" I can only say that when we are talking locally recased watches we are entering a slightly grey area. I am sure that others would like to share their feelings on the subject.
I assume that you have seen the inside of the caseback - any pictures of that or the movement? It would help a lot... I am guessing it is an English made case?

DON · Jun 20, 2022

Was your grandfather in the military?

It's either a recased military movement and dial or a recased military styled civie model

9 kt. Swiss wouldn't do 9kt and based on that. Guessing your UK based

You can check with Omega with the movement s/n and they should be able to tell you where it was originally shipped

DON

TheNomad15 · Jun 20, 2022

Hi Don,

Thanks for the reply. No he wasn’t in the military, nor were any other of his immediate family members I don’t believe

yes I am UK based. The movement serial number date is 1943 while the hallmark on the gold case states “London 1949” which makes me inclined to agree and believe your suggestion of it being a military watch re cased post war.

Its time like these I wish my grandfather and father were still around to fill in the gaps

Dan S · Jun 20, 2022

I'm not familiar with H&S cases. Perhaps some of the forum experts can say if they made cases for Omega, like Dennison. If so, it would be very helpful to know if there is an Omega stamp inside the caseback.

Perhaps the appraiser can send you the photos he took.

Fleur_the_rabbit · Jun 21, 2022

Interesting. The dial and hands look original. The dial looks very clean - at a guess, less that it's been cleaned and more that it has never had tobacco/dirt/moisture build-up in the first place.

It hard to see how it could be other than a re-cased civilian or military (HS^8 or 6b/159) watch from 1943.

I've not seen another like it. Perhaps, it was a one-off re-case? I'd like to know the opinions of the experts on OF.

TheNomad15 · Jun 21, 2022

Thanks for the reply, I plan on contacting the independent appraiser to see if he any pictures of the movement or inside of the caseback were taken.
I agree it is very clean and knowing my grandfather it will have been work for special occasions as only as he had a Datejust for his day to day watch. So this will have been stored away for the majority of its life.
It is very clean, here’s a closer picture

DON · Jun 22, 2022

T TheNomad15
Hi Don,

Thanks for the reply. No he wasn’t in the military, nor were any other of his immediate family members I don’t believe

yes I am UK based. The movement serial number date is 1943 while the hallmark on the gold case states “London 1949” which makes me inclined to agree and believe your suggestion of it being a military watch re cased post war.

Its time like these I wish my grandfather and father were still around to fill in the gaps

Again. Could be a civie model. Both Omega and Longines did copies of the military dials for regular watches. As did LeCoultre

Even if a military dial and movement. Doesn't add any extra value to the current watch as the original case is gone

It's what is referred to as an Orphan movement (original case damaged and not repairable)

DON

1940’s Omega 2292

TheNomad15

ConElPueblo

TheNomad15

DON

TheNomad15

Dan S

Fleur_the_rabbit

TheNomad15

DON

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