Hi all,
considering purchasing an early Seamaster and have stumbled across the attached example which apparently dates to 1949. I'm keen to purchase something original with a good patina that hasn't been refinished, or polished to an inch of its life. Would love to get the thoughts of more experienced Omega enthusiasts.

Cal 351
S/N 12821379
Case No 2577-9

Has been serviced recently and had new crystal fitted.

Cheers

 

I think a 12.8m serial is more likely to be 1950 or even 1951 than 1949. I think it looks fine, though the second pic gives the faint suspicion that the hands may have had a relume at some point. Having checked one of mine, a 2577-6 there are some differences admittedly but I would still suggest it looks OK though since there were many many 2577 versions, some even without the Seamaster script at all and that does look like very old patina with pink radium lume still evident.

My 12.19m serial 2577-6 which after a bit of research I dated at 1950:



And an earlier 1949 11.7m serial 2577-4 without the script:

 

IMO this dial is original. Both S & r in Seamaster are low rise, S is not coat hanger.

 

The dial looks good to me but I personally don't like the discolouration around the steel hour markers.

I think that the hands are relumed. Case looks polished from the photos

 

Agree with this and others in the thread. Not redialed, but hands have been relumed. If you like that particular patination is up to you, but IMO it shouldn't add any value to the watch. I have a similarly "damaged" Seamaster myself, like it very much.

 

I like the patina of this dial a lot, however if it were mine I'd have it re-lumed more sympathetically to fit the vintage appearance of the dial.

 

Thanks for the feedback all, amazingly helpful. I thought it might be a 1950/51 based on the serial tables I found on google. Spoke to the seller and confirmed it ha been relumed.

 

So have you bought it?

 

Anything that builds character should be appreciated - relumes if sympathetic are good, though this one is anything but.

2848-1 from 1954 with a similar case design: