Hi All, (Disclaimer - I've searched the forums for 2 hours and googled, no luck) I'm a long time lurker, first time poster, complete novice. I have an old seamaster from my grandfather that I love very much. Today I was strolling through an old market on holiday and found 2 old Omegas. On a whim I paid $185 each for them. One is a late 60's plated Seamaser all original with no strap the second one is a mystery and I'm looking for some help. Its automatic and I can't hear a bump on a 3 to 9 rock but can hear a rotor rattle with a little shake. Sweeping second hand. (No "automatic" lettering on the dial) I can't get the back that looks like it has been badly polished with a grinder off right now. It has a 50's style applied logo but not lettering, pitting and ageing on the smooth silver dial as to be expected. Only the number 12 hour marker applied like some of the early seamaster bumpers or dress models... But the umber 12's font is not familiar to me (flat top on the 2), neither are the piramid style markers at 3, 6, and 9. It has a strange case and I'm pretty sure the crown is not origional. The glass has a tiny omega logo etched into the center and is battered. I found a listing on a website for what seems to be the exact same watch (albeit with a manual movement ) it describes it as: " 1956 OMEGA housed in an oversized and original gold plated OMEGA case measuring 35.25mm. and with sprawling 43.5mm. downturned lugs and a Cal 283 movement" Thoughts? I think I may have bought a real Frankenstein re-cased, re-dialed little monster Appreciating I should have done more homework before buying them I'd like to treat this as a learning experience. Worst case they can go to the shop back in South Africa that serviced my grandfather's Seamaster as parts and be put to good use. The listing I found online that seems to be the same watch.
Reference 2720, not common but certainly not fake or franken either. Quick google search found one with the same dial as yours, although yours appears to have perhaps been refinished.
I am not sure it is refinished. If it is, it has been done to a pretty high standard, IMO. The minute index and "swiss made" look very good, so perhaps it is just a "single tone" variety of the one you found. The long hands annoy me, but that could well be another exception from the rule.
100% correct on all fronts. Thank you. I found an old shop and got the case off this morning. 283 movement.
That is going to look great after a sympathetic service Have a search after recommended watchmakers near your place and I'd say it's a winner. I take it you are from the US? In that case a very decent strap can be had at Keleran US - an eBay seller who has a number of good quality straps at reasonable prices.
Wow! Great find! The innards seem pretty clean...to my untrained eye, anyway! Still needs a service, of course!
I live in Qatar but home is South Africa. I have a great shop that specialises in vintage watches in SA who will clean it up for me and re-plate the seamaster. Thanks for the tip on the strap supplier. I have a US forwarding address so will have a look.