Hi - i'm fairly new to vintage/military watches, am interested in buying a 53 fat arrow but looking for some expert advice - for example is this one genuine? I've seen a few with a serial number over 10000 but I thought that only 5,900 were ever produced? Also thought the font on the serial number looked a bit different to other ones I've seen? Thanks so much!

https://www.ssongwatches.com/products/omega-fat-arrow-53-raf-1

 

Images are always best

 

A wealth of knowledge on all military watches is available at the Military Watch Resource website. Great crowd and very helpful.

 

Font ok. 5900 produced. Numbers you see are for every issued mil. Watch 1953 from all manufacturers. Yours is issued late in 1953, so number is high.kind regards. Achim

 

Your dial and hands are re lumed. ......

 

Wrong crown as well.

 

sorry thanks all for your help! so sounds legit aside from replacement crown and relumed dial

 

thanks, is that important?

 

It's actually there, but I missed it.

 

thanks all appreciate the advice!

 

How can you tell hands and dial are relumed?

 

I've tried three times I think to 'gain entry' to MWR including mailing the admin, but never heard a thing - does anyone have an inroad there? I have Thin Arrow purchased here from @watchyouwant so legitimate interest!

 

I can. Kind regards. Achim

 

Sir,

Very nice thin arrow ‘53.

On this Fat arrow-concur with above
plus:
Appears heavily polished

Support:

1. Number on higher end but not
Sequential from 0-so OK
2. Lume on hands and hour plots
deteriorate with age and
should appear same if applied at
same time.
Prices on these CK-2777-1 vary considerably with a nice original selling at last Watches of Knightsbridge auction for £1800 to Chrono 24 at over 7000
US for an adequate copy.

Would always buy the seller!

MWR is aware of trouble registering. Hopefully it will be addressed shortly.

They have excellent thread going on the 53 fat arrow currently.

Good luck! S

 

Try checking your spam, any email from them always ends up in my spam folder so maybe it's the same for you

 

I always thought that the 5900 previously quoted was wrong and over 9000 were issued.
https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?83539-Omega-53

 

No. kind regards. Achim

 

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

 

No Problem. I go with the Factory Info. and there is a lot research on the net. kind regards. Achim

 

I'll throw a question out there in relation to the issue numbers. If these Omegas were marked non sequentially ie. in amongst other watches issued in or around 1953 which other watches make up the remaining 5000 ish serial numbers for that year?