Community Stories

1954 - Omega 2791-6 cal.266

sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Hello friends, i’m new here.

Finally got promoted, and I want to treat myself. I like vintage watches, and came across this lovely Omega.
The dial, the color combination, i frankly fell in love with it immediately!

The watch comes with an Omega buckle and Omega case, none of which originally came with the watch, but is still pretty costly as per my knowledge.

It’s 1.640$, which, by all means, is a lot. But I’m also prepared to spend it, if it’s deemed an alright buy.

What do you guys think, is this a good purchase for a first Omega?
IMG_4644.webp IMG_4647.webp IMG_4648.webp IMG_4649.webp IMG_4645.webp IMG_4646.webp
 
X350 XJR
Posts
13,483
Likes
31,777
Welcome, congratulations on your promotion.

The strap and buckle are both fake so take those out of the equation.

Will need a larger clearer photo of the dial to give an opinion on it being original vs refinished as 95% of black dials from this period are.
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Thank you, I’ll see if i can get my hands on another picture of the dial.

How can you tell the strap and buckle is fake? At a glance it seems to be nicely finished.
 
Dan S
Posts
24,240
Likes
53,979
Does the seller claim that the dial is original, or does he use words like "restored" etc.?
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Dan S Dan S
Does the seller claim that the dial is original, or does he use words like "restored" etc.?
He writes the following: “Nice, black dial, with golden markings and hands. It’s a Cal.266, with good power reserve, keeps time accurately. Original Omega Crown, as well as strap and buckle.”

No claims of original dial, and no mention of restoration or similair. He bought the watch himself earlier this year, so it’s also paperless, and without a service certificate.
 
Dan S
Posts
24,240
Likes
53,979
As noted above, original black dials are uncommon, and the vast majority found on the market are repainted. So you will need really good photos to authenticate it.

For example, it would be helpful to see the condition of the snailing on the sub-dial.

black-omega.webp
 
konung39
Posts
158
Likes
30
It seems to me that the distance between the applied marks and the painted marks is uneven...

Screenshot_20241102-235016_Chrome.webp
 
Dan S
Posts
24,240
Likes
53,979
konung39 konung39
It seems to me that the distance between the applied marks and the painted marks is uneven...

Screenshot_20241102-235016_Chrome.webp
Let's not jump to conclusions quite yet. There can be parallax in photos taken from an angle, and the spacing is rarely perfect in any event. I am more interested in seeing the quality of the printing, and trying to determine if it is actually a reverse-printed dial, or just a black dial with white/gold printing on top.
 
SOG53
Posts
3,017
Likes
6,430
Here is similar watch same movement from same era. As with Dan's watch above these usually show some degradation of lacquer layer over time. Also note circular snail pattern subdial. The crown on your example is not original. These are usually gilt dials which means the Omega and minute markers were first printed with a special clear coating and then black paint is galvanically applied to dial- the clear coating prevents the black paint from covering the print. So you are seeing the actual metal of the dial - the Omega is not painted on.
With a loupe you can tell if the Omega is painted on rather than gilt negative relief. If it’s negative relief it is gilt and original. If painted on most likely redial. Hard to tell on photos unless they are super magnified and high quality.
So ask for photos like this
Attached brief article describes gilt dial.

https://www.rescapement.com/blog/what-is-a-gilt-dial-watch

IMG_7437.webp IMG_1941.webp
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Hello. I just got new pictures, but no good closeup on the sundial. Will ask for more.
IMG_4650.webp IMG_4651.webp IMG_4652.webp IMG_4653.webp IMG_4654.webp
 
SerP
Posts
281
Likes
64
The situation with the 30T2-family dials is quite sad: over time, the painted surface degrades, which is why many dials are in poor visual condition. On the market, most of the beautiful 30t2-family dials are refurbished - inexpensive and beautiful wristwatches with the 30t2-267 caliber almost always have restored dials.
I have been looking for a good cal.267 dial (steel indexes) for quite a while now, but so far without success.
 
Dan S
Posts
24,240
Likes
53,979
SerP SerP
The situation with the 30T2-family dials is quite sad: over time, the painted surface degrades, which is why many dials are in poor visual condition. On the market, most of the beautiful 30t2-family dials are refurbished - inexpensive and beautiful wristwatches with the 30t2-267 caliber almost always have restored dials.
I have been looking for a good cal.267 dial (steel indexes) for quite a while now, but so far without success.
I'd say this is mainly true of black dials. White dials often hold up pretty well.

IMG_6390.webp IMG_6405.webp
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
I got one more picture of the dial, and to me the Omega logo seems a bit “off”, at least when compared to Dan and Sog’s pictures. It doesn’t seem as raised as in your picture.
I have requested more pictures of the dial, sub-dial and logo, in direct lighting. I will receive them later this evening.

This far, we have found the following:

The Crown is unoriginal, and the same goes for the strap and buckle.
My question is, how can you tell, and is it unoriginal for the watch, or just fake all together?

How will it impact the value of the watch? 1.640$ seems to maybe be a bit of a reach in this case?
IMG_4659.webp
 
Dan S
Posts
24,240
Likes
53,979
Strap and buckle are not important at all. The original crown is desirable, especially for collectors, but they are basically considered expendable and often changed at service. So a replacement crown reduces the value a bit, but might not be a dealbreaker.

As for price, black dials do command a premium, and if this watch were all original with such a clean black dial, I can imagine someone might pay a high price for it. Even so, $1600 would be a stretch, although a dealer would certainly ask that much or more. However, my guess is that it's a pretty good re-dial, in which case the value is below $500. Dial originality is everything in this case.
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Dan S Dan S
Strap and buckle are not important at all. The original crown is desirable, especially for collectors, but they are basically considered expendable and often changed at service. So a replacement crown reduces the value a bit, but might not be a dealbreaker.

As for price, black dials do command a premium, and if this watch were all original with such a clean black dial, I can imagine someone might pay a high price for it. Even so, $1600 would be a stretch, although a dealer would certainly ask that much or more. However, my guess is that it's a pretty good re-dial, in which case the value is below $500. Dial originality is everything in this case.
Understood, then I’ll just wait patiently for more pictures.

Yep that’s fair, but as a beginner I’m really curious, how can you tell that the crown and strap is unoriginal, is it in the way it’s made, the way the logo is imprinted in the leather or something else, because to a beginner it seems quite convincing hehe.

I really love the looks of the watch, so I don’t mind paying a slight premium, but I don’t want to do too bad of a deal either. I’ll let you know when I have new, clearer pictures of the dial, so we can give it a shot at Identifying wether it has been redone or not
 
SerP
Posts
281
Likes
64
Dan S Dan S
I'd say this is mainly true of black dials. White dials often hold up pretty well.

IMG_6390.webp IMG_6405.webp
What a beautiful watch...
It would be great to find a nice dial, but with sub-second..
If someone could offer me a dial with steel indexes - it would make me a little happier in this rainy season..
 
DaveK
Posts
5,082
Likes
15,701
sausage sausage
This far, we have found the following:

The Crown is unoriginal, and the same goes for the strap and buckle.
Crowns can be replaced during a service, so that can be common.

If @X350 XJR says the buckle and strap are fake then they are beyond “unoriginal”, they are counterfeit. Selling counterfeit parts without declaring it speaks to either the seller’s knowledge or honesty.

sausage sausage
My question is, how can you tell, and is it unoriginal for the watch, or just fake all together?
There is a very long thread here about just this topic https://omegaforums.net/threads/about-omega-buckles.37347/. You’ve entered a rabbit warren of minutia that will either excite or terrify you 😅
 
ketiljo
Posts
366
Likes
952
I've been looking at this on as well but I turned it down as s re-dial. It's too perfect for a black dial and the dial doesn't match the condition of the hands and case. The seller claims the strap and clasp are genuine as well. Too expensive for what it is IMHO. Hang around here for while and take a look in the sales section for a better deal. Best of luck!

Edit: I had a look at the other watches he sells, at least two are bad re-dials and he doesn't say anything about that
Edited:
 
sausage
Posts
10
Likes
1
Hello again.

I just received new pictures of the dial, I’ll put them down below.
IMG_4669.webp IMG_4668.webp IMG_4667.webp IMG_4666.webp IMG_4665.webp
 
9 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

G

Crown for Omega 2791, cal.266

gegeni Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
G
gegeni
Posts
9
Views
198
felsby

Omega 1954 ref. 2791-6 cal. 266

felsby Private Watch Sales
felsby
felsby
Posts
2
Views
3K
L

Help identifying Omega cal 266 1954

lucasindus Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
L
lucasindus
Posts
14
Views
4K
mswilks

1954 Omega Cal. 266 Solid 18k Gold

mswilks Private Watch Sales
mswilks
mswilks
Posts
9
Views
14K
Hnansen

REDUCED - Omega Seamaster - 1960 - Ref. 14389-6 - Cal. 268 - Beautiful patina - 765€

Hnansen Private Watch Sales
Hnansen
Hnansen
Posts
6
Views
10K
OllieOnTheRocks

Vintage 1954 OMEGA 2748 ''Jumbo'' Geneve

OllieOnTheRocks Private Watch Sales
OllieOnTheRocks
OllieOnTheRocks
Posts
0
Views
5K