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1959 Geneve sub second Dennison

D
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Hi all

have been lucky enough to be given gramps old watch after he passed away a few years ago. We never knew he had up but believe he was probably given it as a years of service award. I’ve had it serviced and a new glass put in and hope to get a new strap for it (recommendations would be great!)

just wondering if anyone can shed any more light on it. Looks like the movement is from 1959 but the receipt says it was sold in 1962. Have all original documents and box and is in a Dennison 9 ct case. Looks like some of the numbers are the case numbers? I know there’s an omega archive I can enquire to. Would it be worth spending the £100 on it? Thanks for looking.
 
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noelekal
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I really like the older Geneves with their cursive script "Geneve" marking.

You've got a treasure of an heirloom there. Thanks for the photographs.
 
D
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Thank you. It has is 268 calibre I believe. I own lots of watches and there’s something special about this one. Not only because of whose it was but it’s a lovely simple watch.
I have noticed people obscuring certain digits. Should I do this and if so why? Probably a bit late now!
 
Syrte
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Sorry for your loss.
That’s a great heirloom and a lovely watch, it would be nice to see pictures in daylight.
i would recommend a matte croc brown strap, large scale.
This one is the wrong size at the lugs, and at the buckle too.
 
D
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He had a great innings and was bright as a button til the last. Will upload some when I can. We didn’t even know he had it. Assume he bought the strap many years ago down the key cutting place many years ago!

have been told hirsch and Camille fournet are good.
 
Syrte
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Camille Fournet is very good but I prefer Jean Rousseau, found them to be better customer service and better price for equal quality.

I dislike Hirsch because they make padded straps and I prefer vintage watches with flat straps, most vintage straps were flat originally. But that’s just me.
 
eternalover
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Dial Looks excellent and I understand those dial markers may well be gold. I love these. The movements are very solid and fairly cheap to repair. There is a number stamp on the case near the rim, which matches the last 3 digits on the case back shows the back belongs to the watch.about 8 o’clock on the movement pic

as I understand it archives will only confirm when movement was made and sent to England for casing. Not uncommon for them to sit around for a year or two. Hallmark confirms the year the case was assayed.

perfect provenance is very rare.
 
gbesq
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Lovely watch and in beautiful condition. The Geneve line was introduced in 1953 as a homage to Omega workshops in Geneva where the best regulators were then working. The Genève was at the top of Omega's high production, manual-wind model line from its inception until around 1960. Over time, the Geneve was transitioned into a lower end model in Omega's lineup, but represented up to 60% of the company's sales during the quartz crisis in the 1970s. The line was discontinued in 1979. The early cursive Geneves, such as yours, are wonderful watches and very collectible. It is relatively rare to find one in excellent original condition - and with box and papers - as this one appears to have. In short, you have a real heirloom there and wearing it is a wonderful way to honor your grandfather’s memory. If you don’t know when it was last serviced, you should take it to a watchmaker who specializes in serviclng vintage Omega watches. I would not recommend sending it Omega for servicing. If you can tell us where you are located, chances are we can give you some recommendations for qualified watchmakers in your area. The movement in these watches is a manual wind 30mm caliber, usually 267 or 268 - very reliable, accurate and inexpensive to maintain. I have a similar model to yours, but in a stainless steel case (photo below) - definitely one of my favorites from my collection.
upload_2021-5-18_20-24-35.jpeg
 
D
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Wow. Thanks for the information. I had it serviced at high rice in Hull who appeared to have some trusted and experienced watchmakers whom had previously been at omega I believe. I’m located in north London so any info on people around here would be helpful as I do have a fair few number watches. Works really well. What strap is that on yours please.
 
eternalover
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Not sure aBout straps gbesq will know but I think there are omega ones available. I think this new ish one looks good on my slightly less lovely 13322 of roughly the same era
upload_2021-5-19_8-47-21.jpeg A7D1FFC4-0B83-4B1A-869C-71C8CF05ED2F.jpeg 6D181C1B-EBC0-457C-85C4-DF4046A30BFE.jpeg 6D181C1B-EBC0-457C-85C4-DF4046A30BFE.jpeg A7D1FFC4-0B83-4B1A-869C-71C8CF05ED2F.jpeg
 
davidswiss
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D ds1980
Wow. Thanks for the information. I had it serviced at high rice in Hull who appeared to have some trusted and experienced watchmakers whom had previously been at omega I believe. I’m located in north London so any info on people around here would be helpful as I do have a fair few number watches. Works really well. What strap is that on yours please.
A bit closer to you are Swiss Time Services in Essex which specialise in Omega and have a good supply of parts and good watchmakers.
Simon Freese is also in Essex and can be trusted with anything Omega.
 
gbesq
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D ds1980
Wow. Thanks for the information. I had it serviced at high rice in Hull who appeared to have some trusted and experienced watchmakers whom had previously been at omega I believe. I’m located in north London so any info on people around here would be helpful as I do have a fair few number watches. Works really well. What strap is that on yours please.
It’s a suede calfskin strap with quick release spring bars. I can’t recall the manufacturer at the moment, but I’ll see if I can get the info for you. It’s a very comfortable strap.
 
padders
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The OP watch is a Dennison model 969 Geneve (eq to Omega 2903), Movement dates from 1960, The Birmingham L hallmark is from July 1960 to June 1961. I have the same model, same year letter on a 17.77m serial but mine uses the slightly later but nearly identical 267 movement.
Edited:
 
Dr No
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D ds1980
0876E994-66B2-4EFD-AAC3-03A8783F4088.jpeg C9D68C03-E585-4807-B622-BC660B129534.jpeg 8A9BA0DB-B9AD-4D56-9F71-02B7BF1F2E85.jpeg 8AF8F11B-18EB-4CFD-8E76-70C7FE4F922F.jpeg F1885B02-C961-4516-B55B-24FD6CFDD474.jpeg 8876AF2F-436F-4121-8AC0-B3ED3536C9B1.jpeg

The buckle is likely original. My MWD buckle measures almost 17 mm, so it's fitted with a custom 18/17 strap.

1F66D104-2C61-487E-9B4C-BD944DE0AB85_1_201_a.jpeg


I don't have a pic of the buckle in my files, unfortunately. This strap was tailored around both the watch and 9 kt MWD buckle by Attila Aszodi from brown suede, and fits both ends snugly.

Art
Edited:
 
padders
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Dr No Dr No
The buckle is likely original.

Art
Yes I have one on another Dennison piece. That too was made in Birmingham and probably also has the anchor assay mark.
 
D
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It’ll all be original I’m sure. Gramps was saver. Would get the newspaper from his neighbour the day after so he didn’t have to buy one. I doubt he ever wore it tbh. Dad certainly doesn’t ever recall it. Need to add to insurance and hate having to ask but assume something like £500 would be ok. Hopefully it’s so inconspicuous no one would ever think about taking it.
 
eternalover
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I would offer to buy it for that + another £200 if I weren’t honest.

I had been looking for a while. These are not easy to find in anything like this condition and with this provenance. In the U.K. we have affection for the Dennison thing that may not always be shared abroad. Brexit has also affected flow between U.K. and Europe as these attract import vat and duty potentially.
I paid a dealer £880 for the watch I attached above which is not as good a model, had no provenance, and the dial was probably refurbished at some point. If it were taken, to replace it with equal quality I reckon you would have to budget £2000 to buy something from a dealer in this condition and with the history. A forum member might be a bit cheaper, but they all know how rare and lovely these are. I have seen worse versions at that sort of price. I am a relative newbie and there are more experienced people already on the thread, so will be interested in their views.
 
padders
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D ds1980
It’ll all be original I’m sure. Gramps was saver. Would get the newspaper from his neighbour the day after so he didn’t have to buy one. I doubt he ever wore it tbh. Dad certainly doesn’t ever recall it. Need to add to insurance and hate having to ask but assume something like £500 would be ok. Hopefully it’s so inconspicuous no one would ever think about taking it.
Yes around that, maybe a hundred or so more on a good day once serviced. The buckle if solid 9K is another hundred in value too.
 
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