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  1. Closner05 Dec 28, 2013

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    Hello,
    I am looking for a little advice on what to do with this watch and any info I can find.

    I will provide all information I have so that maybe someone can provide some background. We have recently moved my 93 year old grandmother out of her house and I was given a watch that was in my grandfathers watch box. I don't know that much about watches but have been looking recently to purchase a gold, leather strap watch like a Tissot Visodate when I came across my grandfathers watch. I first thought that it didn't work but then realized that it is a winding watch. It still works good as new and keeps perfect time as long as it is wound once every two days or so. I went to the local Omega store to see what they had to say about it. There are no markings on the back and I wanted them to open it up so that I could get a picture of a serial number or the looks of the internals of the watch. They said that since they don't have an officially licensed Omega watch smith here in San Antonio at La Cantera and that they would need to send it off to provide any info and an estimate for the work to refurbish it. He estimated without knowing anything that it would cost about $750-$900 to refurbish it and provide all the parts (original strap, internals need replacing) and the work.

    The pictures below show the watch in question. I was able to look through the stores "Omega, Journey Through Time" book and find a couple of examples that are close to this one but not exact. I think this is an early 1940's watch based off of things I've found online.

    I was thinking that I could just buy a leather strap for ten bucks and wear it as it but if I can get the original band from Omega I think that would be pretty cool too. I have heard that some antiques like firearms and furniture will lose value with any refurbishment. Are watches the same? Will a refurbishment from Omega be a different? Advice?

    Specifications:
    Stainless Steel Case - 34.6mm or 15'''
    Band width 17mm
    Leather band
    Smooth back
    Winding mechanism
    Gold colored hands and roman numerals
    I think early 1940's, could be my grandfathers (born 1919) or his uncles.
    Sub-second

    Thanks!
     
    cell phone pictures 1021.jpg cell phone pictures 1025.jpg cell phone pictures 1026.jpg cell phone pictures 1031.jpg cell phone pictures 1032.jpg
  2. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 28, 2013

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    Restoration of watches is a bit like firearms, if you refinish, polish etc, it harms the value and appeal, however you must service the movement before wearing it, also replacing the crystal is advisable and has no negative effect on collector value in this case.

    Don't wind it or wear it until its been serviced, and use a vintage specialist watchmaker rather than sending it to Omega. We have a few good watchmakers here such as Steve N2FHL in New Jersey and Al Archer Archer in Canada, both are excellent choices.

    And finally, yes a vintage Omega is a far cooler watch than a modern Tissot, scrap the Visodate idea, pay the few hundred it costs to have this one serviced and the crystal replaced, and put it on a quality aftermarket strap (Hirsch and Hadley Roma are good choices).
     
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  3. Bill Sohne Bill @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 28, 2013

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    hi
    looks like a nice watch. The case looks to be a chronometre case for a 30t2Rg. If you take a ruler or caliper to get an exact case diameter it should be 33 mm and strap width of 17 mm.

    Where are you located? A pic of the movement and inside of the case back would be a big help. If you tske a pic of the back of the watch and post it that would be helpful also .


    good hunting

    bill sohne
     
  4. Closner05 Dec 29, 2013

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    Thanks for the feedback dsio that is some useful advice. I think I'll probably just get a nice looking leather band and wear the watch as is.

    Bill, The watch is 34.6mm and fits exactly inside the circle provided in the Omega book at the store shown in the picture above. The 17mm strap is correct. I am located in San Antonio, TX. The very back of the watch is completely smooth. The Omega salesperson was trying use scare tactics and tell me that only an Omega watch smith should do any work on the piece. Since this was my grandfathers or great great uncles I never plan on selling it and keeping the value is not my first concern. I really just want it to work and stay in as good of condition as possible.

    Is there anyway to see some complete archive of all Omega watches that I could review online? I'd really like to know exactly what year/model and maybe how many made in the run of that particular watch.

    Thanks!
     
  5. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Dec 29, 2013

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    What bill wanted to see was the inside of the caseback and the movement, those are the two things that will give you more information. You might want to get a jeweller to remove the caseback if you're not comfortable doing it but it should be possible with a sharp blade.
     
  6. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Dec 29, 2013

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    An Omega technician is probably the last person you want touching your watch. They may well qualified and competent but their sympathy for doing "restorations" varies greatly and you could end up with a semi-franken.

    As recommended above, a clean, lubricate and adjust should be all that's needed. A competent watchmaker could do that for around $200/300 in the US (I think).

    Cheers

    Jim
     
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  7. Patrick Dixon How do these messages get here? Dec 29, 2013

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    That's a good reason not to restore it the Omega way. You don't want to polish out all of your Grandfather from the watch as that's a major part of it's appeal.

    Don't try to open it yourself if you are not confident you know how to do it correctly, with a sharp knife you are likely to either damage the caseback or yourself ... or both.

    Send it to Archer or someone else recommended on here and get it cleaned and serviced sympatheticly, and then enjoy wearing it for many years to come.
     
  8. Closner05 Dec 29, 2013

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    Thank you for all the great advice everyone. I really appreciate your time.
     
  9. Closner05 Mar 18, 2014

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    Hello Again,

    I have found a good Watch Smith in my town and took it in to have it serviced. I had him remove the back of the case before I left so I could get a picture of the serial number. I was hoping that someone with access to more information than I could find on the net could help solve the mystery of what kind of Omega this is and from what year it was made. The writing on the back says this:
    ACIER
    INOXYDABLE
    OMEGA
    PAR SUISSE
    SWISS MADE
    2413-1

    The actual watch has a number 9963702
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Closner05 Mar 18, 2014

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    Here are the pictures of the watch.
     
    Omega Watch Cover.jpg Omega Watch Internals.jpg
  11. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 18, 2014

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    Gents' leather strap

    Reference
    CK 2413
    International collection
    1946
    Movement
    Type: Manual winding (mechanical)
    Caliber number: 360
    Created in 1944
    17 jewels.
    Functions
    Subsecond
    Case
    Stainless steel
    Case back
    Press-in
    Dial
    Not available
    Crystal
    Hesalite
    Bracelet
    Leather
    Water resistance
    No
    15575.jpg
     
  12. Habitant Mar 19, 2014

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    Guy, you have a nice watch on your hands, and in nice condition! Enjoy.
     
  13. BenF Mar 20, 2014

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    ^+1, and with full heritage too. As everyone else has said, please, please get it properly serviced by someone who cares and will treat it with the respect it has earned. Obviously you are in TX, however I use Christian for my watches in the uk (www.watchguy.co.uk) whose work is exemplary as you'll see.
    Wear and enjoy in good health! B
     
  14. Closner05 Oct 31, 2016

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    This post was originally from several years back and I figured I would follow up with an update. I was able to get the watch serviced with a local shop. It took several months for him to get to it since it's just him and his wife. He says "kids these days don't want to take the time to learn the watchmaking trade...

    I was able to find a leather strap online that matched the unique 17mm band. I wear it on special occasions and every once in awhile into the office. Thanks for everyone's help!
     
    Omega Watch.JPG
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  15. blubarb Oct 31, 2016

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    Nice follow up, but where have you been for several years? Did this lovely watch not infect you with WIS disease?

    :D

    Report comment: Closner05 has shown himself to be a promising student but long periods of absence have affected his final grade. Can do better.

    :whipped:
     
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