I'm searching for a 1950's chronometre and I have a few question in regards to this calibre. It seems that it was offered in chronometre and non-chronometre watches. Were all 354 calibres made the same and the chronometre versions were calibrated to a higher standard? or were the 354 binned and those that performed better became chronometers (with subsequent calibration for certification?

Also, what kind of performance (e.g. seconds/day) can we expect of a 60 year old watch that is properly serviced in the chronometre and non-chronometre versions?

Michel
Looking for his first vintage watch

 

According to the listing on Dr. Roland Ranfft's movement archive, the 354 is not listed as a chronometer. Nor does it indicate that a chronometer version AND a non-chronometer version was produced. The listing shows the 352 as a chronometer.

I have a calibre 355 which I think is the same movement. This one is equipped with a micrometer regulator as one would expect on a chronometer, but it is NOT listed as a chronometer. This one, in wear, is within one minute per week. I could probably fuss with it and improve it, but it is plenty accurate for my needs.

http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Omega_354

 

Here is a 343 series:

 

354 was used in Constellations as Chronometer cert. and also in Seamasters

 

In fact his site does mention "partially as chronometers".

1 minute a week sounds good to me!

 

Also used in Centenary models, which are chronometres.

 

A gratuitous shot of my 354 regulator,

 

I wonder about your statements...
You should not rely too much on Ranfft

 

Calibre Porn...

Sorta looks like Hal9000

 

I think that macOmega and I are interpreting what the Ranfft listing says, differently. The site says tha there were 1,300,000 watches produced in the 330 to 355 series of movements. And that in these 1,300,000 movements, 500,000 were chronometers. It does NOT specify that the 354 was one model in the series that was produced as a chronometer and non-chronometer movement! Maybe macOmega knows more than whoever it was that went to the considerable effort to compile this information?

 

Looking at the Ranfft listing for the 352 it says "chronometer" at the location where the 354 says "partially as chronometers".

 

I guess I'll satisfy myself that several posters in this thread report actually have seen calibre 354 as chronometers. The FIRST guy to reply to a particular post (me in this case), is most likely the guy who will be found as WRONG! Mea culpa!

 

I admit it can be confusing!

 

From Omega's AJTT

 

Ten-dk,

Very conclusive proof that the Ranfft information, while not entirely wrong, was not complete. I'm satisfied!

 

This is definitely wrong, the Centenary chronometers had the 28.10 JUB (in ref. 2499) and 30.10 JUB (aka 331) in the ref. 2500, later the cal. 333 also in ref. 2500

 

You are right! Newbie arrogance! I misread a document on these watches. Apparently the 343 was also used in the 2499.

 

cal. 354...