647th guy looking for help

nickdundee · Jun 3, 2022

So I’m the 647th guy this year with an old Omega watch looking for some help. This watch was passed to me through the family and I have no idea as to its history. We were not a family that could afford Omega watches

I have the back off and have figured out the model is a G 6552 and the serial number 14180011 dates it to 1954. But the inside of the case back has all sorts of marks and engravings that mean nothing to me. Is there a source to help interpret these markings? All I can figure is that some are engraved dates of when the watch was repaired or serviced, much the same as luthiers do. But what is “Queens”? Is there a name for this model other than G 6552?

Any help would be much appreciated. I would like to get it serviced but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a $65.00 watch, if you know what I mean. Thanks everyone.

Dan S · Jun 3, 2022

This particular watch does not have a meaningful reference number. It was shipped by Omega to the US as a loose movement and cased by the Queens Watch Case company in a US-made 14k gold case.

savka · Jun 3, 2022

The hand-etched markings are from watchmakers who have serviced or worked on this watch over the years.

nicks · Jun 3, 2022

For me, that watch would be a keeper. Definitely worth getting serviced. Solid gold, after all…

rob#1 · Jun 3, 2022

Looks nice - I’d swap out the bracelet with those odd endlinks and put it on a nice leather strap.

nickdundee · Jun 3, 2022

Dan S
This particular watch does not have a meaningful reference number. It was shipped by Omega to the US as a loose movement and cased by the Queens Watch Case company in a US-made 14k gold case.

So, did Omega make a lesser quality movement, like many companies do, to sell to companies like Queens? Is this watch of any value beyond the gold in the case if you can't identify or date the movement?
See, I told you all we were not a family that could afford an Omega watch.😀

krogerfoot · Jun 3, 2022

N nickdundee
So, did Omega make a lesser quality movement, like many companies do, to sell to companies like Queens? Is this watch of any value beyond the gold in the case if you can't identify or date the movement?
See, I told you all we were not a family that could afford an Omega watch.😀

I don't know for sure, but there are a lot of reasons for the practice of selling loose movements to other countries for domestic recasing, mostly owing to customs regulations. I would definitely not assume that the movement was of lesser quality. It still has Omega's name on it; there would have been zero incentive for Omega to put their brand on something of lower quality than their competitors.

Dan S · Jun 3, 2022

It is a totally authentic Omega watch with the same movement as in all-Swiss models. The movement has a standard caliber number and the movement serial number gives a production date. It doesn't have a standard reference number and is not identical to any particular Omega reference, but the value will be comparable to a similar all-Swiss reference, just slightly less.

krogerfoot · Jun 3, 2022

And it's a very handsome watch. Someone in your family was not screwing around when they picked that one out.

kkt · Jun 4, 2022

N nickdundee
So, did Omega make a lesser quality movement, like many companies do, to sell to companies like Queens? Is this watch of any value beyond the gold in the case if you can't identify or date the movement?
See, I told you all we were not a family that could afford an Omega watch.😀

The movements were the same as they'd put in their own cases. The reason for exporting just the movement was usually mundane financial - import duty on the case calculated on the gold value, and price of gold in Switzerland vs. the United States.

This is a nice watch and should have another chapter to its life.

nickdundee · Jun 4, 2022

As I stated in the beginning of this post we were not a family that could afford Omega watches and so I wondered where my dad or brother got this particular watch. Talking with my brother today I asked him about the watch and he said, "I wondered what happened to that watch. Dad found it in a car wash." So the mystery is solved......at least we could afford car washes.😀
Need to find a reputable person in the Sacramento, CA. area to service the watch and see where we go from there. Any ideas? I'm hesitant to send it off to someone, but that may be what I need to do.

nitediver · Jun 7, 2022

N nickdundee
As I stated in the beginning of this post we were not a family that could afford Omega watches and so I wondered where my dad or brother got this particular watch. Talking with my brother today I asked him about the watch and he said, "I wondered what happened to that watch. Dad found it in a car wash." So the mystery is solved......at least we could afford car washes.😀
Need to find a reputable person in the Sacramento, CA. area to service the watch and see where we go from there. Any ideas? I'm hesitant to send it off to someone, but that may be what I need to do.

interesting story indeed! Frankly, i think it is just a question whether you like the watch enough to pay money to have it serviced. It is a nice watch, but then this is so personal only you can decide it is worth it or not. It is certainly easier to sell the watch in serviced condtion, in case you consider this.
Best,
Stefan

647th guy looking for help

nickdundee

Dan S

savka

nicks

rob#1

nickdundee

krogerfoot

Dan S

krogerfoot

kkt

nickdundee

nitediver

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