About Omega buckles

SOG53

good. looks like you gave it a polish? I think legit AW

My comment about fuzzy pictures was actually for @lawler post.

omegastar

Size matters.


When I refer to a size, I refer to the size inside the buckle, which is the size of the strap that fits in. All the buckles pictured in this thread are 16 mm. except when mentioned otherwise.

In vintage Omega buckles, there are 3 sizes for men’s straps, 14;16 and 18 mm. 14 mm is a bit small and requires a strap arched from 18 to 14 mm. It is not a very modern strap and is very difficult to find. If you have a big wrist it will give you a boyish look.

16 mm is the most desirable because it will fit modern straps 18-16 mm.

18mm is so rare that you can forget about it and use your energy to find an Ed White speedy.

A very rare 18 mm gold-plated buckle by AW. (Below the 16 mm GM. )

The rule


The rule would be that there are no rules. You can find genuine buckles with any combination of marking. But there is a general trend towards two markings.


Swiss for where it was made.

Acier inox., plaque G, 0,750 for the metal used.

This trend does not disqualify any buckle and one has to learn how to recognise genuine buckles from fakes that you see 99,9 % of the time on sale on Ebay.

There are so many exceptions and that EK. buckle that annoyed me a lot because it broke all my theories, but you always need exception. I believe that early buckles were not signed properly or nobody cared.

The same with different markings

omegastar

18k or 750 gold buckles

As far as I know they exist in 14 mm and 16 mm.

As you can see, when it is an 18k gold buckle it is always fully signed with Swiss, 750 and the manufacturer’s mark. So in that case it is easy to disqualify fakes.

Most are made by AW. And those should have an 18k gold spring bar.

The one made by GM. Has a gold-plated spring bar, but the buckle is heavier in gold

Evolution in time or chronology

This is a proposition I make out of observation. I have no proof and I am open to suggestions. I think it will be very difficult to date those buckle, but maybe if we make a survey we will come to something.

1.Early EK.

2.Later oblong EK.

SOG53

Compare to these photos taken from earlier part of this thread. “Later B”
Yours looks quite similar but not signed. I think legit see if others agree

SOG53

looks like earlier AW like one on left- does side profile look squarish like the second photo? Looks legit- however i think the early 1950 buckles were simpler I would guess this one is from early 60's. But not sure. Anyway it will look good IMO. These photos are copied from earlier part of this thread.

SOG53

Your buckle is legit I would keep it and I might wear it as close enough. But if you want to be more period correct then check out TimesofPlenty on EB he had great selection of vintage straps and buckles
I think something like pigskin with box stitch and simple buckle is more early 50s.
Couple examples you could ask him is he has Omega buckle
Some early omega buckles in this thread at beginning. Good luck!

SOG53

Like this. Photos from earlier in this thread.