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  1. Flashdog Nov 13, 2019

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    In 1959 or 60 my father bought this for his father in Aruba. My grandfather wore it until his death. My father then wore it until he handed it to me on Saturday.
    About 25 years ago, the watch was hung on my father's machinist tool bench. We worked at the same institution. A bunch of school kids came through on a tour and one stole it. We found the bus still on campus. I boarded and said they weren't leaving until we found the watch. I told my father to go look around the bus. He found the watch. One of the punks threw it out of the window. Luckily, it landed in the grass.
    It's beat up. Hasn't been cleaned in 35+years, and it's priceless to me. I dont want to sell or restore it. I won't have a chance to get it open until after Christmas when I send it to my watchmaker friend. I was just wondering. Is it possible to narrow down year and model without cracking open the case? 20191112_133722.jpg 20191112_133702.jpg 20191112_133650.jpg 20191112_133639.jpg
     
  2. Flashdog Nov 13, 2019

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    I know the crystal was replaced. I can't find any cases searching online that match that case. It also doesn't say SWISS MADE on the dial. The back is so wear wore the Engraving is almost rubbed off.
     
  3. Flashdog Nov 13, 2019

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    Thanks in advance for any help. Yes, I know it's easier to just open the case and read the numbers but..... I'm impatient. And it will be after Christmas by the time I get it to the watchmaker.
     
  4. Lonestar insert Schwartz joke HERE Nov 13, 2019

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    you can open the case yourself if you're careful:



    (just don't try to change the battery yourself :D)
     
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  5. Canuck Nov 13, 2019

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    Battery? We need to see what is in the case, and we need the serial number off the movement, and style number inside the case back. Even with this information, 1959 or 1960 may be as close as you can expect without paying Omega for an extract.
     
  6. Lonestar insert Schwartz joke HERE Nov 13, 2019

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    [​IMG]
     
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  7. Canuck Nov 13, 2019

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    There’s funny HA HA, and funny peculiar. This is the latter.
     
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  8. Lonestar insert Schwartz joke HERE Nov 13, 2019

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    Yeah that's a european-ish form of humour... you seem to have forgotten your French-British roots ;)

    But, yeah, I picked a video centered around opening snap casebacks, with a focus on how to change the battery though... obviously the OP's watch is not battery-powered. This is where all the humour supposedly derives from. If there are scholars that specialize about humour structure and form on OF, this is the time (haha) for you to chime (haha #2) in and educate us both about how this figure of speech is called. Thank you!

    In any case - what I meant is, with a knife edge and a steady hand, the OP can open the caseback him/herself ;)

    Best,
    Paul
     
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  9. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Nov 13, 2019

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    Please don't follow these instructions - you should not pry the case back off. The knife should be used a a wedge to slowly increase the gap around the case back, until it just lifts off. Prying will damage the case back.

    And yes I agree, don't try changing the battery yourself. :)
     
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  10. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Nov 13, 2019

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    Don't sweat it. I can assure you most Canadians do have a sense of humour...
     
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  11. Flashdog Nov 13, 2019

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    Thanks all. I played with old Elgin pocket watches for a short period. Let's just say I don't have a steady hand. I don't even try to open them anymore. Thanks again.
     
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  12. Mac5 Nov 13, 2019

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    Ahhhh. Dad's and flexo-bands...... Seem to go hand in hand.
     
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  13. amcclell Nov 13, 2019

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    I'm a dad and I love flexo-bands. My local jeweler still has NOS from the 50's and 60's but you have to go into the basement to sort through the stuff.
     
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  14. Flashdog Nov 13, 2019

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    I'd love to put a nice leather band as close to original as possible. But it's had a flexo-band even when my grandfather wore it. Pure Dad. When I have the watch cleaned, I'll just have them clean the flexo-band. Gotta admit. It's pretty comfortable until an arm hair gets caught!
     
  15. Bumper Nov 13, 2019

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    This looks like a Ref 2792, but we'll still need to see what's on the inside case back to be sure.


    upload_2019-11-14_7-29-6.png
    upload_2019-11-14_7-29-28.png [/QUOTE]
     
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  16. Flashdog Nov 15, 2019

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    Had a watchmaker open her up today.
    It's a 284 movement
    Back # 2938
    Patent 315164
    Ser# 16842281

    Now I need to look that up.
     
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  17. amcclell Nov 15, 2019

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    The 284 is based on the old 30T2 SC. This is a classic movement with an impeccable pedigree.
     
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  18. ConElPueblo Nov 15, 2019

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    It has been redialed at some point (spending its life in warmer climates could well hasten the degradation), hence the missing Swiss Made. I like the engraving; it is more common to have a plain back :)
     
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  19. Flashdog Nov 16, 2019

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    Never redialed.
     
    20191112_133639.jpg
  20. cristos71 Nov 16, 2019

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    Sorry, you are wrong there. As has been stated it's a clear redial.