Community Stories

Birth year nonsense.

sheepdoll
Posts
2,842
Likes
4,537
Normally a lady never tells her age.

I never really gave much trend to such things. Seems to be a GenX thing or something from the 1980s.

I noticed in this often reproduced graphic my year is not listed:

main253.png

I was curious though to see if I might actually have one. I took apart 18611255 which claims to be a SC 14750 61. That might be close. Probably cased and shipped the following year.

The other more likely candidates are:

SC 14704 3 591 17431400 1959 seamaster turler
14713-61 268 18446775 1961 Stripped dial

In my ignorance I stripped all the paint off of 18446775's dial.

I guess it does make for a sense of entertainment while waiting for part to arrive. I think things are now more anticipation. The focus seems to be more on the would it not be nice if I had ...

I started to look at 18611255 which is a 600 movement. Feels weird having a watch, what I do not need to source parts for. Well I do want to make a nice leather strap for it ...

18446775 was the first watch I ever serviced. Probably due for another one. My mentor at the time had me clean the dial. I also sort of remember using the buffing wheel.

I spent the next 7 or more years taking jewlry classes to see if I could 'fix' the dial. I am still researching that process ...
 
dootcho
Posts
188
Likes
245
May i interject and ask a Gen X'er question?

I also had questions as to why my birthyear was not showing in the most known table, in my case it's 1983. I just saw this thread and came to know that there's a more detailed one and again, no sight of my birthyear 🙁.

Looking at the numbers there is no linear formula, at a very high level during the last 2 decades of the table there was ~1Mln serials output per year with some variance, and 1Mln output in total between '82-'83.

My question is: If i was hunting for a birthyear, should I be looking for a serial higher than 45.5Mln (I assume serials left factory in an increasing serial number order)?
 
Dan S
Posts
24,257
Likes
54,020
dootcho dootcho
May i interject and ask a Gen X'er question?

I also had questions as to why my birthyear was not showing in the most known table, in my case it's 1983. I just saw this thread and came to know that there's a more detailed one and again, no sight of my birthyear 🙁.

Looking at the numbers there is no linear formula, at a very high level during the last 2 decades of the table there was ~1Mln serials output per year with some variance, and 1Mln output in total between '82-'83.

My question is: If i was hunting for a birthyear, should I be looking for a serial higher than 45.5Mln (I assume serials left factory in an increasing serial number order)?
Just interpolate between the nearest years, while recognizing that it's only an estimate anyway.
 
coffee
Posts
511
Likes
990
I picked a bad year to be born (1987). That year is skipped on charts.

Would love a birthyear Speedy, but that year it's called Holy Grail and they sell over 20k. Other options would be a 1987 Art Collection quartz, but not my cup of tea.

Any other options for a 1987 Omega?
 
Dan S
Posts
24,257
Likes
54,020
coffee reverbtime
I picked a bad year to be born (1987). That year is skipped on charts.

Would love a birthyear Speedy, but that year it's called Holy Grail and they sell over 20k. Other options would be a 1987 Art Collection quartz, but not my cup of tea.

Any other options for a 1987 Omega?
I'm pretty sure that ordinary Speedmaster Professionals were made in 1987. Charts are just estimates. You will need an Extract to know when a watch was delivered, or original paperwork to know when it was sold. Better yet, get over the birth year nonsense.
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,682
Likes
14,207
I'm not sure when the birthyear fetish began, but it runs strong in some people. For some it HAS to be the year they were born or it's just not acceptable. It's a quirky hobby with equally quirky people.
 
Aroxx
Posts
3,066
Likes
19,435
Although there have been a bunch of people looking for 80s birth year Speedies the past week or so, I feel like I’ve consistently seen more folks looking for 60s and 70s birth year watches on the forum. I personally don’t identify much with my birth year. I only made it into 1986 by one day so I kind of consider myself more of a ‘87 kid.
 
Dan S
Posts
24,257
Likes
54,020
Aroxx Aroxx
Although there have been a bunch of people looking for 80s birth year Speedies the past week or so, I feel like I’ve consistently seen more folks looking for 60s and 70s birth year watches on the forum. I personally don’t identify much with my birth year. I only made it into 1986 by one day so I kind of consider myself more of a ‘87 kid.
The interest of millennials in mechanical watches is a good sign for the future of our hobby.
 
sathomasga
Posts
744
Likes
1,394
I happened to see a Railmaster CK 2914 offered for sale with an extract. The date from the extract is not just my birth year, it's my actual birth day. As much as I would love to own a Railmaster (my grandfather worked for Seaboard Air Line / Seaboard Cost Line his entire life), the price is way out of my league. I'll have to make do with my considerably more modest 135.003-62-SC.

rs=w-1064,h-1064.jpeg
Edited:
 
STANDY
Posts
16,863
Likes
47,901
You can’t even buy a watch until your about 10, so can’t work out the “birth year” thing 🙄

I have just bought heaps of watches and in the process have a few birth year watches…but they are no special compared to ones a year or 10 before or after.
 
speedb
Posts
355
Likes
356
You know it's significant when there's a website specifically for "birth year watches"
 
coffee
Posts
511
Likes
990
Birth year watches, dial damage (typo sorry, patina), tropical dials, unpolished cases, COSC spec, multiple OCD details...this hobby is not rational for sure.
 
goudaville
Posts
158
Likes
349
coffee coffee
I picked a bad year to be born (1987). That year is skipped on charts.

Would love a birthyear Speedy, but that year it's called Holy Grail and they sell over 20k. Other options would be a 1987 Art Collection quartz, but not my cup of tea.

Any other options for a 1987 Omega?
a fellow 1987er, I stumbled upon this thread with the same issue a couple years later. best guess, it is as i look for something for my 40th
 
goudaville
Posts
158
Likes
349
sathomasga sathomasga
I happened to see a Railmaster CK 2914 offered for sale with an extract. The date from the extract is not just my birth year, it's my actual birth day. As much as I would love to own a Railmaster (my grandfather worked for Seaboard Air Line / Seaboard Cost Line his entire life), the price is way out of my league. I'll have to make do with my considerably more modest 135.003-62-SC.

rs=w-1064,h-1064.jpeg
I'm April 3, cheers! what a find
 
SOG53
Posts
3,020
Likes
6,437
A lot happens in a "Birth Year"

First, there is conception- which for the watch is date of movement manufacture from Omega SN charts

Then, a gestational period, between the date of movement manufacture until the watch is sent to dealer, only available with Omega Extract of Archives which is no longer obtainable

Finally, there is delivery, the date of sale, requiring a sales receipt.

The debate about when life begins has raged on for many years, and it doesnt seem to be much clearer with vintage Omega...
 
padders
Posts
10,442
Likes
16,328
coffee coffee
I picked a bad year to be born (1987). That year is skipped on charts.

Would love a birthyear Speedy, but that year it's called Holy Grail and they sell over 20k. Other options would be a 1987 Art Collection quartz, but not my cup of tea.

Any other options for a 1987 Omega?

Depending on which source you believe you might find a Pre-Bond Seamaster or one of the Polaris varieties from 1987. Those are interesting. If you think you’ve got it bad, I have to pick from the early 1970s. Omega was producing mostly junk when I was a baby.
 
padders
Posts
10,442
Likes
16,328
speedb speedb
You know it's significant when there's a website specifically for "birth year watches"

Run by Scott, an acquaintance of mine. Nice bloke.
 
coffee
Posts
511
Likes
990
padders padders
Run by Scott, an acquaintance of mine. Nice bloke.
Love his YouTube videos. He seems like a chill guy.
Edited:
 
2 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

RMcCarthy

Was looking for 1965 birth year example, but think I purchased a 1950s model 2577.

RMcCarthy Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
padders
padders
Posts
24
Views
598
g1oomy

Surprise Birth Year Watch for Husband

g1oomy Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
g1oomy
g1oomy
Posts
6
Views
858
Dug

1976 birth year Omega...what would you go for?

Dug Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Makesbelieve
Makesbelieve
Posts
33
Views
5K
njlam

Birth Year Omega SeaMaster 321

njlam Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
SOG53
SOG53
Posts
4
Views
954
jankoxxx

Seiko Silver Ghost Chronograph -1976 birth year watch

jankoxxx Private Watch Sales
jankoxxx
jankoxxx
Posts
13
Views
4K
SpeedTock

Vintage Oris or random nonsense?

SpeedTock Other Watch Brands Forum
Canuck
Canuck
Posts
3
Views
1K