Some folks may remember that a few weeks ago we had a discussion around this gold-cap blackface ref 2635 which I was considering purchasing. According to the Omega database, this is supposed to be a Seamaster but the dial has no Seamaster script. Inside is a cal 351 and the serial number dates it to around 1951. I liked the look of the watch, even though it obviously had a generic crown, made an offer which was accepted and bought it - When the watch arrived, it was a bit of a disappointment. The crown was indeed horrible, the crystal was much worse than it looked in the photos and there was no way the marks were going to buff out. Even worse was the fact that the movement was rattling around in the case and was only held in by the stem and the case back. Despite all this, the poor old thing was doing its best (in typical Omega fashion) and did wind, set, and run. It deserved better. So I took the movement out of the case and spent a pleasant afternoon cleaning the case up (just cleaning, no polishing, of course). Then I packaged everything up and sent it off to my watch wizard up-country with a written list of instructions. In a remarkably short time it was back with me and looking so much better - It has had a new crystal, new crown, a new case gasket, the movement has been dismantled, cleaned, lubricated and regulated, and a missing holding tab has been replaced so everything is secure. The bent tip of the second hand has also been straightened. This is one of those blackface dials which Dennis explained a while back – the hour batons and the Omega symbol are applied, but the numerals, script and the chapter ring are the gold of the dial base showing through where the black paint has not been laid down. So it’s kind of like a negative stencil. I assume that for this to work, the dial metal must have been gold plated and then lacquered because there is no tarnish to any of this detail - This view is just to give you a better idea of the new crown. I have been wearing it for a week now to bed down the movement and I must say that I am delighted with it. And it even has my favourite open-sided lugs! John
Well, I just asked my watchmaker to get one as close as he could to this illustration from the Omega DB for the 2635 -
I had a feeling that would be the case, just wish someone would make a modern one with the same characteristics