I live on an island in the Outer Hebrides and a friend has brought this watch to me in the hope I could find out the value of it. I really haven’t a clue. He has had it for years but can’t remember exactly how long. I’m going on holiday later in the month but don’t have time to hawk it round the jewellers in Glasgow for him. The only thing I’ve found it that it may have been made in 1947 if my interpretation of the beginning of the numbers inside are correct. I apologise for the poor photos from my iPhone but I don’t have time to get my Nikon out for macro shots of it. It is rose gold, though there has been a crack repaired on the back, done in yellow gold. This isn’t immediately apparent until the back is off. The strap is just a gold plated one.

Any information would be greatly appreciated, especially if anyone knows of specialist Omega dealers in the UK who may be able to help Robert find out more about the watch.
Many thanks in anticipation.

 

Nice one. Not sure about crown and second hand but rest looks legit to my amateur eyes. Looks like needing a movement cleaning/oiling, after that and a plexi (glass) replacement could be sold for between 800 and 1000€ (IMO) or for whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

 

The cal. 283 was made from 1949 and the movement number confirms between 1947 and 1949 so I think it is spot on 1949.
Omega did make 9k cases for the UK market but I'd expect to see just that 9K and yours seems to show a 9 ot.
I've never seen a dial like that and cannot say if it's original or not but I suspect it's ok.
Assuming it is 9 carat then I reckon the value is the weight of the gold plus about £50-£60 for the movement.
If it's a decent size, above 34mm, it will be more attractive to buyers as small watches are out of fashion now.

 

British and Commonwealth countries used "CT" (Carat) to indicate gold fineness, as opposed to "KT" used in the USA and other countries.

Thus, a case marked 9CT is 37.5% gold, sometimes hallmarked as "375".

 

Hi Robert,
Harris , Lewis, or the Uists? That is a loooooong way from the nearest watchmaker!!!
That's a nice wee watch your friend has there. the dial design with the odd central pattern isn't one I've seen before but Omega did make loads and loads of different variations. cal 283 as I recall was a little bigger in dimension (33 mm broad case excluding crown?) I think 800-1000 euros is ambitious pricing for this in 9ct (unless there is something I'm missing of course) ...I'd go with about 450-600 quid (add on 10% for euros) and I think that's on the generous side but as always here, others here will know more.

 

What? No watchmakers here?

 

I agree. I stupidly assumed it was 18k but being 9k... however, I stand by my assertion that watch "could be sold for whatever someone is willing to pay for it" regardless of the "value" each of us attaches to it, as a little foray into ebay will promptly confirm.

 

Clearly a detective!

 

Welcome to OF, and what the heck is that thing in the center of the dial?

 

Jim I agree about ct being the UK mark but I've only seen one Omega made case in 9ct and it was marked 9KT. There may be more info on the internet but I haven't the time to look. If it was a UK made case it would have 9ct but I don't think it would have that Omega mark but would have a UK makers mark, Dennison for example. Curious.

 

Perhaps it's an Australian made case.

 

The 9Ct stamp looks to be the same as the hallmark used by Handley, so it's possible it came from here, or a case maker in one of the other Dominions.

Some more light reading.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/no-number-case.58782/#post-779271

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/601331

 

If assayed in the uk, it would have a series of assay marks inside the case back, including date letter, makers mark ( ie ALD for Dennison) and the assay centre ( london, birmingham, york, chester, sheffield etc)

I dont see any of this on this watch

 

I was going to post every photo we took, from the point North of the Butt of Lewis lighthouse to Heillanish on Vatersay, but I don't think my data allowance would cope.

 

Quite correct.