Can anyone identify this old omega watch?

amateurwatchman · Aug 22, 2016

Here is an an album of pictures of the watch: https://imgur.com/a/89HWB

This is my grandpas old watch I just found. Its very beat up: broken face, doesnt work etc. I was looking to see if anyone knew exactly what model this is or how old it could be? I took it to a local repair watchman and was quoted $538 fora new face, refinish the dial, and to get it working again and looking good. I though this was kind of cheap?

I am going to take it and have the actual authentic Omega store in Oak Brook IL look at it and give me a quote, although they said theres a good chance it will have to be sent out to Switzerland.

I was reading this thread: https://omegaforums.net/threads/inh...m-grandpa-damaged-and-repair-too-costly.8483/ and honestly my repairs seem similar?

any opinion? when i spin the dial the hands do move which I assume is a good sign.

Thanks!

westmtn · Aug 22, 2016

It looks to me like a 1940s Omega with a 30mm manual wind movement. Probably a 30T2.

You can pop the back off with a knife and take a look at the movement. Be careful and deliberate. Post pics if you do.

What is the diameter of the watch without the crown? It's most likely 35mm or 37mm. These are great movements and great watches. I would RUN away from that service quote. A new leather band, crystal, and very light polish will go a long way on that watch. The dial looks original with a pleasing amount of patina and it has cross hairs! Original dials are rare and sought after. I wouldn't touch that dial.

michael e · Aug 22, 2016

Its a CK 859 with caliber 26.5 usually. 37mm?

michael e · Aug 22, 2016

PS/
Do not change the dial!, only get a new glass and a service, the dial isn't too bad for this reference. The watch dates from around 1939.

See here
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...2797&sid=64f0374d-6970-4f91-a732-640d1f4acb29

amateurwatchman · Aug 22, 2016

Thank you all!

Is the general consensus that I should take it to the authorized Omega Boutique (in Oak Brook, IL)?

AND that I should leave the dial as it?

fjf · Aug 22, 2016

No omega boutique!!. Find a watchmaker and tell him to clean and oil the movement and NOT to polish the case!. Then you clean the case and polish the polyglass and you are set.

michael e · Aug 22, 2016

A amateurwatchman
Thank you all!

Is the general consensus that I should take it to the authorized Omega Boutique (in Oak Brook, IL)?

AND that I should leave the dial as it?

I am sorry to say I would not trust a vintage Omega in the hands of an Omega Boutique, I have seen too many ruined watches.

Just find a decent independent watchmaker to do the work and instruct them not to touch the dial or case, a movement service is all that should be needed providing all of the internal parts are good.

gatorcpa · Aug 22, 2016

A amateurwatchman
Is the general consensus that I should take it to the authorized Omega Boutique (in Oak Brook, IL)?

Absolutely not!

Omega will charge you about $1,000, send the watch to Switzerland and they are going to want to incorrectly refinish the dial and change the hands.

Find yourself a good independent watchmaker in the Chicago area. @adam78 should be able to recommend someone there. Movement service, and no more than a light brushing of the dial with an artist's brush. Leave the case alone other than a surface cleaning to remove debris.

That should be all it needs.
gatorcpa

westmtn · Aug 22, 2016

I was close.. but I stand corrected. Really a beautiful watch.

westmtn · Aug 22, 2016

gatorcpa
Absolutely not!

Omega will charge you about $1,000, send the watch to Switzerland and they are going to want to incorrectly refinish the dial and change the hands.

Find yourself a good independent watchmaker in the Chicago area. @adam78 should be able to recommend someone there. Movement service, and no more than a light brushing of the dial with an artist's brush. Leave the case alone other than a surface cleaning to remove debris.

That should be all it needs.
gatorcpa

From someone who owns a 1940s Omega and who has considered sending it to Bienne: What makes you say that? I've heard this said many times but I can't find one example of someone sending a 1940s Omega to Bienne. I've seen them mix up hands on Speedmasters but I would love to see their results on a 30s or 40s piece.

Northernman · Aug 22, 2016

Can only echo the voices already heard in here: This is nothing for the Omega Boutique!!!
Those guys are (only/possibly) ok with new/modern watches.
A careful service by a vintage specialist will be all it should need. It's a heirloom piece. Don't let anyone ruin it.
👍

Northernman · Aug 22, 2016

westmtn
.... I would love to see their results on a 30s or 40s piece.

No. You won't!
They polish and makes stuff ohhhh-shiny. Reprint your dial and give it shiny new (old style) hands.
And then they charge you 3-4 times what others might.
:whipped:

TomGW · Aug 22, 2016

fjf
No omega boutique!!. Find a watchmaker and tell him to clean and oil the movement and NOT to polish the case!. Then you clean the case and polish the polyglass and you are set.

No amount of polishing is going to fix the huge crack in the crystal, but a replacement shouldn't be too hard to source. I would be inclined to have the case ultrasonically cleaned when the movement and old crystal are removed, as this would avoid any danger of marking the case in the process of removing 'dirt'.

Tire-comedon · Aug 22, 2016

michael e
Its a CK 859 with caliber 26.5 usually. 37mm?

This ref also existed with a 30mm Inside :

(or, but it can't be this one here, with a 23.4SC :

)
I have both the 26.5 and the 23.4SC ones, I'm still looking for a 30mm, which, seems more difficult to find according to my experience.
It would be worth opening it to see what's Inside.

The very nice scientific dial of amateurwatchman was referenced under n°458 in the 1940 Italian catalog :

Syrte · Aug 22, 2016

Beautiful dial, even with all of its patina.
Silly question, why are they called "scientific" dials? Were those sections used for scientific purposes?

amateurwatchman · Aug 22, 2016

Syrte
Beautiful dial, even with all of its patina.
Silly question, why are they called "scientific" dials? Were those sections used for scientific purposes?

no sure answer, but my guess is perhaps scientific was what they called chronographic watches back then? more scientific = more accurante? just a stupid guess lol

TomGW
No amount of polishing is going to fix the huge crack in the crystal, but a replacement shouldn't be too hard to source. I would be inclined to have the case ultrasonically cleaned when the movement and old crystal are removed, as this would avoid any danger of marking the case in the process of removing 'dirt'.

"ultrasonically cleaned" ... this sounds like what im looking for honestly. I am only 23 so this watch will be worn for decades. I like paying for quality and getting it done right, so i want to make sure go about doing this the right way!

So my updated general consensus is:

do NOT take to omega boutique AND

do NOT refinish dial, just a quick clean-up will do AND

obviously replace the cracked crystal

Thank you very much everyone! honestly wasnt expecting answers so soon! and such good answers!

I will be researching best places in Chicago area, and maybe that adam lad will recommend some! thanks again everyone

Tire-comedon · Aug 23, 2016

A amateurwatchman
no sure answer, but my guess is perhaps scientific was what they called chronographic watches back then? more scientific = more accurante? just a stupid guess lol

"ultrasonically cleaned" ... this sounds like what im looking for honestly. I am only 23 so this watch will be worn for decades. I like paying for quality and getting it done right, so i want to make sure go about doing this the right way!

So my updated general consensus is:

do NOT take to omega boutique AND

do NOT refinish dial, just a quick clean-up will do AND

obviously replace the cracked crystal

Thank you very much everyone! honestly wasnt expecting answers so soon! and such good answers!

I will be researching best places in Chicago area, and maybe that adam lad will recommend some! thanks again everyone

The quick clean up is for the case, not the dial which should be left untouched in my opinion. Movement should also be serviced by a professional watchmaker if you wish to wear it.
If you don't feel comfortable to open it, when bringing it to a watchmaker for an estimate of the service cost, take some pictures of the movement and of the inscriptions in the caseback and post them.
Insist with the non polishing non dial cleaning when asking estimate to the watchmaker.
Take care,

amateurwatchman · Aug 23, 2016

Tire-comedon
The quick clean up is for the case, not the dial which should be left untouched in my opinion. Movement should also be serviced by a professional watchmaker if you wish to wear it.
If you don't feel comfortable to open it, when bringing it to a watchmaker for an estimate of the service cost, take some pictures of the movement and of the inscriptions in the caseback and post them.
Insist with the non polishing non dial cleaning when asking estimate to the watchmaker.
Take care,

awesome, will do all that! i just need to find a reputable watchmaker around chicago to take this too. I am beyond excited to get this watch running, as I do plan to wear it a lot! do you have any guess/estimate as to what something like that would cost?

I also have this watch which was with the Omega and one other. Its a Chronographe Suisse Antimagnetic. Though it was some cheap watch but it appears to be of decent value, and it looks sharp. Would love to get it serviced too but all these repairs will cost too much... If anyone knows much about this watch that would be great too! at work now and this is the only pic i have at the moment.

Thanks again everyone! I will try to post some pics of the movement and the before and after restoration pics!

amateurwatchman · Aug 23, 2016

Tire-comedon
The quick clean up is for the case, not the dial which should be left untouched in my opinion. Movement should also be serviced by a professional watchmaker if you wish to wear it.
If you don't feel comfortable to open it, when bringing it to a watchmaker for an estimate of the service cost, take some pictures of the movement and of the inscriptions in the caseback and post them.
Insist with the non polishing non dial cleaning when asking estimate to the watchmaker.
Take care,

Also, one thing I meant to ask, when I say take it to the Omega boutique, I meant have them send it to Bienne Switzerland for repairs. Is this what everyone else understood it as? Or can you get watches repaired at the actual boutique and maybe people thought I would get the work done there?

Sorry for all the questions and thanks for all the answers. So much to know about watches and I am learning

gatorcpa · Aug 23, 2016

No work on vintage watches is done at the Boutique other than cosmetic stuff, like crowns and crystals.

If it needs anything else, it gets shipped either to NJ or Bienne, depending on the type of watch and how old it is. Yours would go right to Switzerland.

The chronograph is nice. I have a similar watch. The problem with these is that service is expensive, but the watch isn't. It has to be a labor of love because it doesn't make financial sense.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

Can anyone identify this old omega watch?

amateurwatchman

westmtn

michael e

michael e

amateurwatchman

fjf

michael e

gatorcpa

westmtn

westmtn

Northernman

Northernman

TomGW

Tire-comedon

Syrte

amateurwatchman

Tire-comedon

amateurwatchman

amateurwatchman

gatorcpa

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