Comprehensive Omega Admiralty thread!

paletta122

I join the Anchor family with the new entry in my collection. Just delivered, i’m very happy

paletta122

Very clean but....never been dirty

Jones in LA

I finally took the time to go through this thread from end-to-end, and ended up a bit confused and even fearful...fearful that I may be in possession of a Franken...god forbid. Having said that, my overall sense is that it's not a Franken and that the only un-original part may be just the crown (and maybe the crystal, but a proper OEM crystal for this reference). I would humbly like to ask others who are much more knowledgeable than I to weigh in on my particular Admiralty. I'd especially like to hear from @DIV and @X350 XJR , but there's no emergency here...just weigh in if and when you can. I'm going to present some photos and provide a description of what I see both in the photos, and when the watch is sitting in front of me.

I tried using a rubber ball to open the case back but was not successful, so we'll have to rely just on my photos from here on. Before I get to the photos, here's what I know about the watch as a whole based on photos I have in my possession, taken by the previous owner. I have not made an effort to get the previous owner's permission to post these photos so I won't post them. The reference number stamped on the case back is 166.054. The watch appears to have been serviced in 2017 based on a sharpie signature on the case back but I do not know by whom. The watch appears to be powered by a clean cal.565 non-chronometer movement. It runs reliably and is a very good timekeeper. I love the quick date set feature, by the way.

Now on to my photos. I have taken several of the crown area, as I find this the most confusing aspect of my watch when I look at photos of other Admiralty watches in this thread.

I would describe the dial as champagne in colour, with a sunburst finish (the finish doesn't show up well in photos). I am mystified by the complete loss of minute markers from 2:00 to 3:00 and 4:00 to 5:00, and partial loss from 3:00 to 4:00. I cannot imagine what outside agent could have selectively removed just these markers and left the rest of the dial essentially intact. There may have been some text (Swiss, etc) at the bottom of the dial but there's no text visible now. The bezel is what it is, and is unevenly worn, possibly by continuous contact with clothing from a previous owner (maybe a right hand wearer?). The case measures exactly 36mm in diameter, and the bi-directional, non-ratcheting bezel ring measures out at ~37mm in diameter. In other words, the bezel overhangs the case by ~0.5mm.

I presume this is a 'short lugs case'. But, no matter how hard I try, I cannot make the lugs measure anything other than 18.0mm in width.

It's difficult to see, but the minute hand does have a channel for lume (it can be seen with a loupe) but the space where the lume should be is very dark in colour.

The crystal has an inverted cyclops magnifier, and is signed.

The crown guard and crown just seem so proportionally small compared to the other Admiralty photos in this thread. That's what got me worrying. On the other hand, when I look at the photo in the March 11, 2018 post by @pedrocarlone I see the top side of my watch exactly (including the crown itself), minus the diver bezel.

Back to big-picture items: the underside of the main case body is polished, all other metal surfaces are brushed including the case back.

Another view of the crown area, from beneath. Again, all the crown stuff just seems so small...


Well..that's all I've got to show and tell for now. Again, there's no big rush to get answers...do what you can, when you can.

And thank you in advance 😀

X350 XJR

I'm not seeing anything off. The references with the rotating bezel utilize a completely different case than the non bezeled variety, both long and short lug, with their larger crowns and 17mm lug spacing.

As for the dial, most likely a misguided attempt at cleaning.

DIV

Hello @Jones in LA---I also apologize for seeing this so late. I've away from the watch forums for a little while trying to control the buying bug and it seems to have worked. I was just in your neck of the woods (unless you mean Louisiana) visiting my parents and brother in LA.

Anyways....congrats on a very nice Admiralty. Like XJR mentioned, this one does seem pretty clean. Yes, the bezel insert has some honest wear on it and yes the dial looks to have been inappropriately cleaned. But everything else looks fine. Judging by your photos, I would venture to guess that the winding crown is perhaps a newer replacement from when the watch was recently serviced in 2017. It suggests that your watch is WATERPROOF. I wish mine was too, but I'm not willing to give up the original crown which is no longer available.

Regarding the lug size and width. These diver Admiralties have 18mm lug widths unlike the akward and inconvenient 17mm of the non-divers. The Divers were ALWAYS short lug varieties.

Thanks for posting and enjoy your fine timepiece!