Earliest bumpers

hoipolloi · Dec 14, 2021

Dear bumper collectors 😁

I know you have lots of nice bumpers in your collection but do you collect early bumpers?
I found only record showing the earliest automatic movements by Omega 28.10 and 30.10 released July 1943.
The earliest in my collection has serial number 9.8xx.xxx
If you by chance own a bumper earlier than that, please show yours.
Any documents showing the first bumpers and their reference are also welcome.
Thank you.
Hoi.

UncleBuck · Dec 14, 2021

My earliest has a 12 handle and has been off for service.
That one is special!
Extract?

ISODOC · Dec 14, 2021

Hi Hoi
I have an automatic model s/n 978xxxx with a gold Favre Perret case.
Omega records suggest a delivery date of 07 1944.
Cal 28.10.
I will try and take some photos.

ISODOC · Dec 14, 2021

hoipolloi · Dec 14, 2021

I ISODOC

That is a very early bumper. Thank you for sharing.

qazwsx1 · Dec 14, 2021

@ISODOC nice one.
Can I see some pics of dial?

ISODOC · Dec 15, 2021

I have a copy of a Dial photo as the watch is in storage. Apologies for the quality.

The dial was renewed about 20 years ago in the same appearance as it was originally but without Radium.

nicks · Dec 15, 2021

Bumper fan here. I’ve had many and still have a few. None that early, though.

Thanks for sharing.

MtV · Dec 15, 2021

You beat me by quite a bit, but it’s still a pretty early sub-10mil example (earliest one I’ve ever owned):

river9 · Dec 15, 2021

Thanks everyone here for sharing knowledge especially @hoipolloi @ISODOC @MtV .
Learnt on OF a lot on early Omega automatics.
Thank again

gatorcpa · Dec 15, 2021

It is my understanding that this was Omega’s earliest automatic watch:

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-other-omega-ck-2375

I think you will be hard pressed to find a serial number lower than the watch that @ISODOC posted from 1943.
gatorcpa

ISODOC · Dec 15, 2021

I acquired the watch after viewing the attached article from Omega Saga by Marco Richon.
When the watch came up for sale it was an earlier Serial Number than the one in the article.
I believe this is a 2375 although this is not marked inside the Caseback as it is 14k gold and has the hallmarks and case production number.