Early 1903? Omega Wristwatch

Hey knafel1983,

Based on the pics you attached, I have to agree with others here and say it looks like one of Omega’s first wristwatches. Based on the serial number, it looks like this specific Omega was released sometime between 1902 and 1906. I found this awesome article that goes through reference and serial numbers for every Omega ever released.

https://www.bobswatches.com/omega/serial-numbers

“Since they are typically issued somewhat sequentially (there are some discrepancies as we’ll explore below), Omega serial numbers can reveal the approximate manufacturing period of a specific watch. Therefore, you can calculate the ballpark age range of any given Omega watch by cross-referencing the Omega serial number with the production period chart below.”

Sorry, have to disagree. Who are the ‘others’ above with whom you agree? Not many agree with you!

To start with, the case on the OP’s watch is not Omega (the movement is). The case number therefore does not help to date the watch from Omega numbers - which anyway for this period would have 7 digits (this has 6).

As already written, it is impossible to date this watch from the movement alone (it could have been produced 10 years later), nor from the case.

The link to Bob’s watches is interesting (and collects information which has been available for years) but does not help much with this watch - the link largely refer to modern watches (listed/dated according to movement numbers, unlike the early watches).

As already mentioned, if you want to see really early Omega wristwatches, look in AJTT.

From what I gathered when I tried to get an extract for my early (I think) gen 1 321, Omega had a fire at some point and lost a bunch of records in their archive. This is what I was told directly by Bienne. Just wanted to add this to your comment so others don't get disappointed if Omega can't produce an extract.

Update: I'm the current owner of the watch posted by @knafel1983 - the OP.

There are a few assumptions required as I consider the provenance of the watch (well, the *case* and the dial/movement) -
1) The inscription on the back mentioning Eclipse Stove places the date of the CASE as definitively earlier than 1920, as that is the year that the company changed its name to Tappan (the folks who introduced the microwave commercially in ~1957). Thanks to @gatorcpa for early thread research.
2) As many have recounted here, though the movement and dial definitely do appear to be genuine Omega, there is no definitive means of establishing a specific date for the manufacture (per @mac_omega ), only loose comparisons to similar dials, similar size 'side-winder' movements (from smallish hunter pocket watches) and similarly constructed movements.
3) The suspicious protrusion of the stem seems to indicate that the movement began life as a pocket watch, as there is a stem length belying the removal of the bow and pendant as mentioned by @JimInOz earlier.
4) The likely date of presentation of the watch - bounded by, in part, the best estimate that can be made for the age of the actual recipient, Michael Loesch, whose grave marker link was posted by an intrepid thread participant some months ago.

I'm sufficiently pleased to have the watch in my collection due to the historical considerations, the charm of the inscription, and the likelihood of it possessing a genuine Omega dial and movement that certainly puts it at over 100 years old based on the collected discussion here.
Here's a few helpful images - 'for the record'

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and thoughts!
Mike Compeau
Chesterland, OH

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I wondered what the hive mind thinks of this one. Owner is adamant this is a 1900 wristwatch...

ONEGA ?

Sorry, just magnified, it's an M.

The owner actually directed me to this thread, as if it verified his belief.
Here is the movement.
When did Omega start using the triangular stamp? I thought it was in the 1930's.

Further to my initial post, Stan Czubernat says these cases were made by Wadsworth between 1916 and 1918, he posted a couple that have a six digit serial number beginning with 8.
So along with the original poster's watch they all seem to be Wadsworth cased watches no earlier than 1916.