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  1. mikechi22 Jun 18, 2017

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    Hello, friends! I'm having trouble making sense of the Omega Vintage Database, though the Naligazone one is giving me a glimmer of hope.

    You see, I already bought the watch featured below, but it was sort of a fluke and thankfully inexpensive, due to its rough condition. But, still, I want to believe that it isn't a monster!

    Here are the facts:
    - caliber 561 movement
    - ca. 1966 serial number (23,049,904)
    - housed in a 168.005 case

    Naligazone indicates that this case came in stainless steel. That's good.

    But both it and OVD seem to suggest that a watch with this serial number should have cal 564 movement. Is it possible that they were still installing 561's in this case as late as 1966? As best as I can tell, the 564's started appearing in this case in 1965, but this serial number is low for 1966...am I grasping at straws?

    What do you think? Thank you in advance for your insight!
     
    Frankie face.jpg Frankie Interior.jpg
  2. JohnSteed Jun 18, 2017

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    Missing a couple index hour markers at 6 and 9
    Every hour index missing the onyx, and 5 o'clock partially missing the onyx
    Missing bezel
    The serial # may be fine but I'm not absolutely certain of the year/timing 561 gave way to quick set 564.
    Rough shape but okay if you were hunting a project to work on....

    Welcome to OF
     
  3. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Jun 18, 2017

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    Maybe not a Franken, but it is a basket case. However, a new dial could do wonders.

    Onyx or black paint?

    I'm not sure when paint replaced Onyx inserts but this may be just lost paint.

    It's a moot point anyway, the dial is only a bits donor.
     
  4. JohnSteed Jun 18, 2017

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    Hmm

    Me neither.

    OP hasn't indicated if a project ...
     
  5. mikechi22 Jun 18, 2017

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    Yes, this is definitely a Fixer Upper for me!
     
  6. mikechi22 Jun 18, 2017

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    Tha
    Thank you! The community is great. I appreciate your input!
     
  7. mikechi22 Jun 18, 2017

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    Thanks for your comments. So what is the story about those onyx markers? Did they really get replaced by Omega or is paint the sure sign of a knock-off? Thanks again!
     
  8. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Jun 18, 2017

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    The markers originally had Onyx inserts when produced by Omega.

    Over time I suspect that cost savings led omega to change to black paint for the markers.

    Maybe @mondodec could shed more light on this fact?

    Cheers

    Jim
     
  9. JohnSteed Jun 18, 2017

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  10. Noddyman Jun 18, 2017

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    I have 2442xxxx 561 in 168.005 case. This doesn't make it right but makes yours more plausible.
     
  11. No Mercy Jun 18, 2017

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    Black onyx or black lacquer should not be there. Combination of "T" on dial, tritium on hands & markers is correct. If there are black onyx/lacquer on markers then hands must applied with black lacquer too, not tritium.
     
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  12. mikechi22 Jun 18, 2017

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    Thank you for letting me know! If nothing else, misery loves company! I suppose it stands to reason that they would have a number of the 561 movements on hand and needed to use them up, so maybe that's how you and I ended up with what we have! Fingers crossed!
     
  13. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker Jun 19, 2017

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    I don't think there is onyx or black paint on this one. The marker at 5 that is showing some black appears to be a reflection from a flat polished surface on the marker. If the onyx was missing, there would be well defined grooves in the markers - some photos for reference of onyx on a Constellation pie pan dial:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Cheers, Al
     
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  14. JohnSteed Jun 19, 2017

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    Great pic, Al