(Final Update) A 30€-Omega-Endeavour

Hey folks,

in the true spirit of @janice&fred (or so I hope) that, if the price is right, no condition is too bad, I bought an old Omega for the slightly absurd sum mentioned in the title. So this isn’t the most serious of projects here, but I’m curious and for the money I figured I can’t do too much wrong. Here’s the, errrm, former beauty:


It’s not in my hands yet, so for now, excuse the poor quality of the pictures. The inside of the case back reads 2605-5, and the 36mm case looks correct for the ref.
I like the lugs...

Now, to the issues. First of all, I can’t find other 2605 with that dial configuration, namely with all numbers on the dial. The hands look like they had lume reapplied at the very least - minute hand might even be too short, so not original. Certainly a no-name after market product: the crown.

What is probably the bigger tragedy is the movement, which I can’t quite make sense of. According to the Omega Archives, it’s supposed to have a cal. 266. It doesn’t. Instead, it’s a cal. 285. I wouldn’t mind, if it fits, but if I’m not mistaken that’s a) sweep second movement and b) it should have 17 jewels, according to the ranfft archives. Curiously, though, it says 15 jewels on it in the watch I bought. For comparison:



The movements don’t really look alike - but to my eye, it doesn’t look like some cheap fake replacement, either. Any ideas how that could be?

If I can’t get it running, so be it - it’ll be a nice paper weight. I consider this a little lockdown-activity. And if the result will be a watch that actually works I’d proudly wear one of the cheapest Omegas ever bought by an OF-member. 😀

Thanks in advance for any insight I might receive - as always, appreciate the input!

A full restoration will be quite expensive as Canuck says but if it's truly a 36mm case (I suspect smaller), I would get some period correct hands / crown, get it running and use it as a daily "beater".
If the balance is good, the 285 movement has plenty of value.

its a no brainer

Thanks for the info regarding the movement, I wasn't aware the 285 exists in both versions. And no, I'm not planning on spending mega bucks on that thing - as I said, it's just a small project that imposed itself on me, for that price. Honestly, I'd run that thing with some quartz movement if nothing else worked / was reasonably affordable. 😉

@redpcar I'll measure it when it gets here next week. Selling the cal. 285 separately might be a good idea.

@watchyouwant / Achim: Thanks 😀 Yep, cleaning the case and the crystal will be among the first steps. A buddy of mine apparently has a spare 266 that's supposed to be in good working condition. That'd be ideal, and I'll then patiently start my search for an original crown and hands, even though I'm sure those will be a PITA to be sourced.

I'll keep you updated on the results.

@MtV You have a correct movement inside! You just misread the number on the plate. It reads 265 and not 285 and the 265 will also be OK for this reference, not only the 266. ODB is not complete on all details.

IMO your watch is legitimate as is, only the hands should be replaced.

Haha, that's fantastic news - I've only ever looked at the picture on the screen of my mobile phone. Now that I'm sitting in front of the laptop and look at my own post, I can see it, too. Guess it was a bit late yesterday, after all.

Thanks a lot. That makes it even easier - so let's see what kind of love the movement needs to get running again. 😀

Alrighty, it’s here.

First of all, @redpcar it’s indeed a ~35,5mm case. 😀

Here are a few more pictures in a higher resolution:



I’m positively surprised by the case, lugs look ok, that’s a definite plus. First job was the removal of those old and stuck spring bars, as well as the majority of the grime. I’d feel bad giving my watchmaker a watch in that condition. Also, I gave the plexi a quick polish - can’t quite catch the difference in the pictures, but it does show. I’m sure it can be safed.



There was no gasket, but a lot of sticky left-over from what used to be one. I got most of it cleaned, but I’ll need some alcohol for the case back - or the ultrasonic bath. Wasn’t an easy task to open it (for my limited skills) - the small opening on the case back was exactly where one of the lugs is.



The movement itself doesn’t look too bad - but it’s stuck. Time can be set and the crown then winds smoothly, but it doesn’t wind at all when it’s pushed in.



Next step:

I’ll drop it off at my watchmaker for a service. Since the movement is stuck, I assume a few parts will be needed.
In the meantime, I’ll start the search for an original crown and the correct hands. Plexi will be polished properly, and while I wouldn’t let a buffing wheel touch the case, I think I might give it a very light polish with a cloth.

Interesting - haven’t seen that before. About 95% of 2605 I could find had dauphine hands, the others leaf hands (if that’s the correct term):



Does every set of hands that fits the cal. 265 work, theoretically, and it’s then only a question of length?

Hey folks,
just thought I’d post pictures of the final result, roughly half a year after this little project started. It took a while to source some of the necessary parts - the crown and most of all the hands weren’t that easy to find. Thankfully, some of the fellow enthusiasts here were a great help and I’d like to pronounce a special thanks to @michael e for providing those beautifully relumed hands.

The result sure isn’t perfect - the dial is heavily patinated or damaged, the choice of the wording depends on personal taste, I suppose. To my eye, at least, it does look appealing. I like the warm discoloration of the dial, the large radium numerals that have turned all fuzzy. It hasn’t exactly become a daily beater, but it sure is a watch I find myself strapping on on a sunny evening after work when I don’t think about what’s on my wrist too much. I’ll stop the chat now, here’s some pictures:



One last comment regarding the cost, as @Canuck pointed out at the very beginning this might not be worth rescuing:

I agree they usually aren’t. Not sure if you’d consider this “rescued”, as it’s obviously very much in used condition, and in most cases, when people ask here, it will indeed not be worth it. I believe that I wouldn’t struggle to get the same amount selling it that I spent on it in this case, and that’s with the ridiculous initial price of a mere 30€ for a watch.

But honestly, even if I’d lose a few Euros on it, this was a lot of fun, very educational (also on patience), it caused a few very pleasant contacts with fellow OF-people and most of all, I have an attachment to this little thing that I simply wouldn’t have had I just bought another running example. Was definitely worth it for me. 😀

To me this is an ideal example of what can be done. I wouldn't let anyone discourage you from doing this - it turned out great!

Great thread! Great job on the shabby Omega. Good fun!

I'd own it. I'd even wear it into town. Hey, if I wasn't retired I'd have made a special point to wear it to attend the monthly bank directors' meeting.