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Great grandfather's retirement watch - UPDATED - Circa 1958 Nationally Cased Ford Retirement Watch

M
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Dan S Dan S
The photo helps and basically clears up the mystery. In that era, many Swiss watch manufacturers shipped uncased movements and dials to avoid import duties, and contracted with local watch case manufacturers to assemble the final watch. We call these watches "national cased" or "locally cased." I'm thinking that's what you have, and the O.A. 2900 is not a Swiss Omega reference number, but a reference number specific to the Australian case-maker, which was most often the Handley Watch Case Company. An important clue is that the case is in solid 9k gold, which is more typical for cases made in Australia or the UK.

Started looking into Handley and think I found some more about it here: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/handley-tilley-j-w-handley-watch-case-info.1056809/

Is this the same Handley?
 
Dan S
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M maartenmooi
Started looking into Handley and think I found some more about it here: https://www.watchuseek.com/threads/handley-tilley-j-w-handley-watch-case-info.1056809/

Is this the same Handley?
Most likely yes, but I feel a little under-qualified to talk about Australian things, especially given that this is an Australian forum and I'm in the US. Hopefully some of your countrymen like @JimInOz and @dsio can add more detail about Handley and/or your watch.
 
flyingdoormat
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IMG_4395.jpeg
I believe Handley made cases under licence to Omega which allowed them to include Omega branding on the inside of the case back. Attached photo is from my RAAF issued Omega also from the 1950s. Logo used is different to yours and gold cases were stamped 9CT which suggests to me it is not a Handley case. I may be wrong but wouldn’t think Handley would have used more than one style of logo. On a side note I was born and raised in Geelong and would often drive past the Ford factory on Melbourne Road in North Geelong
 
JimInOz
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M maartenmooi
@nkhandekar Great idea, going to take a look into that this afternoon!
Could be Duff's Jewellers, they've been in Geelong for yonks.
 
flyingdoormat
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Stand corrected on the Omega logo used by Handley. Obviously more than one
 
flyingdoormat
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Prouds is another outlet that’s been in Geelong for a long time and are a National chain of stores
 
tobywillygal
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I'm clearing out my parent's condo in Victoria BC and I came across my grandfather's watch in a junk drawer. It's essentially the same watch as yours I believe but not in as good shape unfortunately. My grandfather worked at General Electric I'm told but this watch is a present from SaskPower Corp; it says 28 years, then his name, and under that 1930-1958. I believe he went to work at GE after the SaskPower Corp and this perhaps was a going away present but that's pure speculation on my part. At any rate, if I may jump in on your posts and ask: my watch is very dirty and doesn't work, should I get it cleaned, replace the wristband and get it working? I'm not sure if it's worth any money and if it's worth it to get it fixed. Unfortunately my Dad had 3 girls and so no one cares to wear the watch. This is why I ask about selling it. Any advice out there?? Thanks in advance for any help!
 
DaveK
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tobywillygal tobywillygal
I'm clearing out my parent's condo in Victoria BC and I came across my grandfather's watch in a junk drawer. It's essentially the same watch as yours I believe but not in as good shape unfortunately. My grandfather worked at General Electric I'm told but this watch is a present from SaskPower Corp; it says 28 years, then his name, and under that 1930-1958. I believe he went to work at GE after the SaskPower Corp and this perhaps was a going away present but that's pure speculation on my part. At any rate, if I may jump in on your posts and ask: my watch is very dirty and doesn't work, should I get it cleaned, replace the wristband and get it working? I'm not sure if it's worth any money and if it's worth it to get it fixed. Unfortunately my Dad had 3 girls and so no one cares to wear the watch. This is why I ask about selling it. Any advice out there?? Thanks in advance for any help!
It’s best to start a new thread about your watch, especially once you have photos to include. Looking forward to it 👍
 
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