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Help Identify (1966?) Omega Seamaster

humble_gunner
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Here's what info I could glean from the watch:
- Omega Seamaster
- Automatic
- 14K Gold Filled
- Speidel bracelet PAT 2689450
- Inscription (with my family member's name covered) has 1966, so hopefully that helps narrow it down.

There is lume on the hands and indices, so those should be original to the watch. No idea when it was last serviced but it runs from moving it around in my hands. The crown feels stuck so I haven't tried to wind it all. The lugs have a pretty unique shape so I tried to highlight that in one of the pictures as well.

I don't have the proper tools to open the caseback to get more info, but I do plan on having it serviced soon. I was just hoping for some more info to bring to the watchmaker when the time comes. I tried to contact Omega about what my options are, but did some reading and am wary of having it restored. I want to keep the outside as original as possible and really have the most attention payed to the movement. Any suggestions on that? Otherwise, I am located in Michigan and am fielding any recommendations for watchmakers.

Thank you for any help and information!
 
IMG_1553.jpg IMG_1552.jpg IMG_1550.jpg IMG_1549.jpg IMG_1548.jpg IMG_1551.jpg
X350 XJR
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Looks like an American market Ref. L6298.
 
humble_gunner
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Looks like an American market Ref. L6298.

Thank you! It does! I did some searching online for L6298 and I see a lot on leather straps. Do you know if that was common for this reference number or if many of the original bracelets were probably lost/not good anymore?
 
SkunkPrince
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humble_gunner humble_gunner
Thank you! It does! I did some searching online for L6298 and I see a lot on leather straps. Do you know if that was common for this reference number or if many of the original bracelets were probably lost/not good anymore?
Probably wasn't sold with one. Also, it's likely that it uses an 11/16" wide strap, not 18mm. You can find NOS 11/16" on eBay or you can generally fit 17mm, because 11/16" is 17.25mm.

Those expansion bracelets were popular in the 60s but Omega including them with a watch? Haven't seen a whole of evidence to support that.
 
humble_gunner
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Probably wasn't sold with one. Also, it's likely that it uses an 11/16" wide strap, not 18mm. You can find NOS 11/16" on eBay or you can generally fit 17mm, because 11/16" is 17.25mm.

Those expansion bracelets were popular in the 60s but Omega including them with a watch? Haven't seen a whole of evidence to support that.

Very interesting! It looks like it goes with the watch so well that I just assumed they were sold together. In my eBay search, I really only found one NOS Omega 11/16" strap and it's rather pricey. Do you know if that's typical? Any other places to look? If I got a leather strap for it, I would want it to be an Omega to keep the watch as authentic as possible. Thanks for your help.
 
Dan S
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The Speidel bracelet is not original, but there's nothing wrong with using it if you like it. There are many great quality leather straps available, no need to pay a silly price to buy one from Omega. Measure carefully between the lugs before buying. A leather strap doesn't affect authenticity in any way. And unless you really know what to look for, you're overwhelmingly likely to buy a Omega buckle or strap on eBay.
 
vbrad26
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Was it me who said that? I can't remember. But yes. From what I have heard/read those bands can really chew up the inside of the lugs.
Not the best picture but you can see where the band, over the years, grooved out the inside of the lug...

x905525-a9681c010b2bab5e4436d1b9f5ba31ef.jpg.pagespeed.ic.K4MYmpMoma.webp

But yeah your watch seems to have the same Jonell case, but perhaps a few years newer than mine.
 
humble_gunner
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vbrad26 vbrad26
Was it me who said that? I can't remember. But yes. From what I have heard/read those bands can really chew up the inside of the lugs.
Not the best picture but you can see where the band, over the years, grooved out the inside of the lug...

x905525-a9681c010b2bab5e4436d1b9f5ba31ef.jpg.pagespeed.ic.K4MYmpMoma.webp

But yeah your watch seems to have the same Jonell case, but perhaps a few years newer than mine.

Ah, yes. I do see that. Thanks!
 
Dan S
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It is the bracelets with spring-loaded end-links that are the bigger problem.
 
humble_gunner
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Dan S Dan S
It is the bracelets with spring-loaded end-links that are the bigger problem.

I think the bracelet mine has is the Speidel "Scope", do you know if it has spring-loaded end links? From what I can tell, I don't see any rubbing. I tried taking off the bracelet but didn't have any luck, and I didn't want to push the limit and damage anything.
 
SkunkPrince
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humble_gunner humble_gunner
Very interesting! It looks like it goes with the watch so well that I just assumed they were sold together. In my eBay search, I really only found one NOS Omega 11/16" strap and it's rather pricey. Do you know if that's typical? Any other places to look? If I got a leather strap for it, I would want it to be an Omega to keep the watch as authentic as possible. Thanks for your help.
There is one seller on eBay, "timesofplenty", who thinks he has incalculable treasure, and he prices his treasure accordingly. He rarely sells the things he prices so highly.

Any generic 11/16ths will do; in fact, many of them were supplied by Jacoby-Bender, back in the day. We really haven't established whether all straps on Omega US Collection watches were even Omega-branded to begin with... so don't worry too much about that. Whatever you like is fine.
 
vbrad26
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I bought an 18mm leather band cheap from Amazon to see if it would work. And it did.
But that is probably because I've lost about 1mm on the inside of the lugs hah.
 
SkunkPrince
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vbrad26 vbrad26
I bought an 18mm leather band cheap from Amazon to see if it would work. And it did.
But that is probably because I've lost about 1mm on the inside of the lugs hah.
You can have otherwise-identical watches, one 18mm and the other 11/16". Happened to me!
 
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