Help Identifying Grandpa’s Watch

Kelfrei · Jan 2, 2019

Hello!

I got a watch for Christmas and I’m trying to find out as much as I can. My grandma bought it for my grandpa sometime in the 1940’s to mid 50’s. The band has been changed. I brought it in and now have the caliber (30T2) and serial (9628953). I’m unable to find a model type that exactly matches it.

Hopefully you will know what it is!

Thanks!

Dan S · Jan 2, 2019

It's wonderful to have an heirloom like this, a great piece of family history. Based on the serial number, your watch is from the early 1940s and the cal 30T2 is a high-quality movement that many collectors find very desirable. Did you also get a photo of the inside of the case-back? That's where the reference number (aka model number) is often stamped.

Even with that reference number, however, you may find that your watch doesn't look exactly like other examples of that reference. For one thing, there were often several dial/handset variations for a given reference. Also, you should be aware that old watches like this have often been repaired/modified over the years with replacement parts (e.g. hands), and dials repainted to repair old damage. So they don't always look the way they did originally. Unless you are a hard-core collector, this is not something to be concerned about.

jaspers · Jan 3, 2019

How nice to have been given your grandpa's watch! I still wear my grandfather's Omega with pride. Is it currently running? The hands look like recent replacements, so I would assume it has been serviced in the not too distant past. What would you like to do with it? If you intend to wear it, the good folks here on OF could recommend trusted watchmakers to service or restore it. Where are you based?

Kelfrei · Jan 3, 2019

jaspers
How nice to have been given your grandpa's watch! I still wear my grandfather's Omega with pride. Is it currently running? The hands look like recent replacements, so I would assume it has been serviced in the not too distant past. What would you like to do with it? If you intend to wear it, the good folks here on OF could recommend trusted watchmakers to service or restore it. Where are you based?

Thanks! It is running and keeps good time when wound. The watch was in a shadow box display from about 1960 on and nothing has been replaced since that point. The hands are radium or similar (glow in the dark still working). To my knowledge nothing on the face was replaced after original purchase but I'm not use on that.

Kelfrei · Jan 3, 2019

Dan S
It's wonderful to have an heirloom like this, a great piece of family history. Based on the serial number, your watch is from the early 1940s and the cal 30T2 is a high-quality movement that many collectors find very desirable. Did you also get a photo of the inside of the case-back? That's where the reference number (aka model number) is often stamped.

Even with that reference number, however, you may find that your watch doesn't look exactly like other examples of that reference. For one thing, there were often several dial/handset variations for a given reference. Also, you should be aware that old watches like this have often been repaired/modified over the years with replacement parts (e.g. hands), and dials repainted to repair old damage. So they don't always look the way they did originally. Unless you are a hard-core collector, this is not something to be concerned about.

Thanks! Yes I was excited to get it. As far as I know only the band was replaced, it was cleaned last year at a jeweler. The Omega dealer I brought it in to removed the back and noted the serial and caliber, there was no stamp of model number as far as I know. They did note some minimal rust on the interior and said because of the watch type I would have to send to Switzerland for service/repair. There aren't many model number options left once I narrow the search by looking up the 30T2 and mechanical with a push back and sub second
MI 2317, CK 2189, CK 2192, OT 2184, OJ 2369, MI 2211, MI 2215, CK 2180, MI 2318, OT 2181, most of these do not have pictures so I'm not sure which of them it could be.

Dan S · Jan 3, 2019

There most likely would have been a reference number inside the case back. There are many more 30t2 references with press-in backs and sub-seconds, the OVD is not comprehensive and not easy to use. However, you can use google images to find other examples of those references. Just look at the shape of the lugs and the size of the case when doing the comparison - not the hands and dial, they will not be the same. Do you know the size of the case btw? Measure across from 10-4 and 8-2 in mm.

Most of us do not send our vintage watches to Omega for servicing. Instead, we identify a local independent watchmaker.

heavenscloud · Jan 5, 2019

It could be case reference MI 2214.

Help Identifying Grandpa’s Watch

Kelfrei

Dan S

jaspers

Kelfrei

Kelfrei

Dan S

heavenscloud

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