Help identifying reference # for 1950’s Omega Bumper

C.Mohamed · Wed. 1:18pm

Hey everyone,

New to the forums but I came across it in my Googling trying to track down some info on a watch I found while cleaning up my parents basement boxes.

It’s missing the case back so this has been somewhat of a best guess but from what I’ve been able to gather it’s a 1950’s Omega bumper style automatic.

I’d like to get it running (it did run initially when I was moving it about but has since stopped.) since it’s a pretty neat piece and as mentioned in the title, trying to figure out the ref# so I can try and source the correct caseback.

I can take more photos if needed.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

CM

sheepdoll · Wed. 1:36pm

Need a side profile view of the case.

If you search these forums for the crystal charts, they show the movement caliber numbers and what cases they were used in. 342 was a pretty common variation based on the 28.10 RA base caliber. This has a more robust winding bridge.

If the case is gold an not plate, there should be a hallmark between the lugs. The back would also have been gold, so next to impossible to locate as such would have been melted ages ago.

I should be updating my thread on bumpers. Just bought a new trashed dial for one of my 342 movements a few moments ago. So I am always looking at case examples. It takes a lot of guess work looking at examples and photos, So I could not say off the top of things which one this might be. Others have handled many more complete examples than I.

Servicing the movement could run between 400 and 800. Movements are worth a couple hundred. Gold plated or capped mid case and backs have little value of a few hundred or so. Gold is scrap value. I think these look best in stainless, which can be the bulk of the cost.

These bumpers are undervalued with decent complete examples in the 500 or so range without service. Even a watch offered as service will need that again in servicing fees.

Dan S · Wed. 2:42pm

We need really good photos of the lugs. In focus, good lighting, clear.

C.Mohamed · Wed. 4:34pm

I’ve added some more photos below (please excuse the measuring tape. I’ve ordered a digital Caliper so will post more exact dimensions when that comes in.)

Greatly appreciate the replies and assistance.

Cheers, CM

tdn-dk · Wed. 11:14pm

I would look at the Omega Vintage database choose caliber 342 https://www.omegawatches.com/en-dk/vintage-watches?v_watches_calibre=3008_3009_3010 Look at the pictures and if the case looks similar note the reference number and make a google search for the reference "Omega ref. XXXX" find some with detailed pictures and compare cases.

gatorcpa · Thurs. 10:48am

The word “Unadjusted” on the rotor tells me that this is a U.S. market watch. There is probably an “OXG” import mark near the balance, which is covered in the photos above. This was done by many Swiss watch companies to avoid high tariffs on gold watch cases.

There is a U.S. hallmark on the case, between the lugs:

I don’t see the word “Filled”, so it looks to be solid 14K gold. The “W” is for Wadsworth, the US based case maker. You would need to have it tested at a jeweler to be sure it is gold.

Using the link from @tdn-dk above, there is only one that has both the cal. 342 movement and is solid 14K gold, that is Ref. F-6524.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-dk/watch-omega-us-collection-omega-f-6524

Now the bad news. The dial on your watch is not original, so trying to match it to a picture on the internet is going to be difficult. Given that the case back is solid gold it’s going to difficult and expensive to replace on a watch which doesn’t have a huge value outside the gold case.

Here is a listing for a similar watch with what looks to be an original dial:

https://www.belovedwatch.com/products/omega-seamaster-f6524

My thought would be to either sell the watch for scrap and parts or try to find a similar watch with the same movement in non-working condition (maybe with a better dial), have a watchmaker do a movement swap and sell off the parts you don’t want to keep.

I don’t see searching for major case parts that are generally not replaced as a viable strategy.

But sometimes, you get lucky.
gatorcpa

C.Mohamed · Thurs. 1:51pm

Thank you very much for the additional insight and feedback. I had a suspicion that it wasn’t the original dial/ or work has been done on it given the 9 looks to be misaligned.

The F-6524 does look to the closest bet. Would anyone happen to know if there are compatible casebacks that could be used as an alternative? Maybe the 2576 caseback?

End of the day, it’s a watch I found in a box neglected for who knows how long, so no costs have been incurred yet. If I can get it running it would be neat to have from a historical perspective but if not could be sold.

gatorcpa · Thurs. 2:05pm

C.Mohamed
Would anyone happen to know if there are compatible casebacks that could be used as an alternative?

Certainly not any of the Swiss made cases. Metric vs. Imperial measurements. For a strap, a fraction of a millimeter is no big deal. For a case part, it means that it simply won’t fit.

There were a lot a hand fitting of components going on at Norman Morris, Inc. (Omega’s US Importer at that time). There are no guarantees that even if you found the correct caseback that it would fit without adjustment.

BTW, here is a listing for your watch in a Norman Morris Omega catalog from the mid-1950’s:

https://download1593.mediafire.com/...1955+Norman+Morris+Omega+Catalogue+Part+1.pdf

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

sheepdoll · Thurs. 2:07pm

Gold watches used gold casebacks. This is also an American made case so a Swiss cashback probably would not fit.

If you have not done so search for Norman Morris. They were the exlusive Omega importer to the US. There may be a copy of the catalog in the archives here.

The only real option would be to have a specialist jewler make a cusom case back. This could be a simple display back, which would reduce the amount of gold needed.

Probably the best option is to sell the scrap and get something to enjoy with the proceeds.

C.Mohamed · Thurs. 8:15pm

Thanks everyone for all the info and advice. If nothing else, this has been a really interesting rabbit hole to go down.

Debating on seeing if I can get the movement serviced and then swapped to another case as the bumper style is pretty cool. Then Again, for how much that’ll cost it would probably be similar to just buying a decent complete example.

Dan S · Thurs. 10:14pm

It's not trivial to transplant movement/dial combos to other cases, unless it's the exact same case. There are various dimensions that need to be matched. Given the repainted dial, I truly don't think it's a worthy project, but if it has sentimental value, it may be worth the effort and cost to you. Pack your patience, because it could be a challenging and frustrating effort.

Help identifying reference # for 1950’s Omega Bumper

C.Mohamed

sheepdoll

Dan S

C.Mohamed

tdn-dk

gatorcpa

C.Mohamed

gatorcpa

sheepdoll

C.Mohamed

Dan S

Similar threads

Help identifying reference for Seamaster De Ville

Help identifying reference nr for this De Ville dial

Help identifying reference from dial photo speedmaster automatic

Help identifying reference: Cosmic 2000 purchase

Help identifying reference for Seamaster De Ville

Help identifying 1950’s Vintage Omega