This watch was my Great Uncle’s but I know nothing more about it. I’ve had it for several years but it has been stored away for safe keeping.


I am hoping somebody here knows something about the model and timeframe it was made. It runs and seems to keep time. I have not been able to find anything yet.


Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

Mid 1960s, probably reference 165.020.

 

Thank you, I’ll have to get it opened up and see what more I can find.

 

Certainly a 552 inside. This is a good movement that needs cautious service. This watch opens by removing the stem and the crystal. For the date I'd say late 60's

 

Hi!
A reference number is a definiton of a certain configuration of a watch: Case (form), material, movment and so on.
If you make an internet serach for 165.020 Omega you will find a lot of infomations on this cnfiguration
http://t1p.de/set7
If you do this you won't find a watch looking like yours easily.
Dial and hands could be repainted in different colours.
Opening of the cases of this reference is not so easy.
The watch isn't precious in money, but of course for sentimental reasons.
So maybe you could just keep it as memory

 

Thank you all for your insight, I appreciate it very much. The nearest Omega dealer is about 100 miles away so I may have to plan a day to go and get them to open it up to get a better look at it. I doubt that I would sell it given whose it was (I was named after my Great Uncle whose watch this was) but I would like to know more about it. Thank you again!

 

Taking this to an "omega dealer" will be waste of your time, as authorized dealers are not often well versed in vintage Omegas, and unless the dealer has a watchmaker on staff (not many do these days) they won't be able to open this watch. What you need to find is a watchmaker well versed in vintage watches, and specifically vintage Omegas if possible.

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks Al. There are only a couple of watchmakers in my area, I will call and ask them about their experience with these vintage Omegas. I really would like to know more about this watch but not at the risk or ruining it.

 

So I took my watch to the only watchmaker listed in my area and he was great. He removed the crystal and movement so I could look at the reference number which is 165.020 as X350XJR believed. He did say the crystal is a replacement as he did not see the Omega symbol but he estimated its value at around $800 as is. Does that sound about right? The watch is in really nice condition.

 

Value seems about right (possibly slightly high), especially with the bracelet as well. That dial might turn some people off, but a few will find it quite attractive.

 

May I ask if the dial setup is legit?
I have never seen this before: Light brown dial with white hands and hour markers?
Thank you

 

As far as I know it is but I have not found one like it anywhere on the internet. I asked the watchmaker I took it to and he seemed to think it is.

 

So I went back to the watchmaker today and he popped it open for me again to check the numbers on the movement. It is a caliber 550, I am planning to go to the Vintage Section on the Omega web site to see if I can get more exact history. He also told me the dial setup is original as well.

 

I think it may have originally been black and aged to it's current color. I do not believe it has been refinished.

 

I can’t imagine that it was once black and turned brown but I guess anything is possible. In the last twenty-five years it was probably seen light for an hour or less since it has been in a safe. Maybe so?

 

I'm 99% sure it used to be black.

 

I am CERTAIN you know a lot more about these watches than I do but I am curious how a black face would turn brown and if you have seen that happen before? It just seems odd that would happen, especially if stored in a safe for the last twenty-five years or so. Is this something that could be caused by humidity?

 

Google chocolate Speedmaster.

 

Here is a photo of the face without the crystal as well as the photos of the movement

 

Did you sell it to @watchknut?

Just asking because the watch seems to be on the "Arrivals.... thread" https://omegaforums.net/threads/arrivals-what-did-you-buy-recently-watches.8930/page-628