Help please - 1954 Omega Jumbo 38mm 18K

[DPH]

Hello everyone, I am a new member, interested in buying a vintage Omega and would greatly appreciate any advice and insight you can offer on this watch that I am considering purchasing. I think it's a beautiful watch, and I have a large wrist so I like that it is large for the time period. My question is whether it is authentic (seems strange that the dial has "Swiss made" at bottom cut-off) and, if so, whether replacing the crystal will devalue it (and approximate cost to replace), and whether it's gold or gold-plated. The asking is $1,500. It's advertised as follows.
Really appreciate any help you can give me!

Serial 14,553,236
lug to lug - 45.5mm
Case - 38mm
All $18K
Weight 32.1 grams
Omega 266 Manual Wind; 17 Jewels
Est. 1954
Currently running, but crystal is scratched and cracked and case has dent at 2

 

[Dan S]

The crystal isn't an issue, but I'm a little disappointed that there are no markings inside the case-back.

 

[DPH]

Is that so unusual as to be a red flag? I checked serial number for the movement and the caliber number, and they do appear to be consistent with 1954.

 

[Dan S]

It's quite unusual. I guess it could be a nationally cased watch, but even those usually have markings. Hopefully someone will recognize it. Do you know what country the watch comes from?

 

[DPH]

Unfortunately, I don't know other than that the seller is selling it from the US.

 

[X350 XJR]

Genuine Omega movement housed in a generic 18K gold case. These tend to be underweight relative to size due to hollow lugs and thin frames.

 

[DPH]

X350 XJR

Genuine Omega movement housed in a generic 18K gold case. These tend to be underweight relative to size due to hollow lugs and thin frames.

Thank you! Does generic case mean not Omega - that an Omega movement was placed in some unrelated case, or would this have been the original case?

 

[Dan S]

As mentioned above, it does not appear to be an Omega case. Certainly it's not a case from the Omega factory. And Omega watches cased in the US had Omega markings and case-maker markings.

 

[DPH]

Thanks, sorry, just learning the terminology! So sounds like I should pass on this one as price seems to assume it's the real deal at $1500.

 

[SOG53]

I wouldnt spend that for this watch with unknown case origin. Look for Omega cal 2639 larger size with same movement from this era, many variants with seconds subdial- can find a nice one for much less than this and you have a nice vintage Omega all the way through.

 

[DPH]

SOG53

I wouldnt spend that for this watch with unknown case origin. Look for Omega cal 2639 larger size with same movement from this era, many variants with seconds subdial- can find a nice one for much less than this and you have a nice vintage Omega all the way through.

Thank you for the help!

 

[Dan S]

There's a great thread with photos of Omega models with movements from the 30mm family.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/lets-see-some-30mm-manual-wind-omegas.1546/

I happen to be wearing one today (ref 2640).

 

[X350 XJR]

Dan S

There's a great thread with photos of Omega models with movements from the 30mm family.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/lets-see-some-30mm-manual-wind-omegas.1546/

I happen to be wearing one today (ref 2640).

That's real beauty!

 

[mac_omega]

D DPH

Is that so unusual as to be a red flag?

It is a deep red flag! Avoid

 

[DPH]

Dan S

There's a great thread with photos of Omega models with movements from the 30mm family.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/lets-see-some-30mm-manual-wind-omegas.1546/

I happen to be wearing one today (ref 2640).

beautiful watch!