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Help with this vintage lady watch.

David-P.
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Hello! I recently inherited this watch from my grandmother and I don't have much information about it.

I attach photos of the watch, movement and inscriptions at the bottom of the box.

The movement is omega 690.

Any information you can provide is welcome.

Thank you very much
documento9.jpg documento11.jpg documento12.jpg DSCN2713.JPG DSCN2716.JPG
 
connieseamaster
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You have the reference number on the inside of the caseback and the movement serial with which to date it (plenty of tables on the internet).

Personally, I've never seen an Omega with the crown on the back like that. Pretty neat.
 
Canuck
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That style of movement has been used by several watch manufacturers on fancy rectangular ladies dress watches. The movement is “back-set”. The case is marked .750 which is 18-karat gold. The integral bracelet is likely also 18 karat gold, and if so, it will likely be marked .750 on the clasp. On a watch of this quality, the diamonds are likely full cut, but this doesn’t show in you pictures.
 
David-P.
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connieseamaster connieseamaster
You have the reference number on the inside of the caseback and the movement serial with which to date it (plenty of tables on the internet).

Personally, I've never seen an Omega with the crown on the back like that. Pretty neat.

Thanks! I did not know that the year could be deduced from that number. The number is about 18 million and according to the tables, it's from 1961.
 
JwRosenthal
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I would go out on a limb and say stylistically, this is totally late 60’s and was about as much of a statement piece as you could get. Think Betty Draper (Madmen). Any woman with great retro style could pull this piece off with the right evening attire.
 
JwRosenthal
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David-P. David-P.
Thanks! I did not know that the year could be deduced from that number. The number is about 18 million and according to the tables, it's from 1961.
Wow- that’s earlier than I guessed- the scored gold is atypical of early 60’s. Very dramatic piece
 
David-P.
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Canuck Canuck
That style of movement has been used by several watch manufacturers on fancy rectangular ladies dress watches. The movement is “back-set”. The case is marked .750 which is 18-karat gold. The integral bracelet is likely also 18 karat gold, and if so, it will likely be marked .750 on the clasp. On a watch of this quality, the diamonds are likely full cut, but this doesn’t show in you pictures.

The bracelet is also 18k, a mark (JMP) appears that I assume is the manufacturer's. I put a photo of the diamonds, are they full cut?
DSCN2729.JPG DSCN2730.JPG DSCN2731.JPG
 
Canuck
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Your pictures aren’t of high enough definition to help me determine if the diamonds are full cut. I’d lay odds they are, but there’s only one way to find out. Have an appraisal done.
 
Marsimaxam
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A very lovely woman's dress watch. I'd suggest contacting an Omega Boutique, they might be able to provide you some guidance as you have, as mentioned previously, the reference number and the serial number. You could apply for an archival extract and find the year manufactured and where purchased. In terms of value, historically, woman's watches generally do not appreciate in value as watches. However, considering your Grandmother's watch is 18kt gold and may have full cut diamonds, it is a fine piece of jewelry, and it definitely has value, but, you will need to take it to a jeweler for an appraisal.

A really interesting and beautiful lady's watch.
 
JwRosenthal
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I can’t speak for the bulk of horological society, but I think this is a very special watch, regardless of wether it’s your taste or not. My hope is that you get it properly serviced by a watchmaker who is skilled with vintage Omega (don’t take it to or send it to Omega) and have it properly serviced. Then keep it in the family. This is an heirloom quality piece.
 
David-P.
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I can’t speak for the bulk of horological society, but I think this is a very special watch, regardless of wether it’s your taste or not. My hope is that you get it properly serviced by a watchmaker who is skilled with vintage Omega (don’t take it to or send it to Omega) and have it properly serviced. Then keep it in the family. This is an heirloom quality piece.

Thank you very much for all your appreciations and advice, they are very useful to me. Thanks to the mark (Geneva Key) that appears on the caseback, I've figured out that the manufacturer of the box is F. Baumgartner SA.

The watch works but it gains 15' in an hour. Why shouldn't I send it to Omega?
 
Archer
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Just checked and surprisingly many parts for the movement are still available, so good chances of bringing it back.

No one has mentioned this, and yes just a watchmaker thing, but I think this is the first Omega I've seen with Kif shock protection....at least that I can recall.
 
michael22
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David-P. David-P.
Thank you very much for all your appreciations and advice, they are very useful to me. Thanks to the mark (Geneva Key) that appears on the caseback, I've figured out that the manufacturer of the box is F. Baumgartner SA.

The watch works but it gains 15' in an hour. Why shouldn't I send it to Omega?
Omega doesn't do minimal. They will often swap out more parts than the owner imagines, polish instead of clean. The idea seems to be, make the watch as new as possible. Many owners feel that this destroys the vintage charm & heirloom value.
 
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