Hi one and all, new to the forum.

I've got a pretty old Omega pocketwatch here that belonged to my great grandfather, and I just wanted to determine roughly how old is it, and if there's anything notable about this piece. It has quite a few unusual characteristics.

It's a silver hunter-style case, except there are two "lids" (my apologies if I'm using the wrong terms):



The dial has no Omega logo, just the word Omega. It could be a lacquered dial. Also, the hinge is at 9 and the stem/crown are at 3. Most hunter-style pocketwatches I've seen have the hinge at 6 and the crown at 12. I have a feeling the hands aren't original, given that they don't match each other, and aren't in proportion to the dial and subdial.



Flipping the other lid reveals what seems to be some sort of commemorative engraving (I don't speak French).



A close up of the three, er, awards, dated 1889, 1896, and 1897, for Paris, Geneva, and Brussels, respectively:



A poor Google translation of the writing underneath:

Spiral Breguet compensated pendulum ​

Anchor Straight 15 Rubies ​

Fundraising Visilles Double Tray​

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The letters "KM" are crudely etched underneath this writing. I have no idea what they stand for.​

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The movement. Pretty unadorned, except for some really elaborate engraving near, er, a regulator? ​

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Serial number?

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A small Omega logo is stamped on the inner surface of both "lids".​

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A crown is also stamped under each lid. I don't know if this is significant, or just a standard quality seal or something.​

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Anyway, any info regarding this watch or other similar pocketwatches would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance, one and all.​

 

.... and Omega hadn't merged with the Tissots yet.

 

Many thanks, everyone, especially to gatorcpa for the loads of information you provided.

I'm thoroughly intrigued at the Russian connection. Sadly, neither my dad or grandfather are alive to shed some light on this, but I suspect it's something pretty mundane. I highly doubt that my great grandfather purchased the watch new. His son/my grandfather could've bought the watch (already as a vintage item) during his travels. I know he was an Air Force fighter pilot who flew a P-51 during WWII. It could've been purchased while he was stationed in Europe or once commercial air travel became relatively accessible. Or it could be something completely unrelated, who knows.

But thanks for clarifying the crown logo, I didn't even suspect that it was notable. Could it be something not stamped by Omega, but by the distributor for that country/region/market? Anyway, will do a bit more research to see if it can be confirmed as the Russian Imperial Crown. Many thanks again!

 

Near identical back engrave but of coarse obvious differances in the dial and what-nots...........http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omega-ULTRA...Hunter-Open-Face-Montre-Gousset-/261080661218Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Thanks for the heads up. Also gives a rough indication of the value of these pocketwatches (even though the one you posted is in far better condition than mine, and also has a gold case). I'm assuming two things; these pieces must be quite rare, but at the same time, not really in great demand by collectors?

 

My family and I have come across the same watch from our great great grandfather from russia. Our serial number is near the 1.5 k with a V and numer 9 insted of 11. I take its not worth very much these days even in working conditon?

 

Not much monetary value, due to their relative abundance, but huge sentimental value. Not many families have such keepsakes, especially if the original owner was one of the thousands of immigrants coming over to North America. It may have been of great significance to that person, as most were dirt poor, and a silver pocket watch was still a bit of a luxury at the time.
Not all of us collectors are just in it for the "money'...many appreciate the intangibles that an older family piece can carry with it.
Welcome to the forum Lyons!...check out the "presentation backs" thread for more sentimental intangibles....

 

Firstly, and oddly enough, I found your post today, exactly 1 year from when you posted it. I happened to start looking for information today on my Grandfather's watch that was dug out of the rubble of his home which was bombed in WWII. Anyway, what's amazing is that the watch still runs ! My case number is in the 1.6 million so it's a little newer. I found the comments in this post very helpful, especially the [0,800] marking denoting 80% silver and the case number chart. What I can tell you is that he was from East Germany, so the references to Eastern Europe would make sense. I don't know much else yet, but I just wanted to let you know that your post helped greatly as well as the comments by all the folks in this forum. This particular watch, the hour hand has two arrows one behind the other. This is so that when the front lid is shut, you can see what time it is through a dime sized window that has roman numerals around it. Thanks to all -bh

 

Sorry, make that exactly 2 years after you posted your original post