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How to open the case back of an old thin Omega from 1940-1960s

J
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Hi

Have an old vintage Omega watch. It’s a thin dress watch in, I think, 18k.

I can’t find any visible notches so I have a hard time understanding how to open it up. It runs poorly and just want to get an idea of the shape of the movement and also get to know a little bit more about it since it has been passed on to me by my grandfather.

After some trial and error I finally managed to open the front with a thin razor blade in the only thing that sort of looked as a thin thin line on the side of the case. What I got lose is the the crystal and a thin frame/ring in gold.

The stem/crown is now the only thing, I guess, that holds the movement firmly in place in the case back. So I guess the next step is to some how open the back and then be able to remove the stem/crown by losening a screw or push down a small button.

I just don’t see anywhere to put a razor blade to start to try opening the case. Any advice very much appreciated.

I attach some photos, please let me know if you need any additional photos that might help us
0ddYrB3q6yDX7vWAP3IktArFg

IMG_0200.jpeg IMG_0201.jpeg IMG_0202.jpeg IMG_0203.jpeg
Best regards

Jim Profit
 
IMG_0200.jpeg IMG_0201.jpeg IMG_0202.jpeg IMG_0203.jpeg
ketiljo
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It's a front loader. You have to remove the crystal with a special tool.
 
Wat-1
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The movement should now come out could be a little tight but be careful work your way around the dial don't try and leaver it all form one side
 
J
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@ketiljo
Thanks, the crystal is out. It came with the gold ring (picture 4).

@Wat-1
Ok, so it could work with the stem still connected to the movement?

Not at home, will check if the stem is free to lift or if there is some material from the case “above” it.
 
J
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Found another picture. Can it be that the rose/bronzy “ring” between the case in gold and the dial is part of the movement and I should try to work my way around between the rose/bronzy and gold part?
IMG_0206.jpeg
 
Spruce
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I’m not a watchmaker nor a DIY amateur but my recollection is that you need to gently remove the crown and the stem before releasing the dial and movement.

Given that you don’t seem to have known about this, I strongly suspect that your watch would be safer in the hands of a professional watchmaker.
 
JimInOz
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Wat-1 Wat-1
The movement should now come out could be a little tight but be careful work your way around the dial don't try and leaver it all form one side

You are joking ...right?

Don't you think the stem and crown may need to be removed first?
And then the movement rotated in the case to align with the lift out ring etc etc.

A lot of people knowning a little but not enough here.

If the OP doesn't know what they are doing, a watchmaker is the safest option.
 
J
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Hi

Not an expert at all but been cleaning watches for 25 years so know at least how to open most watches.

But I have never encountered a front loaded one and that’s why I asked for advice here.

Of course I understand that I need to remove the stem, but I can’t find anything to unlock it. Just try to use brute force to pull it out doesn’t sound as a good idea. Can it be a split stem perhaps?
 
Spruce
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Well, Jim, we always like to welcome and encourage new members to OF, so welcome.

Many of the members, like @JimInOz, are professional watchmakers/repairers who, because of our shared interests and enthusiasms are happy to help, and contribute so much of the advice you’re getting is worth having.

In your thread heading, you identify your watch as ‘1940 - 1960s'. The fact is that pretty much anyone on OF would have guessed this is a 1960s watch. A further clue is that the engraved sentiment appears to be '10 August 1965’.

Anyway it’s a nice looking watch, probably gold, which is undoubtedly worth a few hundred dollars and well worth treating sensibly.

Good luck
 
Wat-1
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I don't believe it's a split stem I don't think you have to remove it I think it'll be a 601 cal as you can see if you look carefully the case on the back is separate it's got like a spacer around the outside here's a photo of mine out of the case so you can see
Screenshot_20240511-144118~2.png
yours mine
Screenshot_20240511-132318.png Screenshot_20240511-132329.png
 
J
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IMG_0209.jpeg IMG_0208.jpeg IMG_0207.jpeg


@Spruce
Yes, just that I know my grandmother was not that wealth and might have bought an older watch to save some money. So the engraving might have been somewhat misleading

Also thought that Omega and more introduced brands (Seamaster, Geneva DeVille etc) in the 60s and moved away from “no name” watches? With the watch opened I now can dig into more details.

@Wat-1
Thank you very much, after some fine and lengthy work with a razor blade it finally came out . please see pictures attatched.

Since this is my first time here I also post a picture of my daily beater to introduce myself.

I think it even outshines my two more high end watches (a JLC and an ALS), it's an Omega Suverän from 1947 with the 30T2 PC movement. Wear it on a “bond” nato copy strap.

Best regards

Jim
 
smorrisonmd
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JimInOz JimInOz
You are joking ...right?

Don't you think the stem and crown may need to be removed first?
And then the movement rotated in the case to align with the lift out ring etc etc.

A lot of people knowning a little but not enough here.

If the OP doesn't know what they are doing, a watchmaker is the safest option.

Hmmm, where is that edit button? 😀
 
Wat-1
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J Jim Profit
IMG_0209.jpeg IMG_0208.jpeg IMG_0207.jpeg


@Spruce
Yes, just that I know my grandmother was not that wealth and might have bought an older watch to save some money. So the engraving might have been somewhat misleading

Also thought that Omega and more introduced brands (Seamaster, Geneva DeVille etc) in the 60s and moved away from “no name” watches? With the watch opened I now can dig into more details.

@Wat-1
Thank you very much, after some fine and lengthy work with a razor blade it finally came out . please see pictures attatched.

Since this is my first time here I also post a picture of my daily beater to introduce myself.

I think it even outshines my two more high end watches (a JLC and an ALS), it's an Omega Suverän from 1947 with the 30T2 PC movement. Wear it on a “bond” nato copy strap.

Best regards

Jim
Ohhh close 600 cal not 601. You're welcome Just be careful putting it back in, I would pull out the crown like you are setting the time it'll give you a little bit of play to put it back.
 
Wat-1
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smorrisonmd smorrisonmd
Hmmm, where is that edit button? 😀
Looks like a complete novice of only 7 months collecting and tinkering knows a little more then a professional? Lol
 
Wat-1
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JimInOz JimInOz
Bingo!

👍
Lucky you didn't try and rip this stem out could have done a lot of damage.
 
JimInOz
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Wat-1 Wat-1
Lucky you didn't try and rip this stem out could have done a lot of damage.
My apologies.
I guess "target fixation" made me focus on the fact that it was a Unishell/Unicoc case where the split stem must be removed.
Once again, I learn somrthing new.
 
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