Community Stories

I want to identify my great-grandfathers watch

dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
I inherited my great-grandfather's, according to my Greatfather it's a watch that was probably bought in the late 40s early 50s. It's fully in yellow gold, with 18k mark.

The mechanism is working, last time it was serviced was in the 70s, I will look this week to service the piece, and maybe clean ( but not polish nor remove the patine).


I've cleaned the case with some humid cotton swabs, while the bracelet I've cleaned in a ultrasonic cleaner machine.

I am adding some photos

20250913_200623.webp 20250913_200637.webp 20250913_200710.webp 20250913_200705.webp 20250913_200658.webp 20250913_200647.webp IMG-20250910-WA0026.webp IMG-20250910-WA0028.webp
 
Larry S
Posts
13,433
Likes
52,868
Lovely. Gut tells me it’s all original but I’ll step back and let the experts weigh in. Tell the watchmaker …movement case clean only ..no dial or hands work. Possible crystal polish. I love the look.
 
dsio
Posts
33,019
Likes
37,792
Definitely one of the nicer condition gold bracelets of that era, most of them are pretty rough by now
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,470
It's a real treasure to have an heirloom like this one. Quite likely it has a movement from the 30mm family, but it's hard to say much without photos of the inside.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Larry S Larry S
Lovely. Gut tells me it’s all original but I’ll step back and let the experts weigh in. Tell the watchmaker …movement case clean only ..no dial or hands work. Possible crystal polish. I love the look.
My girl is just to clean the movement and case not the dial, I am planning to take to the official representative of omega here where I live.

I think it's all original, my Great grandfather used it daily until the 90s when he died, my grandfather then kept it on a safe for 3 decades.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
dsio dsio
Definitely one of the nicer condition gold bracelets of that era, most of them are pretty rough by now
It was worn a lot I can see hundreds of photos of this watch on my Great grandfather's wrist, but he took care
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Dan S Dan S
It's a real treasure to have an heirloom like this one. Quite likely it has a movement from the 30mm family, but it's hard to say much without photos of the inside.
This specific piece I am afraid of opening myself, I will take to the watchmaker and ask him to take a picture of the movement
 
Larry S
Posts
13,433
Likes
52,868
dsabba dsabba
My girl is just to clean the movement and case not the dial, I am planning to take to the official representative of omega here where I live.

I think it's all original, my Great grandfather used it daily until the 90s when he died, my grandfather then kept it on a safe for 3 decades.
Around here, most of us would not allow Omega to touch this watch. We would go to an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. Omega have a tendency to replace parts without authorization. You might not recognize it when you get it back. If you must use them, get it written in blood. Clean and service only. No dial no hands work.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Larry S Larry S
Around here, most of us would not allow Omega to touch this watch. We would go to an independent watchmaker with an Omega parts account. Omega have a tendency to replace parts without authorization. You might not recognize it when you get it back. If you must use them, get it written in blood. Clean and service only. No dial no hands work.
Here where I live, there only one authorized omega maintenance shop in the country (Israel), and they were clear that they can only do cleaning and service, they cannot fix or change parts, and if needed they would send it to Swiss.
 
wagudc
Posts
4,756
Likes
12,031
dsabba dsabba
Here where I live, there only one authorized omega maintenance shop in the country (Israel), and they were clear that they can only do cleaning and service, they cannot fix or change parts, and if needed they would send it to Swiss.
It is a nice watch and a beautiful heirloom. The point Larry was making is you don't want this watch sent to Switzerland if you want to keep it in original condition. Omega does not prioritize originality. If you want the watch to look shiny and new as possible and don't mind spending a lot of money, that is the route to go. If you want to keep the original charm and character of the watch and appreciate a little patina, you want to find an independent watchmaker. I would start a new thread asking for recommendations for a watchmaker in Isreal.
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,470
Don't let it go to Switzerland. If necessary, sent it abroad to a trusted independent watchmaker.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
wagudc wagudc
It is a nice watch and a beautiful heirloom. The point Larry was making is you don't want this watch sent to Switzerland if you want to keep it in original condition. Omega does not prioritize originality. If you want the watch to look shiny and new as possible and don't mind spending a lot of money, that is the route to go. If you want to keep the original charm and character of the watch and appreciate a little patina, you want to find an independent watchmaker. I would start a new thread asking for recommendations for a watchmaker in Isreal.
My goal is still to get my watched cleaned and serviced, to check if it's sealed against water so I can use it, but I don't want to clean out the patina, just want to know that it's working properly and I won't worry when I wash my hands.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Dan S Dan S
Don't let it go to Switzerland. If necessary, sent it abroad to a trusted independent watchmaker.
Will try to find one here
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,470
dsabba dsabba
My goal is still to get my watched cleaned and serviced, to check if it's sealed against water so I can use it, but I don't want to clean out the patina, just want to know that it's working properly and I won't worry when I wash my hands.
As an FYI, you should not expect that this watch will ever be water-resistant. It is not designed that way. You can see some water damage various places around the dial, and to avoid further damage, you will want to keep the watch far away from water, moisture, and humidity.
 
pkaye6
Posts
202
Likes
239
Beautiful watch, keep it as original as possible and put lots of good wrist time on it. 🍻
 
Larry S
Posts
13,433
Likes
52,868
Dan S Dan S
As an FYI, you should not expect that this watch will ever be water-resistant. It is not designed that way. You can see some water damage various places around the dial, and to avoid further damage, you will want to keep the watch far away from water, moisture, and humidity.
Don’t go to the beach … don’t even think about the beach when wearing this. Careful of hot humid sweaty days . This is a nice dress watch for the office and air conditioning and cool dry days.
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Dan S Dan S
As an FYI, you should not expect that this watch will ever be water-resistant. It is not designed that way. You can see some water damage various places around the dial, and to avoid further damage, you will want to keep the watch far away from water, moisture, and humidity.
I just don't want to have the same problem I had with my grandfather's Rolex, that by simply washing my hands water flood in and it was a costly fix
 
dsabba
Posts
14
Likes
9
Larry S Larry S
Don’t go to the beach … don’t even think about the beach when wearing this. Careful of hot humid sweaty days . This is a nice dress watch for the office and air conditioning and cool dry days.
No, it's only for special meetings o a occasions, I am afraid of moisture entering, where I live is super dry so I am not afraid of the water here per say
 
Dan S
Posts
23,022
Likes
51,470
dsabba dsabba
I just don't want to have the same problem I had with my grandfather's Rolex, that by simply washing my hands water flood in and it was a costly fix
yes, that could happen. Its not a water resistant watch.
 
8 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

ITBelletti

HELP TO IDENTIFY MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S OMEGA WATCH AND MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S POCKET OMEGA WATCH THAT CAME FROM ITALY TO BRAZIL WITH HIM

ITBelletti Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
gatorcpa
gatorcpa
Posts
4
Views
818
D

My Great Grandfathers Omega(1950s I think?) ...Help identify Pls

daniboy79 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
krogerfoot
krogerfoot
Posts
3
Views
3K
F

Information on my great grandfather’s watch

FreschWatch Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
F
FreschWatch
Posts
3
Views
3K
M

Gerrard-Perregaux history - Great-grandfathers watch part 2!

maartenmooi Other Watch Brands Forum
707mm2
707mm2
Posts
2
Views
2K
M

Ca. 1919 Omega Pocket Watch from my great grandpa. Should i restore?

MyGrandpasOmega Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
SkunkPrince
SkunkPrince
Posts
9
Views
3K
mikekchc

My Grandfathers' Watch

mikekchc Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
mikekchc
mikekchc
Posts
14
Views
3K