Hey all,

I inherited this watch from my grandpa, and I just now got around to opening it. I believe my first post on this forum was of this watch!

I was curious if y'all happen to have more information on it. From some digging, it looks like the movement's serial dates it to ~1944, but the caseback doesn't seem to match... is this a pre-Seamaster watch?

Would like to learn more about this piece! It seems like the crown was replaced, but the dial appears to be original and not refinished. Would love to hear your thoughts on that as well. Excited to finally get around to this! It's in dire need of a service having sat in a safe for the past 30 years or so.

Serial number for movement is 10733249 and the case back says 2577-14.

 

Something’s definitely wrong here. It’s not a 2577, as these have a center second. Yours has a small second, which would be 2576 if you’re looking for the equivalent.

Note that these are the first Seamaster references, which started in ~1949, but Omega didn’t start printing Seamaster on the dial until about 1950. They’re still full Seamasters, no “Pre-Seamasters”.

The earliest 2577 I’ve owned/seen has a 113xxxx serial, probably dating it to somewhere around late 1948/early 1949.
Yours is way, way earlier than that. Too early to appear in a 2577 or 2576, I would guess - most of all, your case has the beefier, chamfered lugs only seen on later 2577s well in the 1950s. The earliest were distinctively different. Also, the sub-reference -14 points to a later variety.

What caliber is the movement?

 

Presumably a 28.10 RA

 

I think it might be a 30.10 RA

Isn't the 28.10 a sweep?

I think the dial has been refinished.

Movement and dial not for that case - 2398 or 2374 (grabbed them off the internet)

DON

 

I believe that there were both center- and sub-second 28.10 variants. TBH, I mentioned 28.10 because the ref 2577 took a 35x movement, which is 28mm.

 

Either way @jbtb077 - movement/dial and case didn’t start their live together. You said you inherited it, so I’d suggest wear it as is and enjoy it. There might be not much monetary value to it, but emotional value nonetheless, and that’s priceless.

 

Right. 30 is a larger movement

Would like better and larger images of the Omega and automatic to see if refinished

 

Thanks all for all your insights!

----

Indeed! I'm eager to get it checked out and serviced. It looks like this watch a unique story of its own.

----

@DON here are some close up pictures of the dial:

 

Wear and enjoy as mentioned it was inherited so it had little relevance to you where and when it all came together

 

Hard to tell, but when you get it serviced. Have the watchmaker check the edges of the dial for a V notch

Crown also incorrect. 4 notch or cloverleaf design model which are available from parts suppliers

DON