Inherited Geneve

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Roberton81

·Feb 27, 2023

Good morning all, I’m sure a lot of questions get asked about vintage watches. I’d really appreciate a little info/history about this watch. My father passed away last year, and I inherited his fathers watch. My grandfather worked at Ercol furniture, and was presented the watch after 25 years service to the company.
It hadn’t been used for 35 years once I received (with stretchy metal bracelet). Took to Omega, sent off to Switzerland, and has come back beautifully.
Again, I don’t know anything about this watch, but has a story attached, and I’d really appreciate more info.
Thank you so much

 

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dsio

·Feb 27, 2023·Ash @ ΩF

Nice original blue dial! Cal 552 is a great movement, these are often a great cheap entry level Omega but the vast, vast majority are silver dial on steel or gold tone dial on gold-plate, the metallic blue is a very uncommon variant and the patina around the lume is normal for it.

 

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Spruce

·Feb 27, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

Lovely quality watch. The 552 movement features in many of the (better known) Seamasters of the 60s/70s.

On OF, it’s sometimes called, as @dsio mentions, “a cheap entry level Omega”, but make no mistake, Omegas were never cheap and ‘entry level', particularly with a 552 movement, puts it well up the scale on quality and value.

 

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JimInOz

·Feb 27, 2023·Melbourne Australia

Spruce

Lovely quality watch. The 552 movement features in many of the (better known) Seamasters of the 60s/70s.

On OF, it’s sometimes called, as @dsio mentions, “a cheap entry level Omega”, but make no mistake, Omegas were never cheap and ‘entry level', particularly with a 552 movement, puts it well up the scale on quality and value.

Exactly.
Often, the only difference between an entry level Genève and the "upper level" Seamaster was simply the word on the dial.

 

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dsio

·Feb 27, 2023·Ash @ ΩF

Spruce

Lovely quality watch. The 552 movement features in many of the (better known) Seamasters of the 60s/70s.

On OF, it’s sometimes called, as @dsio mentions, “a cheap entry level Omega”, but make no mistake, Omegas were never cheap and ‘entry level', particularly with a 552 movement, puts it well up the scale on quality and value.

True the Cal 552 is excellent it’s only cheap today due to being not as popular as the hype models like constellation piepans and whatnot. They’re a great piece to own and wear!

 

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janice&fred

·Feb 27, 2023

Great watch. All stainless, screw back, automatic 552, blue dial, nice size. Hardly an entry-level Omega. There were plenty of less appealing models. 👍

 

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Spruce

·Feb 27, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

Just out walking the dog in a Geneve 😀

 

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malilis

·Feb 27, 2023

very very nice watch ! great value in terms of quality and sentimental .. Enjoy !

 

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Roberton81

·Feb 27, 2023

Thank you so much everyone for the help. It’s super useful. Obviously not cheap to get full service, new strap, etc from Omega. But the watch is very sentimental and will be wearing it a lot.

 

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Davidt

·Feb 27, 2023

These were also some of the first watches to offer blue dials, compared to the traditional silver, cream and black.
The paint wasn’t overly stable and often reacted with the luminous dots on the hours markers leading to deterioration of the pain over the years. This is exactly what’s seen on yours and is very common. It’s unusual to find blue dials from this period without paint issues around the lume plots.

 

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bikerfox

·Mar 1, 2023

thanks for sharing and a beautiful blue dial!