Hello, I am brand new to this forum. I have inherited my late father's Omega pocket watch and presentation case, which was passed onto him after his father died. I have no information on this piece. It is beautiful and I intend to keep it in family. I'm hoping those who know about these watches can shed some light on what it is exactly.
Based on the smaller flat crown and the blued steel "club" hands I think this could be classed as an "Omega Art Deco Lepine" from the early 1930s. To pin down exactly what it is you will need to get the caseback opened and use the numbers inside the case and on the movement. These will tell you when the case and movement were made and possibly the caliber of the watch, as well as any other indications like hallmarks or makers marks. If you are unable to do this, a competent watchmaker should be able to do it with ease.
Very nice watch! Looks in excellent condition. We will need pictures of the movement and the inside of the back to give you more information. Could be a 35,5 or a 37,5 movement - depending on the size.
Thank you. Will take to jeweler to have back side removed and documented. Will be back to report on findings.
I was successful in removing the caseback. I see: 8977281 on movement 9607701 on caseback. Also see scribed RDH440, RB111 (?) and one other I can't out.
The serial number on your movement dates your watch to the mid 1930s which corresponds with your case serial number also at the early to mid 1930s. The case was manufactured for Omega by Fabrique de Boites Bielna SA. (the K.B. mark). The scratchy marks are from when the watch was serviced, many watchmakers marked watches in this way at that time. I'm not an expert on the movement so I'll have to do a bit of research.
I'll agree with François at the moment. I'd like to know the diameter of the movement in millimetres to be sure.
When looking at serials for Omega movements, were they all in sequence? For example, no pocket watch will have the same serial as a wristwatch.
To my knowledge, no Omega serials are duplicated. Unless of course, you are buying a "replica" with the external serial number.
Actually, it is a 35,5 shape. We need the size of the movement to know which one (35,5, 37,5, 37,6, 40,6). In those movement, the caliber would normaly be written under the balance, but I cannot read anything in your pictures. Excellent condition!
@leeprice78 , if you look under the balance there are some numbers there that may tell us all about the movement. Use macro setting on your phone or camera and shoot this area. You may have to do a couple if the balance wheel is spinning.
It is probably a reference CK 1065. Here is a 1065 in a 1939 catalog : It could also be a CK 1055 (I am not sure of the difference, it seems that on the 1055 the bezel is flat and thinner, wich would make it different from your watch...). Here is a 1055 in a 1940 catalog : It should have a 37.5 Inside, extra flat caliber. The crown is probably a replacement since this model had a globe crown. The dial and hands look correct to me (btw the dial is in a exceptionnaly well preserved condition). They may differ from the pictures from the catalogs but Omega used to have different combinations so it doesn't mean that they are not original.
How do I learn what metal the watch is made of? I appreciate the help. I will add this my house insurance as its own line item.
If it was solid gold it should have had a stamp, often on the caseback or on the case itself (usually on wristwatches) that said whether it's 9 karat or whichever. This one might be gold plated as Tire-comedon suggests... Though given its age who knows... 40 microns isn't that much gold but it looks to have been taken care of.
Concerning the case, if it were like a French case, a maker mark in a square, or what you have (square with one round side), indicates a gold plated case. Solid gold would have a maker mark in a diamond. However, there are solid gold Suiss hallmarks in frames like the OP´s watch. But a solid gold case would likely have some clear hallmark.