It's 2849 heirloom time again! - Watch presentation, service and advice

Hi everybody! Newbie and 1st post for me here. First of all a short presentation: I'm Davide, 27, from Italy, and I've always been interested in mechanics/electronics and servicing/repair (not by chance I'm a mechanical engineer 😁). I've been trying to get in the fascinating world of watches (mainly by a technical point of view for me) since I was a child, but the money and economics part of it didn't allow me so. Now that things are a bit different, I hope I'll be able to buy some tools and start servicing some movements!
Now, back on topic... I have an old 1958 Omega Seamaster Calendar, ref. CK2849 - 8SC, that had been bought, new, by my grandfather. He passed away in 1991, so I've never been able to know him in person, and for what I know, he had worn this watch almost everyday. After his death it stayed in a drawer for many years, up until the early '00s, when my dad decided to wear it again (he likes classical watches). He had had it "serviced", probably just a cleaning and adjusting of the balance spring regulator and started wearing it. It never ran reliably, it didn't keep good time at all (took or lost minutes per day), so after a couple more trips to the watchmaker (who changed something in the escapement, he said), he stopped using it as it wasn't, as per the watchmaker's words "worth or possible to repair".
Since this year, in June, it's my father's 60th birthday, I decided to take the watch to a reputable watchmaker and have it fully restored (mechanically) and serviced. I've already got a quote, of which I'll talk in a following post.
This is it, it's quite in a sorry state (e.g. crown missing and not original plexy) but I think it's definitely worth it. I must say that I particularly appreciate the dial as it got a very uniform and pleasant patina.

Sorry for my bad English and thanks for your time!
Davide

Welcome Davide and what a nice heirloom. The big hippocampus is a real plus too 👍 keep us updated on how the service goes!

Used Russian watches, Vostok for example. Very inexpensive.

First of all thanks for the kind words and warm welcome! I'd love it to be the case though... Unfortunately it seems that the movements isn't as pristine as it seems, for the most part 🙁
I've got the quote from the watchmaker, he's and extremely reputable, trustworthy, and skilled person, so I have no doubts to believe what he found when he opened Pandora's box... First of all the oscillating weight has been left running while worn out (the bored hole that fits on the supporting stem is worn and enlarged), so the rotor wasn't oscillating true and it rubbed on the movement itself, chewing the pinion teeth that engage on the reverser.
Moreover, in the keyless works, a setting wheel had two bent teeth and, as if it wasn't enough, the escapement wheel has been replaced with one that wasn't correct for the cal. 503, but had a slightly longer stem, so the jewels had to be moved to accommodate but they still rubbed on the stem (the watchmaker was actually impressed that it could run at all, even if the amplitude was ridiculous even to the naked eye). Add to that the need of a new stem and crown and I'm in for quite a service 😵‍💫😵‍💫

Well what to say… what a warm welcome! Glad that the introduction was liked!
@SkunkPrince definitely thought of them, and I must say that I really appreciate some of the USSR watches, like the Raketas and it can well be a good starting point, I think they can do for a good timekeeper as well.
@MtV thanks so much! As for most of the needed parts the watchmaker is able to source them, NOS, like the stem, escapement wheel and the bent wheel. A complete movement is for now out of the question (unless as a parts source), since being passionate for vintage cars/motorbikes, and having restored a couple, I’d feel that it would denature the essence of the watch itself… 😁
I managed to find after some search a complete NOS oscillating weight, with support stem, for a very reasonable price of 75€, only drawback is that’s for the older 19 jewels version but that’s not too much of a concern considering the low price point, I’ll always be able to swap it in the future should I find the correctly engraved one (unable until now, and I don’t trust used parts as they might be as worn as mine…).
As for the crown, there lies the knot… if I’m not mistaken, my watch should have the “clover” crown, with the flat foot Omega logo, no Naiad symbol. As you said I was expecting to have the 2.5mm tube, but my case for some reason has the much less common 2mm one. The watchmaker would put a new original omega crown, the ST42023, modifying the tube with a 2.5mm. I have some qualms about doing so: it would stick out as the case is somehow beat up while the crown is new and shiny, it would feature the new logo and the labor goes up as he would have to modify the case. However I’ve been unable to find a good correct crown, even used, at a reasonable price.
Last but not least, I’d love to have the original “logoed” Omega Crystal but they’re extortionately high priced and near impossible to find… so a generic bagued one will do the job perfectly indeed!

thanks
Davide

ps. Sorry for the long reply haha sometimes I like to write and explain

Oh don’t get me wrong please, mine didn’t want to be a correction in any way. It’s an interesting case though, since the watchmaker explicitly said that there were no signs of previous case work done. Do you think that it’s worth looking of an original vintage crown or it’s better to fit a new Omega one, albeit with the new logo and look?
I’m quite unsure on what road to take

Hi everyone!
A little update: today the NOS oscillating weight arrived, it’s actually original and BNIB. I’ll bring it to the watchmaker asap.
The hunt continues for an original buckle. As for the crown, I think I’ll go with the new original one, even if with the new logo, it’s the correct tube fitment and it guarantees some king of waterproofing.

Here are a couple pics of the new weight! I’m excited





Bye
Davide

I’m letting my mind wander a bit haha but… does anyone have any idea of what may have been the original box that this watch was sold into? I’ve seen dozens of them online but I’ve never actually found a good reference for what box was used by Omega for this model (maybe I searched wrongly but anyway…). Anyone happens to know or maybe to have the actual box?

Thanks!

Sorry I do not but I would be interested to see what you can find out!

Yeah exactly! I found that part number too, but was unable to source it at any reasonable price, most of the stock I found came from the US, thus making the shipping fees often as pricey as the part itself. So I decided for a new complete rotor. I’ll talk to the watchmaker about swapping only the axle and bush. As I pointed out I was aware of the difference in jewel number marking (there’s no difference except for the engraving afaik) for the 503 calibers, but a new rotor for the 20j version was impossible to source or way too pricey (I’ve found some for 160$+shipping from the US to IT, so the total would have come to quite more than 200$ for just the rotor). It would definitely annoy me had it been a “collection” watch, this time it will be given to my dad as a gift for his 60th birthday, he’ll probably never even see the rotor… anyway your point is right and savvy and I’ll ask the watchmaker.
Thanks to all!

Thank you and no problem, there’s nothing to be sorry about! 😉
What I learned is that you can actually remove the bush from the new weight and transfer it to the old one: I thought that once removed it might ave become unusable to be put in another weight, and you could only install a new replacement bushing, that I’ve been unable to source.