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wilderbeast
·Calling all early Omega pocket watch experts!
A recent visit to my mum resulted in me inheriting my great-grandfather's pocket watch, which is in pretty beaten up condition!
A little family background
My great grandfather was an horological enthusiast and collected clocks mainly, but he passed this to my grandfather, who gave it to my mum. She used it as a good luck charm during her O and A level exams in the early 1970s, and I like to think of it ticking away happily on the exam desk as she scribbled away at her exams!
in 1977, she dropped the watch and it stopped working. My paternal grandfather was an antique dealer and offered to ask a friend to look at it. He said it couldn’t be fixed and the watch came back with bits missing that had been there before! Hmmm - some friend… 🙁
Anyway, fast forward to yesterday and I now have a broken, beat-up pocket watch. I was, however, quite pleased when I looked inside and saw that it was a Labrador movement, cased in the USA by the Star Watch Case Company:
Problems
1. Missing parts: I know for certain that it’s missing the stem and crown in addition to some “swan neck” part on the regulator (I don’t know what it’s called but I did a side-by-side comparison with a web movement photo and it’s definitely missing something there).
2. Dial rotation: the movement is slightly loose in the case and the dial has rotated right slightly in relation to the crown, so there is clearly something missing or broken that holds the movement in place.
3. Cleaning: In his infinite wisdom, my grandfather taped some part over the top of the watch, the hardened residue of which is all over the crystal. Otherwise, apart from a deep scratch (possibly the 1977 impact scar) the crystal seems in very wearable condition. I’d love to at least get that residue off somehow!
Provenance?
My research has told me the following:
- the movement is probably early 1900s, given the Omega symbol on the regulator
- the present casing must have been done between 1905 and 1924, as Star moved to Michigan in 1905 and the guarantees were abandoned in 1924
The watch was likely bought in a pawn shop, given that it’s an American-cased pocket watch that somehow made it to Manchester or Surrey (the two likely places of acquisition). My great grandfather was born in 1904 and it’s highly unlikely it was itself a family piece.
I’d love to restore the watch to at least working state. The case condition really doesn’t bother me at all, but it’s a decent movement for its time and, as a vintage Omega enthusiast, I’d love to add it to the collection.
What I would love some advice on:
1. Is there someone in the UK that members could recommend for looking at this kind of pocket watch?
2. Is it worth sourcing a donor movement in advance of this and would a stem and crown from an Omega or other Labrador watch be useful in getting it running again?
3. Is it safe to try and remove the sticky tape gunk on the crystal and, if so, what product would members recommend? Or am I just better off leaving that to a professional?!
4, Is this too far gone for a project and should I just quietly accept it and put it in the proverbial sock drawer?
I am comfortable with spending some money to try and get it working but I’m not interested in cosmetic restoration - the battle scars and wear are part of the watch's history, which is in turn my family's history. My dream is to have it ticking away on a little stand on my desk, perhaps similarly to how it was used for mum's public exams 50 years ago.
I know there are some really knowledgeable members out there with an interest in these and I’d love to be schooled as to the best course of action. I’m a little out of my depth here, especially as I’m a wearer not a tinkerer…
Many thanks in advance.
A recent visit to my mum resulted in me inheriting my great-grandfather's pocket watch, which is in pretty beaten up condition!
A little family background
My great grandfather was an horological enthusiast and collected clocks mainly, but he passed this to my grandfather, who gave it to my mum. She used it as a good luck charm during her O and A level exams in the early 1970s, and I like to think of it ticking away happily on the exam desk as she scribbled away at her exams!
in 1977, she dropped the watch and it stopped working. My paternal grandfather was an antique dealer and offered to ask a friend to look at it. He said it couldn’t be fixed and the watch came back with bits missing that had been there before! Hmmm - some friend… 🙁
Anyway, fast forward to yesterday and I now have a broken, beat-up pocket watch. I was, however, quite pleased when I looked inside and saw that it was a Labrador movement, cased in the USA by the Star Watch Case Company:
Problems
1. Missing parts: I know for certain that it’s missing the stem and crown in addition to some “swan neck” part on the regulator (I don’t know what it’s called but I did a side-by-side comparison with a web movement photo and it’s definitely missing something there).
2. Dial rotation: the movement is slightly loose in the case and the dial has rotated right slightly in relation to the crown, so there is clearly something missing or broken that holds the movement in place.
3. Cleaning: In his infinite wisdom, my grandfather taped some part over the top of the watch, the hardened residue of which is all over the crystal. Otherwise, apart from a deep scratch (possibly the 1977 impact scar) the crystal seems in very wearable condition. I’d love to at least get that residue off somehow!
Provenance?
My research has told me the following:
- the movement is probably early 1900s, given the Omega symbol on the regulator
- the present casing must have been done between 1905 and 1924, as Star moved to Michigan in 1905 and the guarantees were abandoned in 1924
The watch was likely bought in a pawn shop, given that it’s an American-cased pocket watch that somehow made it to Manchester or Surrey (the two likely places of acquisition). My great grandfather was born in 1904 and it’s highly unlikely it was itself a family piece.
I’d love to restore the watch to at least working state. The case condition really doesn’t bother me at all, but it’s a decent movement for its time and, as a vintage Omega enthusiast, I’d love to add it to the collection.
What I would love some advice on:
1. Is there someone in the UK that members could recommend for looking at this kind of pocket watch?
2. Is it worth sourcing a donor movement in advance of this and would a stem and crown from an Omega or other Labrador watch be useful in getting it running again?
3. Is it safe to try and remove the sticky tape gunk on the crystal and, if so, what product would members recommend? Or am I just better off leaving that to a professional?!
4, Is this too far gone for a project and should I just quietly accept it and put it in the proverbial sock drawer?
I am comfortable with spending some money to try and get it working but I’m not interested in cosmetic restoration - the battle scars and wear are part of the watch's history, which is in turn my family's history. My dream is to have it ticking away on a little stand on my desk, perhaps similarly to how it was used for mum's public exams 50 years ago.
I know there are some really knowledgeable members out there with an interest in these and I’d love to be schooled as to the best course of action. I’m a little out of my depth here, especially as I’m a wearer not a tinkerer…
Many thanks in advance.
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