Learning more about my late grandpa's watch

[ohaidere]

Hey all!

My grandfather passed away a few years ago, and I inherited one of his old watches, a bumper Omega. It seems to be reference 2577-14 (according to the case back). The crown has been replaced with a non-Omega crown and the band is definitely not original.

I was thinking of finding one of those clover crowns to at least restore the watch to its original appearance. However, upon digging further, I'm beginning to wonder more about the watch. Has the case been replaced? Is the caseback original?

The serial number of the watch is in the 10 million range. According to Bob's watches, this means the watch was made between 1944 and 1947. Does this check out with the 2577-14? IIUC that reference was made in the 50s, not in the mid-late 1940s. The Omega website puts the reference in 1949.

Additionally, does the dial look all original? Or has it been redone? None of this will change what is to me a priceless watch, but I would love to learn more about this piece.

Thanks all!

---

Pictures:

Edited: Jan 31, 2024

 

[padders]

As you suspect I think that’s a transplant where a ~1946 movement and (maybe) dial has been fitted to an early ‘50s 2577 case. Note the 2577 is a centre seconds model, the 2576 is the sub second version like the dial here so that’s a big indication of a mismatch. The 2576 and 2577 models were launched in 1948 and are never seen with exposed rebound springs like that. Version -14 would date the case well into the ‘50s. It looks nice but it’s not remotely original as there are parts from at least 2 watches here.

It’s tricky to say if the dial has been redone based just on that pic. The text looks ok but there may be paint build up on the subdial so it’s possible it was cleaned or sympathetically restored. On balance it looks original.

Edited: Feb 1, 2024

 

[Syrte]

I don’t know enough to opine on the originality of the watch or its various parts, but it’s a beautiful looking case and dial in my humble opinion.

 

[Pastorbottle]

I like it, if Omega didn’t make one like that…..they bloody well should have!

 

[Fulton8or]

Looks to me like a 28.10 movement & dial transplanted into a 354 case. As others have said, disregard the fact that it is not “original”. It’s a fine looking timepiece and will be a pleasure to own and wear. One last thing, the 35x series of bumper autos developed from refinements to the 28.10, the 35x caliber numbering system starting in 1949. That’s why the case fits so well.

 

[padders]

Fulton8or

Looks to me like a 28.10 movement & dial transplanted into a 354 case. As others have said, disregard the fact that it is not “original”. It’s a fine looking timepiece and will be a pleasure to own and wear. One last thing, the 35x series of bumper autos developed from refinements to the 28.10, the 35x caliber numbering system starting in 1949. That’s why the case fits so well.

I know Ranfft and some other sources quote 1949 as the intro for the 3 digit movements but I’ve never seen a 2577 with a 28.1 movement, they are all 3 digits, even the earliest so I suspect the movement name scheme actually changed in 1948.

 

[Fulton8or]

padders

I know Ranfft and some other sources quote 1949 as the intro for the 3 digit movements but I’ve never seen a 2577 with a 28.1 movement, they are all 3 digits, even the earliest so I suspect the movement name scheme actually changed in 1948.

I sorely miss the pink pages, RIP Dr. Ranfft