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Location of caliber number on 501 movement

gabethebabe
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Hello, I'm Gabriel. This is my first post here. I'm an aspiring vintage Omega owner. Been doing not much but else but looking at watches and reading about them lately. Initially attracted to 60's Constellations, but lately my tastes have shifted squarely to Seamaster Ref. 2846.

Anywho. Here's something curious I came across. It's a nice looking (to me) Seamaster 2846 10 SC:

Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 9.32.44 PM.png


The movement looks good to me, and has the usual Omega symbol, but there is no number under this. What's that about? Is there a reasonable explanation? The dealer also finds it puzzling...

Screen Shot 2020-06-15 at 9.23.15 PM.png
 
X350 XJR
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The caliber 501, which this should be was often marked with the caliber number on the rotor bridge. It is possible that sometime in it's life the entire bridge and rotor assembly was replaced.

Omega_501-1.jpg
 
gabethebabe
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Ah! Interesting. Silly me, I should have studied the photos of ranfft. However, comparing with the reference photo, it appears the rotor in my photo is actually covering the correct location of the caliber number. So perhaps it is all correct after all, just not properly photographed...
 
gabethebabe
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Small update. I find many examples that match the Ranfft picture, where there is a "lone Omega" symbol to the left of the rotor bridge. But I also found an example where this omega was not alone... See below, where it is accompanied by the caliber number, 501. Curious...

Screen Shot 2020-06-16 at 7.31.46 AM.png
 
Patrik83
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gabethebabe gabethebabe
Small update. I find many examples that match the Ranfft picture, where there is a "lone Omega" symbol to the left of the rotor bridge. But I also found an example where this omega was not alone... See below, where it is accompanied by the caliber number, 501. Curious...

Screen Shot 2020-06-16 at 7.31.46 AM.png
I am not an expert on these but might it be that the non number bridge is a service part that can be used by other calibers also and thus does not have the 501 number.
 
gabethebabe
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Yes Patrik83, this seems like a possibility to me. I think X350 XJR was suggesting this too. However, the fact that most examples I find are of the "naked omega" variety, suggests to me that it is likely that this is a valid original bridge.

Also, I have never seen a movement that is labeled twice with the caliber number. So maybe there are two valid varieties. I should note that I am also very much a non-expert!
 
Patrik83
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gabethebabe gabethebabe
Yes Patrik83, this seems like a possibility to me. I think X350 XJR was suggesting this too. However, the fact that most examples I find are of the "naked omega" variety, suggests to me that it is likely that this is a valid original bridge.

Also, I have never seen a movement that is labeled twice with the caliber number. So maybe there are two valid varieties. I should note that I am also very much a non-expert!
Ah, no I just realized there are 2. One with no number and one with number on the same caliber.

C6359150-6381-46C1-9D5A-C720E11EB285.jpeg
 
gabethebabe
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Patrik83 Patrik83
Ah, no I just realized there are 2. One with no number and one with number on the same caliber.

C6359150-6381-46C1-9D5A-C720E11EB285.jpeg

Right, this example you show seems to be the most common, suggesting to me that the bare omega is consistent with an original part.
 
Archer
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gabethebabe gabethebabe
Right, this example you show seems to be the most common, suggesting to me that the bare omega is consistent with an original part.

It's original...

501.jpg
 
gabethebabe
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Found a 2846 with a blank rotor bridge! Maybe a replacement part, as previously suggested. Just having fun over here...

Screen Shot 2020-06-17 at 6.27.15 PM.png Screen Shot 2020-06-17 at 6.24.33 PM.png
 
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