My Companian "Blue Omega big crown"

Open Sky

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share the story of my Omega Seamaster Big Crown, a watch that has been with me for over five decades. It’s a piece full of memories, family history, and a touch of serendipity.

The story begins in 1972 when my family and I were on vacation in Italy. My father, a watch enthusiast who already wore an Omega Constellation Pie Pan, went for a swim at the shallow, sandy beach we were visiting. He had to wade out quite far—about 50 meters—where the water reached his chest. As he stepped forward, he felt something under his foot. Curious, he dived down and came back up with a beautiful Omega Seamaster Big Crown in hand.

This was the 1970s, and there wasn’t a lost-and-found system in place for such things. After waiting and finding no claimants, my father decided to keep the watch. Since he and my brother already had their own Omega Pie Pans, he gave the Seamaster to me. I wore it for a decade, until my father later gifted me a Seiko quartz just before I moved to Germany.

After I switched to the Seiko, my father held onto the Seamaster. Twelve years later, when my father passed away, I found the Seamaster along with his two Omega Pie Pans. All three watches were in need of servicing. The Big Crown, in particular, had seen its share of wear and tear, with a few hits on the bezel and a hard life on my wrist.

I took the watches to an authorized dealer (AD) in Germany, and they were sent to Omega for servicing in 1996. When the Seamaster returned, I was a bit disappointed. The bezel, which had been damaged, was replaced with a modern version that didn’t match the original design. Omega explained that the original bezel was no longer in production. The case back had been polished, and the original “Waterproof 60m” marking was gone. The bracelet was replaced with an 823 model, as the original couldn’t be salvaged.

It took me some time to get used to these changes, but the Seamaster has remained a loyal companion. Since then, I haven’t had it serviced again, and it still ticks faithfully, losing only 47 seconds over 48 hours. It’s been part of my life for so long that I’ve never considered selling it.

Recently, someone noticed the watch and asked if I knew its value. I told him I had no idea—it’s priceless to me. The conversation made me curious about its history, so I did some research and found images online of pieces that looked exactly like my Seamaster did when it was first found.

Now, I’m wondering if anyone here knows where I might find an original bezel to replace the one that was fitted during the 1996 service. The dial, hands, and crown are still original, but the crown does need servicing, as I can no longer adjust the date without moving the hands. I’ve never opened the case back, so I can’t say if any parts inside were replaced during the 1996 service.

This watch has an incredible story—it was saved from being buried forever under the sand in the Mediterranean Sea and has ticked faithfully ever since. I’d love to restore it closer to its original glory, and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for reading

Open Sky

Thanks to all the great advice and shared wisdom on this forum, I've come to realize how much my beloved Omega timepiece has endured over the years. Since discovering this community and learning more about the artistry and precision behind these watches, I've grown much more mindful of how I care for it—something I wish I'd embraced earlier.

Every time I come across a vintage Omega, I can't help but wonder about the stories it carries and the moments it has witnessed. It deepens my appreciation for these timeless creations and the watchmakers whose craftsmanship makes them possible.
So, to everyone here: cherish your Omegas, and give them the care they deserve.


I have two other Omegas in my collection. One is still in good condition, but the other, unfortunately, had an accident. It fell to the floor, and I think the crown took the impact—it came off completely, as you can see in the photo. It's such a beautiful piece, and honestly, I prefer this Constellation over the one that's still intact.

This watch holds a deeply personal story for me. My brother was wearing it when he tragically passed away in a car crash in 1976. That connection makes it even more special, but I'm at a crossroads about what to do.

Should I try to get it repaired if that's possible? And if it's beyond repair, is there a market for parts? Maybe someone else could give it new life in their own project.

What would you do in this situation?

Again thx for reading.

smorrisonmd

You should get answers from real experts, but my guess is there is probably nothing "broken". Looks like a two-piece stem that has pulled apart, an obviously the entire movement has rotated. I bet this about a five minute fix in competent hands.

Davidt

Cool story. The bezels are very hard to find. Perhaps one or two on eBay every year or two (very similar to the seamaster 120 bezels).
You could set up a saved search for ‘seamaster 60 bezel’ on eBay as a start but be prepared to sit in for a long wait and likely pay several hundred £/$/€ when one comes up. You could opt to have one fabricated but it would still be a non genuine part and as you have a beze on their now that has some personal history, I’d stick with what you have.

The bracelet is easier. You should be able to find a 1098/540 or 1069/524 for £350-600 depending on condition and which of the two you prefer, within a month or two.

STANDY

Just take them for a service….
Google a Omega accredited watchmaker in your area… (you have learnt not to get a Omega service)

Davidt

People are often surprised how straightforward it can be to get a vintage watch back up and running. Possibly because the standard battery changing watchmakers you find in shopping centres and cobblers can’t do anything with them.

There may be movement issues or a dial foot broken off, but it’s perfectly possible this can be serviced and repaired for £300-400. Id have a good look at getting it going again with a proper independent watchmaker before I even considered selling such a family piece.