Hi;

I received this watch from my grandfather, a ship captain who received it as a bday gift from another ship captain (engraving on back dated 1969). He was still wearing it in a picture from his last command in the early 80s.

I cannot guess what model it is (beyond that it says 'Seamaster' on the face). The band and back plate don't match what I see googling images of these watches from the 1960s, so I don't know if those were aftermarket parts. Would be hard to do a personal engraving over a seahorse logo in relief.

I am open to the possibility it is a bootleg. Near as I can tell, ship captains collected lots of souvenirs from lots of places and, at least the ones I knew, had their eyes out for bargains more than certificates of authenticity, who knows...

I have taken pix in accord w/ the recommendations, but I don't know how to open it to get at the case back. Seems to need a tool I lack.

It is an automatic, keeps running and holds time as long as I wear it or give it a jiggle every day.

The second hand sweeps but not 100% smoothly. I have a video at dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6xm1om999p7jtei/2018-04-13 06.50.22.mp4?dl=0

Thanks, and I appreciate any insight.

 

Have you google it??????

 

Probably caliber 560 or 565 inside

 

A gift from a fellow mariner who had good taste. Guess you have Spanish blood. Do you intend wearing or selling it? I’m not interested in buying it just to be clear if you were indeed selling it.

 

Thanks!

Wearing and/or sharing w/ my own son

 

I'll put my chip on the 562 square in the game of Omega Caliber Roulette.

 

How would I open it to find out? Best to bring to a jeweler?

 

Yes ...a shop that clearly has an established track record in repair and restoration of vintage watches. Needs a service anyway if you keep it. He can take movement pics during service.

 

Be careful about who you take it to. Do some homework.

It only takes one watch "expert" to irrefutably damage an heirloom like this.

 

If you truly value it, send it back to Bienne.

 

Yea and you won’t recognize it when it returns. Do not send it to Omega.

 

Perhaps some recommendations for watchmakers trusted with vintage pieces? If I was the OP I would have no idea where to start.

 

I definitely have no idea of anything here. I started out by googling Omega Seamaster and basically got a bewildering array of watches that don't look anything like mine. I tried googling the movement #s folks above have proposed and I am starting to see more familiar things, so that is nice, including the watchband that I was wondering about. So, thanks already for the info/insight here!

 

Where's the UNLIKE button?

@rollee - if you knew anything about Bienne's "restoration" policy (and I use quotes because it can only loosely be called a restoration - it's more like a revamping / modernizing overhaul), you'd know how bad your advice it to send it to them. Do us a favor and don't give out tips that you know nothing about. For years, anyone who knows anything on this forum advises AGAINST sending a vintage watch in to Omega. They are not sympathetic to originality in the least.

If the OP can tell us where he's located we could certainly help out.

@HW3 - where are you and how do you feel about shipping your heirloom to a place that will do it justice?

 

WTF... Why would you ever recommand this ?... If you truly value it, stay as far as possible from Bienne. You won't recognize your watch if you sent it there.

 

Don’t do it! Take it from many many on OF and from personal (rookie mistake ) experience - DON’T DO IT!

 

I am western Washington state. Not unwilling to ship it but I might prefer a shop in Seattle that I can visit in person. I really appreciate the help from you all here.

 

Nesbits in downtown seattle perhaps?

 

Will check, thanks!