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Need help identifying vintage Omega (1943-44?)

nchamlin
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Hi everyone - I'm a newbie here so please be gentle & kind! 😀

I'm trying to identify my late grandfather's Omega watch - have searched on the Omega Vintage watches site but had no luck. Based on what I found through this site, I believe it was made between 1940 & 1944 (9,XXX,XXX serial, 10,XXX,XXX case number) but could be wrong. I've soured the web (images, vintage watch websites, forums, eBay, etc.) but haven't seen another Omega that looks like like this one.....so am calling on your help to identify the model &/or name. Please help!! Photo's below and thanks in advance for any advice & guidance you can provide.
 
Omega watchface.jpg Omega 1-Posting.jpg Omega Case-Posting.jpg
TexOmega
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probably a 17.8 sized movement from the era you state, no model name


Welcome

Nickel plated movement is an earlier example.

Appears recased to get a much bigger size, original case width was 28-30mm

mine
DSC03045.JPG
Edited:
 
nchamlin
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Thanks for all your help @TexOmega and @kyle L ! I do believe this is the original case (30mm watch face, 35mm case) - it's ridiculously thin (0.3cm?) so maybe didn't have the typical mechanism metal "surround" (sorry, not sure what the official name is!) that was shown in TexOmega's photo as there is no room for it.

I does look close to the one in the magazine (?) photo from the thread that Kyle L shared - just with a gold-colored main face.

Really appreciate your help here!
 
Olhenry56
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That's a cool watch. I really like the unique minute track.

To the experts, at the time this was made, did the numbers inside the case back (101...) have any decipherable meaning?
 
nchamlin
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Can anyone else confirm the caliber for my watch (R17.8?) as this may help me narrow down the options on the Omega website, assuming this is a comprehensive listing of all their watches.

Strangely, there's only one watch listed with this caliber from this era that matches my watch (R17.8, manual winding (mechanical), full metal case, press-in case back, subsecond, stainless steel case)...but the picture is for a different watch (is the picture a good thing to go by or are there sub-variants?): https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-other-omega-ck-2144
Edited:
 
OneTwo
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I'm not an expert but I can confirm that the movement of your watch looks very similar to the movement of my 2300/3 with a calibre R17.8
002.jpg

On my watch the marking for the movement is located in the space below the balance wheel (top left wheel with the jewel at center of the wheel). I was able to see the marking of mine with my bare eye.

Also regarding the images on the Omega website. I also have a ref 2414-2 that I have an EoA(movement #100253XX circa 1946) for and I could not find any image of it on the website. Nor could I find one showing the same dial for my 2300/3. When I asked the omega boutique about this they said that it is common not to find the specific watch with the dial as assembled on the site. The watchmakers at the time of producing the 1940s dress watches were given a lot of artistic license when assembling the watches and many of the same case references have different dials.
Edited:
 
nchamlin
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@OneTwo - thanks for the guidance and good to know about the Omega website not being able to capture every watch face variant - didn't know there was so much artistic license taking place by the watchmakers for the dress watches.
 
bgrisso
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nchamlin nchamlin
Hi everyone - I'm a newbie here so please be gentle & kind! 😀

I'm trying to identify my late grandfather's Omega watch - have searched on the Omega Vintage watches site but had no luck. Based on what I found through this site, I believe it was made between 1940 & 1944 (9,XXX,XXX serial, 10,XXX,XXX case number) but could be wrong. I've soured the web (images, vintage watch websites, forums, eBay, etc.) but haven't seen another Omega that looks like like this one.....so am calling on your help to identify the model &/or name. Please help!! Photo's below and thanks in advance for any advice & guidance you can provide.

that is a very cool watch and heirloom ! I don't know anything about it, but I really strongly recommend that you NOT place the dial face down on your hand or touch the dial with your fingers in any way. If you must handle, use gloves, or if that is your watchmaker and not you, tell them to use gloves.

It's a wonderful patina that has developed, you don't want to introduce oils and moisture and anything else that might affect it.

If it's due, you might also consider getting the movement serviced by someone competent that will not do anything to affect the condition of the dial, hands, case, etc. If you give your location, you might get recommendations for a watchmaker in your area.

Congratulations, good luck with your research and enjoy !
 
JimInOz
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nchamlin nchamlin
Can anyone else confirm the caliber for my watch (R17.8?) as this may help me narrow down the options on the Omega website, assuming this is a comprehensive listing of all their watches.

Strangely, there's only one watch listed with this caliber from this era that matches my watch (R17.8, manual winding (mechanical), full metal case, press-in case back, subsecond, stainless steel case)...but the picture is for a different watch (is the picture a good thing to go by or are there sub-variants?): https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-other-omega-ck-2144

There were a few variants of the 17.8 (which later became 300 series). This will help you to identify yours.

R1781.JPG R1782.JPG
 
nchamlin
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Thanks all - this has been really helpful and appreciate everyone's input (and any future input that may still come!)
 
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