Hello!

i'm looking for help.

I think I already know that the main response will be for me to take the watch to a watch maker and have the back opened up and get the serial numbers....

BUT....

I am wondering if anybody can tell me why my grandfather's omega watch only says "automatic" and "calendar" on it. It does not say Seamaster or any other model on the face....

I would guess that it's a Seamaster, but every other picture I've seen of a Seamaster... the word Seamaster was written on the face.

The wrist band was modified as shown in pictures

I own this watch now

Thank you

 

I am waiting for the folks in the know but I have a genuine feeling that your grandfather's watch might not be a genuine Omega.

 

Looks like a ref 2627.

 

It's a genuine Omega. An early calendar model. Some said seamaster some didn't. It's not a swiss case (still genuine but were not imported from swiss to avoid tariffs) so opening may not tell you much unless you order an extract. I'd go with what @X350 XJR is calling it.

Nice heirloom.

 

Well that's what I was originally starting to think as well, but I've been looking around quite a bit in the seems there are a lot of the masters that do not have Seamaster written on the face.. so really looking forward to some thoughts from people in the know

Here's a few photos and descriptions that I found online of other watches not sporting a name..

 

Amazing!

Thank you!

 

just had a look at the model online and I think you're right. It does look very similar!

Thank you!

 

Your heirloom is from early 1950's , but your pix of watches are from 1960's.

Nice heirloom

 

Any idea why it would not say Seamaster on the front?

 

Thank you Tex
1950's would make sense time wise...
Any idea why it does not say Seamaster?

 

Early models had no model name, Seamaster appeared shortly thereafter.


And, like everything Omega......there was overlap.

 

Interesting!
Is there value in a watch like this? Or would the value be greater with the name?
Thanks!

 

Good value, but I would not get out your Sharpie and print the Seamaster name

 

Value is in the dial!!

Case appears heavily polished

Great value as an Heirloom

 

The early watches were not marked with the family name. That refers more to the watch being waterproof with a screw down back.

I have been looking for a case for a caliber 351. I have two watches which are 344. The date at 6 is usually 353.

The more one works with these watches from the 1940s and 1950s can one see the subtle variations. Especially the dials.

Before the 1970s and the quartz crisis movements were sold as a commodity. The concept of Intellectual property was not as strong. Companies relied more on reputation and customer service. As others said, the Tariffs were high (to protect the so called domestic industry.) There was also a huge service industry to keep things in repair.

With the advent of transistor radios, calculators and cheap watches, all this stuff became disposable.

What most collectors look for is condition. What may appeal to one may not appeal to another.

You have a nice watch and a family heirloom. The value is in having it serviced to wear and enjoy.

 

Thank you very much for your response!

I come from a family of prospectors and those nuggets were found by my grandfather in the Yukon.

I have no intention of selling it and I have worn it several times when doing mining deals... or on special occasions. But most of the time it sits tucked away in a velvet box

 

Glad I was incorrect, happy ending for the OP!

 

Yes, your watch predates the use of the name seamaster.

 

Wow. I knew nothing about watches until posting here and I have learned so much in such a short amount of time! It's amazing how knowledgable everybody is here!

So, can my watch be described as a Seamaster? Or would it be described as a reference 2427? Or as something else?

thank you.

 

I'm guessing it is a 2627 with a cal 353 -- their first foray into watches with a date window -- from the early 50s, just about the time they were bringing in the Seamaster line