Newbie trying to decipher a potential frankenstein vintage Seamaster.

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bomedi

·Feb 9, 2023

Hi everyone,

Very new and just found this watch in a shop near me the other day.

I opened it up to see the calibre and found a 351 movement serial places it between 1950-52 I think , but from cross checking other references online, the dial (and possibly hands) seem to be from the 60s.
I'm wondering if anyone can tell me more about this as I've seen some people here know an insane amount about these.
The case and crown may be from another watch too but I have no way of knowing this yet, so any advice is appreciated.
The beads of rice bracelet is possibly part of another watch too? Most references online show leather straps with most of these watches.

The second part of the question is what should you do with pieces like this? Is it better to try find matching dials and hands, or matching movements, case and crown? Or is it better to leave as is and repair?

Anyway, any help is super appreciated guys!

Edited: Feb 9, 2023

 

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Dan S

·Feb 9, 2023

You may be right. The watch is from the early 50s, and I would have expected a coat hanger "S". Let's see what the real experts say, but the dial may be wrong for the watch. If so, I would just walk away. These watches aren't rare, and there's not enough upside to start restoring them. Of course, the parts have value, and if you buy it cheap enough, you could part it out. But that's a lot of work for little gain.

 

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bomedi

·Feb 9, 2023

I've already picked it up, since the bracelet seemed like it would be worth something. Hope it wasn't a big mistake 👎

 

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Dan S

·Feb 9, 2023

Depends on how much you paid. The bracelet certainly has value. What number is on the endlinks?

 

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bomedi

·Feb 9, 2023

The end links have 11, the clasp is worn it’s maybe 1080, 1086? It’s not very clear though.

 

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Dan S

·Feb 9, 2023

It's a 1036 with 20 links. The bracelet is worth $150-$200 IMO.

 

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bomedi

·Feb 9, 2023

Ah ok, yeah I paid maybe 200 dollars for the lot with current yen to dollar exchange rate.

 

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Spruce

·Feb 10, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

Well, whoever put it together did an excellent job!
Easily worth the $200 and an excellent and attractive daily wearer.

 

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iamvr

·Feb 10, 2023

I'm not an expert in anything, but I'm almost sure that the sunburst dial is from the 60s. But as @Spruce has mentioned, the watch even frankenized and the bracelet are worth more than the $200 you have paid. You can enjoy it and while in the meantime look out for a replacement dial for a 2494 (2657 is the model with a sub-second that shares the case). It's a Jumbo reference too with 36mm in size, so quite sought after.

 

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janice&fred

·Feb 10, 2023

Spruce

Well, whoever put it together did an excellent job!
Easily worth the $200 and an excellent and attractive daily wearer.

Heck yea! I would love to have paid $300 for that watch 👍

 

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Spruce

·Feb 10, 2023·Sunburst dial fan

I’ve just had a quick look on eBay to see what Omega I might be able to buy for your price, and slightly more.
The answer is 'zilch'.
I’d take your watch any day.

 

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smorrisonmd

·Feb 10, 2023

I'm no expert, but I would bet the dial is appropriate. Very nice pick up at a bargain.

 

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wagudc

·Feb 10, 2023

Dan S

The watch is from the early 50s, and I would have expected a coat hanger "S". Let's see what the real experts say, but the dial may be wrong for the watch.

I agree. I am not an expert, but I know for certain that style of S was not used until the mid 1960s. I suspect that this is a service dial, because it doesn't look like it is repainted. I imagine it would be quite difficult to franken a 1960 dial to a 351 movement.

 

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norb1967

·Feb 10, 2023

The dial is correct - for a 60s watch. My guess would be that it’s a service dial…

 

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MtV

·Feb 10, 2023

Service dial or from another reference, it doesnt matter much - it never originally came with an early 50s watch, which means it's not a piece a collector might be after.

That being said, if you paid about 200$, you paid a realistic price for the BoR bracelet and got a watch for free - congrats. Now, as for what to do - that's up to you. This is a "jumbo" reference, meaning it's ~36mm in diameter and thus extraordinarily large for the time. Finding a replacement dial is a tough ask. Either, you wear it and enjoy it as is, nobody except us nerdy bunch will realize it's not technically all-original. Or, if you're bothered by that, you either sell it (disclosing it's shortcomings, if you're an honest person) or set up an eBay search for "Omega 2494" and settle for a long wait. A loooong wait. It's up to you.

Personally, I'd either sell it for parts value and be happy about a free BoR and some extra $ for the next watch, or wear it and start the hunt for a replacement dial, knowing full well it might take a few years.

 

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SOG53

·Feb 10, 2023

Does the watch run and keep time? If yes I would clean it up a bit and just wear it. I think it’s nice looking and the bumper movement is nice you can feel it bouncing around. If you find the correct dial great, but it may not look any better than this one

 

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sheepdoll

·Feb 10, 2023

Spruce

I’ve just had a quick look on eBay to see what Omega I might be able to buy for your price, and slightly more.
The answer is 'zilch'.
I’d take your watch any day.

Well one can get ladies watches. Sometimes even wreaked watches.

I have been looking for a 2577 case. Seems like it is worth the while for sellers to clean them up and sell them with movements. There was a wreaked goldcapped case, which sat around for a few months, although I think the price was over 200 for an empty case.

Oh for the days when I could get these for between 65 and 120. Now one can barely get a new set of hands for that price.