I've had an Extract of the Archives request bounce back as the information "has not survived, is unreadable or even missing".

I thought it might be interesting to compile info from other members for whom this has happened (reference, year, partial serial number) to see what sort of pattern (if any) emerges.

I'll start with mine:

Movement serial number 20525XXX
Case number 105.012-63
Short description Omega Speedmaster, stainless steel with lyre (twisted) lugs, black dial chronograph with hippocampus caseback, 321 signed movement and '105.012-63' written in the caseback interior.

 

Good idea!

What do they send when the reference doesn't match their records?

 

I'm also interested in what members have received in that instance as well.

 

I am not sure people will be lining up to tell you their watch is not watch they thought it was...

My point was more to say if this email is their "Dear John" letter for both missing archives and frankenwatches then it doesn't tell you much and people may not want to share that info.

 

Same with me “Unreadable, not survived or even missing” for ‘63 Seamaster with 20048XXX serial. Reference 166.002 Cal 562. It is 50 odd years ago, so shouldn’t really complain.

 

I've had the same letter for some 2998s and early 105.003s. in the range of 18m to 20,521,xxx in my case (1x 18m, 2x 19m, 2x 20,521,xxx).

Interestingly, I submitted for an extract for a speedy. the first time, I indicated that the case reference was 105.003 (movement was in the 24m overlapping range between 105.003 and 145.012 according to sp101 info), and I got back the "no information available" message. I then submitted with 145.012 case reference and received an extract. YMMV. I thought it was interesting though.

 

I received a reply back stating "records not available" before. She further clarified that not all records are contained in the archive and that its not abnormal. But its the only time this has happened in over a dozen requests. (19,xxx,xxx)

 

So looks like 18m - 20.5m serials are The Extract Black Hole so far...

 

Calling @eugeneandresson

 

I had a SM300 with serial 22.9m that had the records unavailable.

 

I had a very early Omega wrist watch in a rolled gold case with a 1.9 million movement serial number in an American Watch Case Company case. I had the same response in January saying records are unavailable for this particular watch. At the same time I sent off another very early Omega wrist watch with a 1.7 million movement serial number which they had records for in the archives.That should be arriving any day from Omega.
Cheers Russell.

 

Check that the numbers you sent them are the correct ones. It happened to me and was my own fault as I'd copied someone elses mistake in the application.When I got the reply I checked myself and was then able to send the correct movement number and subsequently the extract arrived.

 

He may have a sore head.......T4AP can have that effect.

 

I will double check tonight on the movement number against the movement number I submitted to Omega. I'm sure they were both the same but you never know.

 

Actually my head is good (2 days later). I did manage to get an extract for a 19.58M serial. It was declined at first. I called the museum and had a chat with them, and they asked for some pics. I also asked them 'why', but its hard getting a straigh answer, as it appears its different from case to case, i.e. they have different missing bits of info about the watch, i.e. they could have everything other than the watch (i.e. speedmaster/seamaster) the movement was put into, or the reference. They did say that they are improving this / going to change to be able to issue more exacts...not sure how. So if they declined extracts in the past, once they have implemented whatever it is they are working on, it could be that there is still a chance to get one, or that's what I was led to believe about 2 months ago.

 

They then usually send you the date the watch was produced and to which country it was shipped. This is what I've seen most with doubtfull Reference/Serial-Combinations.

 

On spot, Sir.

 

I guess the elephant in the room here is that it seems Omega send the same email response whether you have a straight and genuine watch from the ‘dark ages’ or whether you have a Franken like a Seamaster movement in a Speedmaster case or indeed have accidentally given them the wrong number. This is an unfortunate situation since there will always uncertainty over a watch where an extract can’t be issued. Other than maybe for the late 1950s stuff subcontracted out where It is understandable the records are patchy or non existent. I would feel a little uncomfortable buying, say, a late 1960s watch for which an extract can’t be issued.

 

Was this a loose movement or a watch? I may be misunderstanding you here but doesn’t that indicate that your movement was swapped if it started life in a Pro and ended up in an Ed White?