Omega 30SCT2 18 jewel, anybody?

Archer · Mar 18, 2019

mac_omega
"Never say never" with Omega as the saying goes...

Just noting it for interests sake...

In this case it's just the escape wheel and pallet fork that are "unusual" when compared to other Omegas of the period. This is an 18 jewel 30T2 SC PC with Incabloc, so a later movement. Has a military style dial, but no reference number on the inside of the case back (no markings at all on the inside actually). Not sure how this fits with the various theories...

Escape wheel...

Pallet fork. Clearly needs some work - one jewel is jacked up out of place...

Cheers, Al[/QUOTE]

mac_omega · Mar 18, 2019

Hi Al,

TBH, never seen this before...

please can you show some photos of the watch in question?
Is the outside of the caseback marked? Any serial number or inscriptions?

kind regards
Erich

M'Bob · Mar 18, 2019

mac_omega
Hi Al,

TBH, never seen this before...

please can you show some photos of the watch in question?
Is the outside of the caseback marked? Any serial number or inscriptions?

kind regards
Erich

HIPPAA

DManzaluni · Mar 18, 2019

I have had a few of the ex-Brazil 30T2SC red star watches, neither of which had signed cases. Both looked heavily original. When I tried asking the museum to let me know whether the company ever supplied movements for local casing (apart from the first-half 20th century yankitax examples), They said they would research it and get back to me. [They never did]

Archer · Mar 19, 2019

mac_omega
Hi Al,

TBH, never seen this before...

please can you show some photos of the watch in question?
Is the outside of the caseback marked? Any serial number or inscriptions?

kind regards
Erich

I've received permission from the watch owner to post these...

Nothing inside the case back:

Better look at the dial:

Movement:

Cheers, Al

mac_omega · Mar 19, 2019

Thank you Archer,

another specimen of ref. CK 2337 which is a cross-ref. to CK 2254

Going by the serial number its a pretty early one - so all is matching. The early examples had the case serial number outside on the caseback and a blank inner side - later they did not have any case serial number but had the number 2254 stamped inside. Obviously they used up surplus cases of the chronometer 2254. In the later examples often you can also find a 2 or 3 digit number in the caseback and a corresponding number underside of one lug. These are numbers of the casemaker which helped to pair matching case-parts during the manufacturing process.
I will check my data and see if I have records of a watch near the serial number of the watch you presented.

kind regards
Erich

mac_omega · Mar 20, 2019

Al,

I have looked through my data and have found a confirmed (by the Omega Archive) ref. CK 2337 with a movement serial number narrow to that of your customer.

m#: 9.674.669 delivered 21.1.1943 to Canada

It is only 22 away from the one you showed - most likely both were produced in the same batch and sold to Canada.

An extract should be available for your customer´s watch.

kind regards

erich

piwatches · Feb 23, 2020

hoipolloi
Hi Erich.

Name it whatever you like but this case ref is 2254.

And if you try to label it in a different reference , I am sorry, I won't buy your book 😁.

Hoi.

That model was used by the US Army Signal Corps. Another model with gold numbers was made for Canadian Navy Reserve.

drwstr123 · Aug 30, 2020

Thank you all for the information. I wondered what the 18 jewel was about.

watchyouwant · Sep 2, 2020

Just looking for mine for pictures. Mvmt. Number is 9539945. Gold plated case. Steel back. 2 tone silver dial with red star and red 24 hour markers.....now faded.....as soon as I find it, I will post some pics. Kind regards. Achim

watchyouwant · Sep 2, 2020

found it............

Chris F · Dec 29, 2021

Some beautiful examples here. I am just going to post mine on eBay, so please take a look.

Zapatta · Dec 29, 2021

C Chris F
Some beautiful examples here. I am just going to post mine on eBay, so please take a look.

Can you at least post pictures here?

Pvt-Public · Dec 30, 2021

C Chris F
Some beautiful examples here. I am just going to post mine on eBay, so please take a look.

Wow 1st post and it’s a damned advertisement.

simes_pep · Nov 30, 2023

Hi, Have this Omega watch, since 2017/2018, which has an 18 jewel 30T2 SC movement, serial number in the 9 millions
White face, no marking, Omega symbol on the crown, plain back plate.
Recently serviced as there was a broken balance staff (top pivot is broken off) and hadn’t run for a number of years.

Would be great to learn something about it.

Have a ‘67 Seamaster Deville Black face cal 601(1), ‘70 Seamaster 120 Cal 601(1) and a White faced Cal 286 (which hasn’t needed a service so I don’t known the serial number yet) as well.

watchyouwant · Nov 30, 2023

Repainted dial, unfortunately...

simes_pep · Nov 30, 2023

watchyouwant
Repainted dial, unfortunately...

Hi, I am more interested in the history of the movement, as an 18-jewel 30T2 SC, rather than an instant response on the dial - it’s a 81-year old watch and going to have had some restoration work along the way.
Anyway I like the look of the dail and in keeping with the service issued pieces from this period, very easy to read.

piwatches · Nov 30, 2023

mac_omega
Sorry guys,

not all facts are true in your posts.

@hoipolloi: don´t mix up the 2 versions

1) the Techron had the much earlier movement lacking a shock-protection
These movements had a bad galvanic coating which turned dark very fast.

2) the watch you called "2254 with military dial" is not a 2254 (altough stamped in the caseback) - it is a cross-reference to 2254 and its correct reference is CK 2337 (although not stamped but verified in the Omega archive). Only the chronometer has the ref. CK 2254.
It has a different movement: 18 jewel - yes, but with Incabloc and much better galvanic plating - they often shine like new even after 70 years.
Also the CK 2423 had this later type of movement.

@Dr No:

1) the 2 extra jewels were not positioned on both sides of the hour wheel but are the lower and upper jewels for the centre wheel
2) "Techrons" with black and silvered dials were not only shipped to RCAF and Brazil but all over the world - have come across data for watches sent to South Africa (confirmed by Omega).

The red star is just a marketing gag and is found on several watches, not only the Techron.

You will find all this stuff in detail in my book... you have to be patient for just a few weeks - the book will go to print next week.

kind regards

erich

Any information of the 18 jewels that were given to the Canadian Navy when the reserve was called into active duty during WW2 to protect transports to England? Can't remember where I read something about this? Seems like only 300 or so were ordered for the Navy.

simes_pep · Dec 9, 2023

S simes_pep
Hi, I am more interested in the history of the movement, as an 18-jewel 30T2 SC, rather than an instant response on the dial - it’s a 81-year old watch and going to have had some restoration work along the way.
Anyway I like the look of the dail and in keeping with the service issued pieces from this period, very easy to read.

Is there any further insight on the history of this watch/movement other than it was a special issue, given the normal 30T2 SC movement is a 16 jewel?

piwatches · Dec 10, 2023

hoipolloi
Hi all.
Besides collecting watches, I also collecting unique dials and movements, too. (30T1SC or 30T2SC with 18 jewel etc...)
This thread is only about the 30SCT2 that had 18 jewels in it.(well, you cannot find 18 jewel in 26x or 28x or 30T2 anyways).
The famous RCAF Techron is powered by 30SCT2 18 jewel as in the advertisement

And a member from Purists (Ben Degeus) wrote that
"...Ken Hatch Ltd. the Canadian agent in Quebec had ordered 500 pieces in 1941 (with follow-on orders a little later). Due to the difficult war conditions however, shipping took only place end '44 and early '45..."
Those 18 jewel movements were serialed 9.x millions.
This is the RCAF 18 jewels I have

And this is another RCAF which was sold in this forum.

Besides the 500 movements used on RCAF, 18 jewel were also found inside the famous stepped lug 2254 with "military dial"

It was also found inside double reference 2410/2423.

And the earliest 18 jewels that I have has serial number 9.2 mil. very close to the rare 30SCT1.

That is all I know about the 18 jewels . You are welcome to share what you have and info that I missed.
But please don't show off your normal 30 mm with gold cases coming with a redial 😁.
Thanks for reading.

Hoi.