Good evening everybody, my name is Philip and i'm from Germany. This is my first thread in this forum. My english needs to be improved sometimes, but i'll do my very best. I hope, you'll understand everything! Otherwise, please, feel free to ask! My father introduced me to the hobby of collecting vintage watches, and we have some Omega's in stock. During the last days we've spent some time in reaserching facts to an 6B/159 watch. Fist of all I want to show you some pictures: We just got some facts: -original Omega caliber 30T2, 15 jewels -year of manufacture (movement): 1944/1945 -housing made by Dennison, England (13322) -matching numbers on housing and case-back (pressed) -decentralized second indication (I hope, this is the correct translation) -"A"-marking supports the year of manufacture But there are also some dubious points: - We've never seen 6B/159 watches with a decentralized second indication - the 6B/159 engraving seems to be machine-made. But by using an magnifying glass I've recognized that it's hand-engraved (of course it's very fine work which I have never seen on any other 6B/159). Now we have three big questions and I hope, you are able to help us: - is this watch authentic or a fake? - can someboy encrypt the "A" marking? Is this a serial number? - what about the hands? Are they original? Thank you very much in anticipation and best regards from Germany, Philip
It looks to me like a genuine Omega movement (probably a 30T2) in a civilian Dennison case that was "converted" with fake markings. First, the way the markings are done is not consistent with how these were originally marked. You can see examples of the correct style in Military Timepieces 1880-1990 by Ziggy Weslowski or by searching the web. Regarding the movement itself, I believe the sub seconds configuration would be incorrect, since the specification called for center seconds movement. The dial and hands are also incorrect. The AXXXXX number is the issue number.
Why do you think it should have a central sec? The movement seems to be a genuine sub sec one, without any of the special features for a central sec.
I think you have misunderstood - not this paricular watch needs a center second... but a true military watch which is imitated here is expected to be a center second model...
the dial looks wrong. Omega would never put numbers on a dial that look like they have been written by a child edit : ignore the above!
Exactly. The 6B/129 specification (issue code for pilot/navigator watch) would call for a center seconds watch.
Sorry to say, but you are completely wrong here! The dial is a very good original one and not common to be found in such good condition on a 30 T2 of that age.
The dial has been cleaned at some stage, there's still residual lacquer in and around the numbers and I think the main hands are replacements, just a bit too long. Still a nice piece though (ignoring the "military" stuff).
Well, I don't think there were CNC machines or routers back then. Doesn't look hand engraved or pressed in the least.
The watch is all wrong for the military reference it claims to be, but very nice as a civilian example, except for the now-defaced caseback.
I found few more photos from a watch which I found. From my point of view, it looks caseback lower the value of vintage watch, is it correct ?