Dear all, Another newbie looking for experienced user knowledge. My dad gave me this watch last week and the only thing it says on the dial is what you can see in the pictures below. The back case has two eagle head stamps. The only thing I know is that in France the eagle head stamp stands for 18k gold. I took it to the local watch shop to have the caliber reference and serial written down but even with those I am having trouble which model it is. It has a caliber 562 and the serial is 20729097. Thanks for reading and for your comments.
@efauser thanks for your reply It says 1623003. There's also some initials stamped in a losange : PBF or PGF
This is a French cased model and so will not appear on the vintage database. Very similar to many of the straight lugged DeVilles of the period. Is that a red date wheel I see?
Hi @mondodec and thank you for your reply. The date wheel alternates black and red dates. Is it specific to some models? I also found out while looking for more info on the caliber 562 that it has a quick set date function by moving the needles from 9 to 12 to 9 repeatedly.
Actually that;s not a quick set date. Just a round-about way to change the date. By turning the hands back. Your just moving the pin that grabs the date wheel tooth to move it forward again. Quick set dates move the date in a rapid fashion. Movements after yours by pulling and pushing the crown in (also not that great) DON
When that system of date advance was first released DON Omega actually called it a quick-set system. The later improvement of the date advance system was I believe originally called instant date change in some early literature. Quick is relative, so it seems Re the alternate colours of the date wheel, I'm wondering if that was original to the watch.
Interesting, I have found a link to an olega sold by Corrs which alternate red and black date. Any suggestion on what I should ask my warch specialist regarding a service for this watch?
Yes, I was only wondering because it is quite uncommon for a date wheel to be multi-coloured, but then it was made for the French market and I'm surprised they could contain themselves and not make it red, white and blue The dial has a fair amount of dial spot, and so your question would have to be, do you want to maintain the originality of the watch or are you happy for it to be refinished? The crystal may polish up okay, but if not you'll need to have a new one. You will need a crown replacement and case back gasket replacement so as to improve resistance to wrist perspiration and moisture. Apart from that, I'd probably leave the hands in their vintage state. Movement will need to be dis-assembled, cleaned oiled, and regulated, providing no parts are in need of replacement. Then you can give it some wrist time, but before service I would not have the watch going. Regards Desmond
@mondodec @DON apologies for not thanking you before today for the advice you gave me. here is the link to a pink gold omega alternating red/black date: https://corrvintagewatches.com/archives/ This forum is an invaluable resources thanks to members like you. I will take it to a local watch specialist here in Dublin who has good reputation (Dawson Jewellers) and ask them for a service based on what you've advised. If the crown has to be replaced is it common practice to ask the shop to return it or any replaced part? many thanks again Nico
Yes, asking the watchmaker to return any replaced parts is pretty common and no watchmaker should be surprised at the request. If you don't want them to polish it, say so loud and clear when you drop it off.
@kkt I will ask them to leave the hands in their current state but the case being solid gold can it be polished without damaging the look of the watch? Also, is it better to have the glass polished or changed?
Most collectors prefer to leave the case unpolished. Excessive polish softens the corners of the case and that's usually seen as a bad thing. Showing the watch's true history is not a bad thing in a lot of people's view. However there are some people who like them looking brightly polished as if they were new. If you have it polished it would be worse less to a collector, though.