Community Stories

Omega Bumper Automatic Watches: Cal. 340, 342, 351, 355

automatic bumper cal. 342 cal. 351 cal. 352 ck 2374 omega vintage
Endshake
Posts
261
Likes
283
Hello guys i just looked around in the Internet a little and fell in love with These 1950 bumper movements. Are there any Omega Bumper Collectors in here? They dont seem to have such a good reputation but i find them very interesting.
 
Canuck
Posts
15,615
Likes
46,551
I have two. The date at 6 is a calibre 355, and the other one is (as I recall) a 342. Thesecond one is a survivor. Case, dial, crystal, crown all replaced. It had been tortured by the previous owner. Serviced, mainspring replaced, and it is a very reliable runner.
IMG_2849.webp IMG_0574.webp
Edited:
 
ErichKeane
Posts
2,212
Likes
2,432
I have one I repaired, though it is a redial. Pretty cool movements that are fantastically made (particularly the 34x movements), but frankly, its a less-efficient automatic movement that is actually quite tall and wasn't available in particularly many designs. IMO, they are great and interesting, and probably undervalued, but I understand the lack of love.
 
noelekal
Posts
6,783
Likes
53,775
Two live here.

1949 with the 351 movement.
IMG_1204_zps0rdzdtsa.webp



1954 with the 344 movement.
IMG_0867_zpsenw4ry5o.webp



I wasn't aware they had a less than good reputation. Mine run like scalded dogs!
 
Oku
Posts
1,179
Likes
4,226
Bumpers are not to everyone's taste as you can really feel the bump on the wrist.
However, they have some nice dials...

ck 2374

DSCF1200.webp
 
cristos71
Posts
7,948
Likes
36,044
ErichKeane ErichKeane
I have one I repaired, though it is a redial. Pretty cool movements that are fantastically made (particularly the 34x movements), but frankly, its a less-efficient automatic movement that is actually quite tall and wasn't available in particularly many designs. IMO, they are great and interesting, and probably undervalued, but I understand the lack of love.

I have to disagree with you there, I do rate the movements and there are loads of great designs....

20240731_165457.webp 20240309_101032.webp 20250514_190727.webp 20170615_210823.webp 20231203_102359.webp 20160614_224841.webp 20150519_195352-1-1.webp 20170501_235057.webp 20171022_115236.webp 20171205_194934.webp 20250612_100945.webp
 
ErichKeane
Posts
2,212
Likes
2,432
cristos71 cristos71
I have to disagree with you there, I do rate the movements and there are loads of great designs....

20240731_165457.webp 20240309_101032.webp 20250514_190727.webp 20170615_210823.webp 20231203_102359.webp 20160614_224841.webp 20150519_195352-1-1.webp 20170501_235057.webp 20171022_115236.webp 20171205_194934.webp 20250612_100945.webp
That is in fact a lovely variety! My complaint I guess is that they are all the same style of watch, not the lack of configurations. Similar cases/etc, in a style that is less popular today, mixed with the perceived lower reliability due to age, and then followed almost immediately by perhaps the best non-chronograph movement series Omega made.

Its pretty easy for me to see why they are overlooked, though as I said, still criminally undervalued.
 
skand
Posts
797
Likes
9,345
Bumpers are definitely underrated right now. With the current craze for Dog Leg Constellations and cal. 5xx- series Seamasters, beginners tend to overlook them. It’s usually only later in the journey that people start appreciating the early references
 
Endshake
Posts
261
Likes
283
Can you realy feel it the automatic hammer/rotor while wearing it?
 
Knebo
Posts
277
Likes
452
I love my bumper "pre-Seamaster".
I serviced it and it runs very reliably.

In fact, I found it to be winding very efficiently on the wrist.

An major annoyance with the full-rotor 5xx series of movements, in my experience, is that the rotor bushing/axle are almost always worn (and the rotor starts rubbing the movement). Those are brass and steel parts in the 5xx series. By contrast, the respective parts in the bumper are steel and ruby. I have the impression that it's more durable and mine has absolutely no play/wear.

For that reason, I prefer the bumpers.

20251002_094457.webp 20250924_110113.webp 20250924_110113.webp
 
skand
Posts
797
Likes
9,345
I can't imagine the first version of the Connie 2648 with any movement other than a bumper. Besides, the cal. 352 is something you can spend years searching for. Over 70 years old, yet it looks brand new.

20260208_143050.webp 20260206_133303.webp
 
SOG53
Posts
3,225
Likes
7,154
DSCF1200.webp

[/QUOTE]
Endshake Endshake
Can you realy feel it the automatic hammer/rotor while wearing it?

Yes , I find it quite pleasant, a little hello on the wrist.
Here are my 2652
IMG_5184.webp IMG_2225.webp IMG_3159.webp IMG_3144.webp
 
Endshake
Posts
261
Likes
283
Thank you for all the pictures! I guess i need a Bumper in my collection…
 
Endshake
Posts
261
Likes
283
skand skand
I can't imagine the first version of the Connie 2648 with any movement other than a bumper. Besides, the cal. 352 is something you can spend years searching for. Over 70 years old, yet it looks brand new.

20260208_143050.webp 20260206_133303.webp


That condition is wonderful
 
TexOmega
Posts
8,608
Likes
61,317
Don’t forget the 'ol gran’pappy.........

Cal. 28.10 circa 1945 soon to become the cal. 340 in 1949.

cal 28.10.webp DSC06966.webp
 
DON
Posts
2,202
Likes
1,377
Had loads. Used to restore and sell. Sold off what I had left along with movements when my two watchmakers passed away and my dial refinisher retired.

On my iPad, so no picture of the last of what I had. Think it was 10 watches or so of bumper and manual wind
 
8 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

ErichKeane

Omega Cal. 340/343 Plate Fastener Pin 330.1022 Repair

ErichKeane Watchmaking
ErichKeane
ErichKeane
Posts
12
Views
319
panchoskywalker

Vintage Omega bumper automatic 1950, Omega 2402-3c, Gold plated, Omega 342 Cal.

panchoskywalker Private Watch Sales
panchoskywalker
panchoskywalker
Posts
1
Views
432
tomvox1

Vintage 1950s Omega cal. 355 Bumper Automatic Calendar w/ TÜRLER Dial—SERVICED

tomvox1 Watches For Sale
tomvox1
tomvox1
Posts
7
Views
12K