Omega Chronometre - Worth Buying?

Well, after taking a pass on the black dialed Constellation Pie Pan, I managed to stumble across another piece that I'm interested in and am looking for some pre-buying advice from the experts here on the Forum. Below is a picture I was able to obtain.




This is 1944 vintage 18k gold advertised in "excellent" condition. It comes with its original box and tag.

I've done some snooping around the web and here on the forums to learn more about these and market pricing but would like advice. I'm also wondering if the strap original to this watch? Anything in particular I should look out for?

Would this be a good buy at around $5500? It's local to me and I called and asked if they would hold it for me so I can go and look at it in-person on Saturday.

Thanks for any help.

Hello and welcome on the Omegaforum. You would need additional pictures of the movement to assess the value.

If you want to learn about Omega Chronometers I can recommend you this Book

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-chronometer-book-omega-forums-limited-edition.90782/

Calling @jumpingsecond

Ha I'm just a resident quack in training. Page @Franco or @mac_omega for the real diagnosis.

I agree with @kyle L at 1st glance.
Take pics and post them here. Check the movement. Price isn't bad if this is a 35.5mm. You'll be hard pressed to find a dial in such good condition.

Strap definitely not original.

Tom

I did go and look at this thing yesterday. After giving it a thorough look - and doing as much research as I could online short of buying the recommended book (above) - I put some money down on it and plan to pick it up later this week. The case (33mm), movement and tag numbers all match. It appears to have been worn lightly and kept in a cool, dark place. The only major flaw (at least in my eyes) is a scratch on the side of the case where it appears someone who didn't know what they were doing was trying to open the case back.

The dial seems unbelievably good for its age (that part gives me pause). However, the dial is not perfect because minor flaws (aging?) can be seen in it with the loupe. From a foot away it looks like new. If it is a redial, I would think it would have to have been done by a very skilled person. Or, could it have been replaced with an NOS dial? The bezel, hands, crown, hallmarks, printing on the dial all appear to exactly match known, original examples in character and quality, from what I can tell. The case appears to have never been polished (sides are still brushed and angles are still sharp).

The watchmaker at the dealer opened the back for me and the movement looks like new and it has the deluxe finish. It shows the correct "30T2RG" number below the balance wheel. Certain movement parts are mirror finished and/or anglaged. The dealer did clean and service it and it appears to run well.

I'm not sure about the strap. It is not new and does show light wear but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't like it anyway and plan to replace it.

If this thing turns out to be a fake, I believe I have some recourse with the seller as I'm a previous customer. They are a locally-owned, well known AD for Rolex, Patek and JLC (I bought my Rolex there - sorry Omega people). I spoke with one of the salespeople there that is also a collector and he knows exactly what this thing is/appears to be (not sure why he didn't buy it). I negotiated on the price and they were very reluctant to do so because of its condition and relative rarity. But, they also know that unless you're an Omega vintage watch collector, to everyone else, it's just another old, used, gold watch. it ended up that I got them to eat the sales tax (not insubstantial).

I will post pictures once procured. I'll also ask that they open it up one more time so I can take pictures of the movement and post them for review here.

If I'm crazy, feel free to say so.

It's a rare watch in general that represents some the Manufacuter's finest work. To find in that condition is pretty cool. It comes down to where will you find another? Not many places and not that often. If you can afford it, dont worry about the price. Enjoy the watch. Let us enjoy it too with pics when you can😀

Thanks to all for the feedback. I will post pictures when I'm able.

Any advice on a strap? I was thinking about brown croc but would appreciate ideas. Also, since they have to take the strap off to get at the back, I would just have them replace it at the same time.

Hi Dan, I inspected the actual watch in person on Saturday with a loupe.

Before I went to look at it I had the same concerns too because it is so easy to doctor photographs anymore.

In person, I could see only very minor flaws which can only really be seen with a loupe. It would appear that what you are seeing are digital artifacts and not actual flaws. However, I'll take another look at it up close before finalizing the purchase.

don't forget to check the balance wheel and all the luxury finished parts of the movement.

There are five 33 mm and one 35.5 mm chronometer references in my collection. On my slender wrist, the smaller cases come across more convincingly.


[ref 2364]

I'd have no compunctions about the one you found. And it's fair value at that price.

Art

Seeking opinions/knowledge . . . after looking again at some photos of known factory originals of the ref. 2364, 2365 and 2366 I can see differences between the one I'm looking at and these photos (specifically for the 2364).

It appears that the watch I'm looking at has the dial for a 2364 but has a case (and crown) for a 2365 (or 2366). Would this have been possible for a vintage 1944 piece (was this a particular version ref. 2364 only for 1944)? I don't know the year for the photo I viewed.

Would Omega have used different dial/case combinations for the same reference in the same year? Or, has this watch been re-cased? I will check again, but the numbers on the case, movement and hang tag all matched when I looked at it last Saturday. Could this be a "one-off" from the factory?

I'm not entirely on the hook for this thing yet. So, any feedback would be appreciated.

Jeff