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Omega Cioccolatone: Two Numbers in c.1950s Case! Can't Tell Model or Serial Number

G
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After approximately fifty years in the family safe deposit box, my grandfather's Omega Automatic tank watch is now free -- and working beautifully. I have scoured the forums for this exact topic and thousands of pics to find out the model. It is very similar to others, but the numeral symbols on the face differ.

The numbers on the back of the case are 167474 underneath that is 39718C. I understand the C stands for the center position second hand.

Any help would be appreciated.

A bit off-topic, I am thinking of having the face replaced by Omega, but keeping the original. Thoughts?
 
Asturianucu
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Hello,

What I would recommend, no matter how well you think it works, is to give the movement a complete service, and even more so if it has spent 50 years in your family deposit box. 50 years dry out any lubricant. What movement does it have?

Replacing the dial should be your personal decision, imho, may be better try to restore the original one, I suppose the applied indices and hands could be 14K or 18K gold.

All the best.
 
mac_omega
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G gblandrigan
39718C

You misread the second number, it reads 3971 SC This is the case# or reference number where SC stands for central seconds.
The first number 167474 is the case serial#

IMHO the dial has already been poorly restored. I would try to find a donor dial
 
G
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Asturianucu Asturianucu
Hello,

What I would recommend, no matter how well you think it works, is to give the movement a complete service, and even more so if it has spent 50 years in your family deposit box. 50 years dry out any lubricant. What movement does it have?

Replacing the dial should be your personal decision, imho, may be better try to restore the original one, I suppose the applied indices and hands could be 14K or 18K gold.

All the best.
Asturianucu Asturianucu
Hello,

What I would recommend, no matter how well you think it works, is to give the movement a complete service, and even more so if it has spent 50 years in your family deposit box. 50 years dry out any lubricant. What movement does it have?

Replacing the dial should be your personal decision, imho, may be better try to restore the original one, I suppose the applied indices and hands could be 14K or 18K gold.

All the best.

I agree that a service is in order! It has been out of the box for just two days. I wanted to get some info on it first. I don't know which movement it is. 20 jewels and an inscription that seems to read AZZR. Thanks so much!
 
G
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mac_omega mac_omega
You misread the second number, it reads 3971 SC This is the case# or reference number where SC stands for central seconds.
The first number 167474 is the case serial#

IMHO the dial has already been poorly restored. I would try to find a donor dial

An "S", not an 8! I see that now. Thanks! Where would the serial number be? These are the only numbers I can find anywhere on the watch.
I suppose it is possible that the dial was badly restored, though my grandfather rarely wore this and it has been in the safe deposit box for at least 50 years. Thanks so much -- I now have a case number, at least!
 
G
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G gblandrigan
An "S", not an 8! I see that now. Thanks! These are the only numbers I can find anywhere on the watch.
I suppose it is possible that the dial was badly restored, though my grandfather rarely wore this and it has been in the safe deposit box for at least 50 years. Thanks so much -- I now have a case number, at least!
 
mac_omega
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G gblandrigan
Where would the serial number be?

This is the case serial number: 167474
There should also be a different serial number on the movement!
 
G
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mac_omega mac_omega
This is the case serial number: 167474
There should also be a different serial number on the movement!

Here is what I have. The only number I see looks like AZZR.
 
Pastorbottle
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Get it serviced by a good independent watchmaker and maybe he/she can give the dial a careful clean, it just might be the filth of ages on the dial
 
padders
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G gblandrigan
Here is what I have. The only number I see looks like AZZR.
AzzR is the directions for advance and retard on the balance. There should be a movement number stamped somewhere, possibly under the balance wheel.
 
Dan S
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The movement serial number is probably hidden under the rotor in that photo.
 
Asturianucu
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Dan S Dan S
The movement serial number is probably hidden under the rotor in that photo.
Sure, serial number usually on the barrel bridge and on the plate in 470/471. This movement looks like a 470 or 471, also hidden under the rotor in that photo.
Edited:
 
mac_omega
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Asturianucu Asturianucu
usually on the barrel bridge and on the plate in 470/471

serial number is only on the rim of the main plate, never on the barrel bridge in movements of cal. 470/471

471.jpg

dirty 471 in an Olympic SM before service
Edited:
 
JimInOz
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While I'm in a particularly pedantic frame of mind at the moment, I'd like to point out that this is NOT an "Omega Tank" watch.

Tank cases are rectangular while this watch is almost perfectly square.

This led to it being named "Cioccolato", Italian for Chocolate, which was probably endowed on these shaped cases due to the resemblance of a little square of chocolate.

So you have a very nice Cioccolato with the case made for Omega by Ponti, Gennari & Cie, Genève Switzerland.
 
Asturianucu
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mac_omega mac_omega
serial number is only on the rim of the main plate, never on the barrel bridge in movements of cal. 470/471

471.jpg

dirty 471 in an Olympic SM before service
Yes, I expressed myself wrong, sorry, English is not my native language. I meant that in other movements the number goes on the barrel bridge. Although I also said that in movements like the 470/471 it goes on the plate. Cheers.
 
G
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mac_omega mac_omega
You misread the second number, it reads 3971 SC This is the case# or reference number where SC stands for central seconds.
The first number 167474 is the case serial#

IMHO the dial has already been poorly restored. I would try to find a donor dial

Thanks again. After all this discussion, I now know that I have a 471 movement, three serial number (which Omega says was built in 1956), and quite a bit more. I'm thinking of having it serviced. Question for you... You felt that the face had been badly restored. What indications lead you in that direction. I want to know what to look out for. Thanks!
 
padders
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G gblandrigan
Thanks again. After all this discussion, I now know that I have a 471 movement, three serial number (which Omega says was built in 1956), and quite a bit more. I'm thinking of having it serviced. Question for you... You felt that the face had been badly restored. What indications lead you in that direction. I want to know what to look out for. Thanks!

Dating Omegas reliably is best done from the movement serial number, which is not the same as any case serial which may be present. I don’t see that listed in this thread so I wouldn’t be too certain on the 1956 date as yet. Post some more pics of the movement with the rotor in different places.
 
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