Omega Military Watches - WW2

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pedrocarlone

·Feb 24, 2021

The 6b or HS8 is just beautifully proportioned and what a dial! I’d only ever buy another one if it had an all steel case and you’d probably have to pay a premium for that. Sometimes on ebay they slip under the radar. The alloy cased ones tend to have a duller colour and sometimes a dark patina on the lugs that you can see best on the caseback side of the watch.Also with the alloy cases watch out for lugs that have been shortened and repaired.

 

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VintageOmegaLove

·Feb 25, 2021

Update to the latest watches in this thread: the Dirty Dozen Jaeger LeCoultre
and the DOS-issued Omega have both arrived safely. I am beyond ecstatic! Here are just two quick snaps to add to this thread, which I hope will continue to flourish!

All the best,
Chris

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 24, 2021

Dear Chris,

I particularly like the JLC and I am trying to establish a little database of the JLC WWWs (see https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?69522-Musings-on-JLC-WWW-Serial-Numbers ).

Would you be so kind to tell me the case back numbers and movement numbers?

Regards,
Maarten

 

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pedrocarlone

·Jul 25, 2021

This is my steel cased Omega 6b just back from a service. Unfortunately no caseback engraving. I also have another steel 6b without engraving. Ive only seen one or two with the markings on the back. The markings dont appear to have been polished off so can only speculate as to why.

 

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watchyouwant

·Jul 25, 2021

Recased .

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 25, 2021

I think the Omega were are sold as civilian watches. See
http://rarevintageomega.com/2020/06...-ck2292-30t2-manual-wind-vintage-pilot-watch/

The military are of course the ones with the most interesting history. For example:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/raf-pilot-omega-ck2292-30t2/#gref

 

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jaegodylan

·Jul 25, 2021

Coincidentally I just got mine back from Mr. John Senior here in the UK. Still in search of a correct.. or at least more correct crown!

 

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watchyouwant

·Jul 25, 2021

jaegodylan

Coincidentally I just got mine back from Mr. John Senior here in the UK. Still in search of a correct.. or at least more correct crown!

Look up eBay seller latriaz from Belgium. Should have a much better crown. So, your fixed bars were exchanged for old springbars ? John Senior still working ? He is one of the best for Mil. Watches ! Enjoy. Kind regards. Achim

 

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jaegodylan

·Jul 25, 2021

watchyouwant

Look up eBay seller latriaz from Belgium. Should have a much better crown. So, your fixed bars were exchanged for old springbars ? John Senior still working ? He is one of the best for Mil. Watches ! Enjoy. Kind regards. Achim

He is.. but don't tell him I said so! He is enjoying his semi retirement.

Regarding the spring bars.. yeah who knows what's happened to this fella over the years. Luckily it still runs like a champ.

 

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pedrocarlone

·Jul 25, 2021

watchyouwant

Recased .

what makes you think that? The serial numbering of the inside of the caseback is consistent with other known engraved steel cased 6bs (long number starting with 103) and its an Omega case. Im not being defensive, just curious for some knowledge I may not have.

Edited: Jul 25, 2021

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 26, 2021

I don't believe it is recased. The midcase seems to be stainless steel, which few of the military CK2292 had. But the case seems authentic. Also your dial is marked Swiss made and seems original.

https://www.omegawatches.com/pt/watch-omega-other-royal-air-force-ck-2292

Many of the British military CK2292 were recased in 1956, but that case is very different. See
https://corrvintagewatches.com/prod...ts-watch-cal-30t2-air-ministry-issued-6b-159/

I believe it is a civilian CK2292

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 26, 2021

Ps. It maybe that the case type number isn't 2292 for a stainless steel case

 

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watchyouwant

·Jul 26, 2021

MaartenF

I don't believe it is recased. The midcase seems to be stainless steel, which few of the military CK2292 had. But the case seems authentic. Also your dial is marked Swiss made and seems original.

https://www.omegawatches.com/pt/watch-omega-other-royal-air-force-ck-2292

Many of the British military CK2292 were recased in 1956, but that case is very different. See
https://corrvintagewatches.com/prod...ts-watch-cal-30t2-air-ministry-issued-6b-159/

I believe it is a civilian CK2292

The Omega Factory link, you shared, has too many flaws as well. it shows the 1942 Mil. Watch with the Alloy case middle and a repainted dial and no swiss made on that dial. look at the Omega logo.... and then states, the case is stainless steel. all not correct. this Mil. model was delivered in 1942 and then no civilian model examples were produced. Steel was extremely expensive during WW2 because of the war effort. that is the reason for the alloy middlecase. not because it was fancy..... see Longines, JLC and others from the 40`s. just another thought to consider. i still go with re cased. kind regards. Achim

 

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pedrocarlone

·Jul 26, 2021

So would you be inclined to say that there were no steel cased Omega 6bs made for the military? I suppose its plausible but would suggest that the ones with military markings were doctored. Again, plausible but controversial!

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 26, 2021

According to the guys at MWRforum, there are definitely steel case Omega made for the military.
See
https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?86054-Omega-WW2-6B-159-(Need-help-please)

"the steel cases were 1942 only and 95xxxxx movements in 103xxxxx cases."

 

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watchyouwant

·Jul 26, 2021

MWR is not always the source to go to..... there are not " the MWR guys..." ; there is no proof so far and it is only 2-3 guys there. i go with the stuff i can proof ; like the Omega Factory order form. without an order form, Omega would do nothing . i researched Military Omegas with John Diethelm from Omega in the mid 90`s. these here and some military issued Railmaster for the FAP and PAF. here is the original order form from the Omega Factory . nothing mentioned there like All Stainless steel.... just back and bezel ring. but, who knows for sure? turbulent times during WW2..... kind regards. Achim

 

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Revo

·Jul 26, 2021

The WWWs are wildly overrated imho.

The Weems are awesome but rare and £££££.

So that leaves the RAF-issed 6B/159. I'd look for a "56 Re-case" -- WW2 RAF Omegas that were re-cased in 1956 into lovely heavy Dennisons screw-on backs.

 

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MaartenF

·Jul 26, 2021

Agree with Achim, we should go by the facts.

@Pedro, do you have pictures of the movement and inside of the case back?

 

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w154

·Jul 26, 2021

Revo

The WWWs are wildly overrated imho.

The Weems are awesome but rare and £££££.

So that leaves the RAF-issed 6B/159. I'd look for a "56 Re-case" -- WW2 RAF Omegas that were re-cased in 1956 into lovely heavy Dennisons screw-on backs.

Some of the WWWs are wildly overrated (I’m looking at you Grana), but the cheaper all steel ones like the Cyma are great watches. Can’t disagree about the Weems or the Dennison 56 cases. My JLC, whilst perhaps not welcome here on an Omega thread, says hello !

 

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size11s

·Jul 26, 2021

I think some of the WWW watches are certainly over rated and over priced, but some like the Omega, Eterna, Longines, IWC and perhaps Lemania and Cyma (so half of them really) are very nice, wearable watches that I wouldn't consider over rated nor particularly over priced. Certainly, £18k + fees that the recent Grana made is an astronomic price driven by the 'completist collectors' desire for a rare watch. I personally am happy not to feel the completist need but I am very happy to have a couple of nice WWW's.

The Weems are technically and historically very interesting but how often do you see someone actually using/wearing one?

The '56 Dennison is a very nice and wearable case and I wouldn't mind a nice original white dial one.