Omega RAF 53 fat arrow

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littlehampton77

·Jul 25, 2023

Hi - new to the forums. I have a vintage RAF 53 Omega fat arrow watch - I believe made in 1953 - still works, i'm now testing how well it keeps time. Trying to understand value and best place to sell - advice very much appreciated.

 

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size11s

·Jul 25, 2023

No shortage of google info and prices on these, eBay as good as anywhere, circa £2k. Congrats on a nice watch.

 

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Tony C.

·Jul 25, 2023·Ωf Jury member

I am not an expert on these, but the dial is very poorly refinished, and the markings on the case back appear dubious to my eye.

 

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littlehampton77

·Jul 25, 2023

size11s

No shortage of google info and prices on these, eBay as good as anywhere, circa £2k. Congrats on a nice watch.

Cheers - certainly seems some variance from £1.5k up to >£4k. I've got a few experts taking a look also. Been offered £850 and £1,500 so far.

 

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littlehampton77

·Jul 25, 2023

Tony C.

I am not an expert on these, but the dial is very poorly refinished, and the markings on the case back appear dubious to my eye.

Hi Tony - do you have any further comments as to my very untrained eye, it looks identical to other examples online (other than condition which varies) - cheers

 

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Tony C.

·Jul 25, 2023·Ωf Jury member

littlehampton77

Hi Tony - do you have any further comments as to my very untrained eye, it looks identical to other examples online (other than condition which varies) - cheers

First, here are two examples of dials which appear to me to have been more finely executed. The one that you have shown appears to be crude, in comparison.

As for the case back markings, if you use the one below as a reference, you will see that they are fairly similar. But the case back on yours has been ground down (look at the notches for perspective). So, this means that the markings, which appear to be unmarred, were made after the heavy polishing. I suppose that it could have been done by the military, but why? To my mind, it raises questions, along with the dial, about authenticity.

 

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Tony C.

·Jul 25, 2023·Ωf Jury member

Again, I am no expert, though, so I would defer to the judgement of those more experienced with the model.

 

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Wlcutter

·Jul 25, 2023

I'd second that it strikes me on first several passes as incorrect, for all the reasons @Tony C. listed.

 

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size11s

·Jul 25, 2023

Hi Tony, I think the fat arrow MoD reprinted dial is a very inconsistent printing, quality wise, and one of my least favourite personally, and I like an MoD reprint. There are also (I suspect) some later refinishes too that are actually technically better, but aren't MoD.

I have seen the case backs both smooth/polished and seemingly with turning marks, for some unknown reason, but I think both are most likely 'good'.

I think the crown could be a WWW crown which is very similar but slightly thicker.

If the watch has the anti mag movement cover and the doohickey spring thingie my feeling is it is an honest watch. But never say never.

 

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size11s

·Jul 25, 2023

I have one in my project box that has evidence of seeing a lathe, and 2 others that are smooth.