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Omega Seamaster Cal 503

blkrush
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Hi all!

This is my first post so please excuse any ignorance. I’ve just purchased an Omega Seamaster Cal 503 with a blue dial.

It’s in working order, but I’m going to be using it to get into the hobby of watch repair.

First, I’ll simply be replacing the band and spring bars. Soon I’ll throw it onto a timegrapher to see how it’s doing. (So far it seems to be losing around 12 seconds a day.)

I’ve included some photos and would love some help identifying the year, your thoughts on if the dial is repainted, and thoughts about whether or not there are missing gaskets on the case. I see no gasket on the back, and no gasket where the crown joins the case.

IMG_1238.jpeg
 
IMG_1357.jpeg IMG_1363.jpeg IMG_1364.jpeg IMG_1359.jpeg IMG_1354.jpeg IMG_1356.jpeg IMG_1360.jpeg
X350 XJR
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Yes the dial has been refinished.

Yes there should be a gasket for the back.

More concerning would be the very polished case and missing bezel.

Hope it was cheap.
 
blkrush
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Ah! I did not realize the bezel was missing. What would be the right way for locating one?

X350 XJR X350 XJR
Yes the dial has been refinished.

Yes there should be a gasket for the back.

More concerning would be the very polished case and missing bezel.

Hope it was cheap.
 
X350 XJR
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You're going to have to find a donor case, loose bezels pretty much don't exist.
 
blkrush
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Makes sense, and I appreciate the insight. It was pretty cheap, and I had a feeling the case was polished and the dial was refinished, but didn’t mind for my use.

So what I can see from the case back is that it’s 14746-1SC. Would that be what I’d want to use to try to find a donor case?
 
watchyouwant
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For getting into Watch Repair, you don't need that bezel. Don't throw more money on that example.
 
blkrush
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watchyouwant watchyouwant
For getting into Watch Repair, you don't need that bezel. Don't throw more money on that example.

I get it. But I’d still like to know the right way to go about locating the appropriate case as a donor. That information will be invaluable when I move onto a second watch. I appreciate the help and I’m grateful for the responses. Still curious though. 😀
 
blkrush
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I assume it’s just a cal 503 as a donor for this?
 
MtV
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14746 is the reference of the watch, that'll get you other examples with the identical case.
503 is the movement of the watch, only relevant if you need parts to actually service it.
All 14746s had cal. 503s.

But honestly, as @watchyouwant said - don't throw money at this example. If anything then use this one as a parts donor to fix another one.
 
blkrush
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MtV MtV
14746 is the reference of the watch, that'll get you other examples with the identical case.
503 is the movement of the watch, only relevant if you need parts to actually service it.
All 14746s had cal. 503s.

But honestly, as @watchyouwant said - don't throw money at this example. If anything then use this one as a parts donor to fix another one.
Good advice!
 
blkrush
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
Yes the dial has been refinished.

Yes there should be a gasket for the back.

More concerning would be the very polished case and missing bezel.

Hope it was cheap.

Is there usually a gasket on the Ref 14746 for where the winding stem joins the case?
 
X350 XJR
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blkrush blkrush
Is there usually a gasket on the Ref 14746 for where the winding stem joins the case?

The crown has an internal o-ring.
 
blkrush
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X350 XJR X350 XJR
The crown has an internal o-ring.

Ah! Here? I recall seeing a few o-rings that were internal to the case where the stem sits.
 
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