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Omega Seamaster - help needed

dvcomega
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Hi,

I’m hoping to get some advice and help on an Omega Seamaster 14390-61-SC.

The watch was in the family and I’ve recently just paid (several hundred pounds) for it to be given a new lease of life by an certified Omega service centre. It now looks in great condition and works perfectly.

Having done some research this watch watch doesn’t have “Seamaster” on the dial can anyone tell me why this is as it’s hard to find other examples?

Also I think this means it’s likely dated around 1959, again just based on internet research but can anyone confirm?

I believe the watch might also have a British military history.

Finally, given I’ve spent some money on this watch already I’m keen to know what value it has, just out of interest. It doesn’t have a box or any certification, it’s been in a bottom draw not working for many years.

Thanks.
 
3AE61DFB-2FD8-4FED-B670-1632F5C6C082.jpeg 63D3E48A-31E4-4092-AE13-7B2508DDCB2E.jpeg B73C7DC9-68BB-4343-8F64-42BEDC5213E5.jpeg 6B7B25F0-3FBE-4579-94EA-600155A0CB46.jpeg C60EE927-1441-47F3-B3DC-E89B74C23BE1.jpeg 0D6F28A1-1C41-475D-9A6D-26E6583FC417.jpeg ECAC90CF-656E-4136-BD40-E628562846A9.jpeg BF3BAD68-98CD-48A0-A081-35C8C4CE9AF9.jpeg
padders
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Its from 1961-62. The dial looks genuine but something has been changed because the hands have lume and the dial doesn’t. It should be both or neither. What did they change when it was serviced? Not all watches with Seamaster backs have SM on the dial but I guess the dial might have been replaced. Regarding value, not massive, probably around the amount the service cost. It’s nice but nothing special, nothing on the watch suggests a military connection. If you are convinced it has a military connection you can pay for an extract of the Omega Archive which will confirm if it was delivered to the military but that is ~£100 so is probably not worth it. Maybe a family member in the forces purchased it from the NAAFI? That is interesting if so but doesn’t really add value.
Edited:
 
dvcomega
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Thanks. In terms of work done I’ve requested specifics, but they returned replaced parts (see pic). Do you know why it doesn’t have “Seamaster” on the dial?

The cost to refurbish was £400 and I’ll never sell it so it doesn’t really matter just wanted to know if not made a huge error getting it cleaned up.

The family member served all over the world in the British military and was decorated for his service but I don’t know how he got the watch. He had another couple of Omegas but I’ve been told they are worthless.
 
26CEA784-5259-4DD3-91D6-409D91B87724.jpeg
padders
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The obvious solution to the dial text is that at some point it was changed, but perhaps there were versions without the text, Omega did that sometimes. Value wise it’s around there, maybe a little less.

Show a pic of the other models. Those may be more interesting, you never know. No genuine Omega is worthless.
Edited:
 
dvcomega
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Here are the other two, I’ve been told the cost of repair would be more than the value. Both are currently not working at all.

On the Seamaster I’d be really surprised if it had work prior to what I’ve just had done, these watches haven’t seen daylight for a decade and even prior to that probably not been worn for another 10-15 years. I can’t imagine they’d ever been serviced etc.
 
1416AA5D-CAB1-48E2-A459-BF3DA4D5CA95.jpeg 9C3FE8C8-0A9A-4098-9699-0CDA0D24D9CE.jpeg E70CE530-E26E-4036-A6BA-16422A530110.jpeg C3A465EB-C643-424E-9338-DAA71B714C9C.jpeg 1BCE63BF-D5C3-41F4-8C7B-B36013DE9E62.jpeg 691530A7-19B1-4639-B46F-4E9F6F0271B3.jpeg 255F5015-8F04-460A-B5AC-41EC0748AFCD.jpeg 10F1CB30-F54E-4DCC-A78D-C9A37B21938E.jpeg DF71DABC-1E72-4E25-A982-7FD1C3839AAF.jpeg
padders
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Re the first watch, the hands don't match the dial so at some point either or both were changed. You do see those lance type hands on that model so perhaps that suggests the dial was replaced in the mists of time, the 70s or 80s perhaps. I wouldn't worry about it, it wont make much difference either way in value terms and is part of the watches history.

Regarding the other 2, I see your point. Both are quartz from circa 1980 and both seem to have crown issues. It might be worth trying a new battery but neither are massively desirable, when working and tidy worth maybe a couple of hundred quid but if not working fit for parts only. Parts for the the early quartz movement Omegas are hard to obtain now so repairs can be expensive or impossible.
Edited:
 
dvcomega
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Thanks appreciate the feedback. I’ve got more information in a few hours on this forum than the days I’ve been googling!

The Seamaster I’m planning I’m wearing daily, the other two will go back into the bottom draw I think!
 
DON
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Did the bill list the reference number? You can then search on this and it will show you what the dial should look like.

Is this a before image? The hour hand looks like it's touching the dial

DON
 
dvcomega
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DON DON
Did the bill list the reference number? You can then search on this and it will show you what the dial should look like.

Is this a before image? The hour hand looks like it's touching the dial

DON
This is an after image, I don’t have any of the before. It does look like it’s touching the dial but seems to work. The watch also has 2 year warranty with the service. I’ll ask them about that and also a ref number.
Edited:
 
dvcomega
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padders padders
Re the first watch, the hands don't match the dial so at some point either or both were changed. You do see those lance type hands on that model so perhaps that suggests the dial was replaced in the mists of time, the 70s or 80s perhaps. I wouldn't worry about it, it wont make much difference either way in value terms and is part of the watches history.

Regarding the other 2, I see your point. Both are quartz from circa 1980 and both seem to have crown issues. It might be worth trying a new battery but neither are massively desirable, when working and tidy worth maybe a couple of hundred quid but if not working fit for parts only. Parts for the the early quartz movement Omegas are hard to obtain now so repairs can be expensive or impossible.
DON DON
Did the bill list the reference number? You can then search on this and it will show you what the dial should look like.

Is this a before image? The hour hand looks like it's touching the dial

DON
Hi. I’ve asked for a reference number but apparently the only number on the watch was 14390-61-SC. Is there a specific number I’m asking for? What would a number look like for this kind of watch? I’ve also asked for them to take another look at the hour hand - thanks
 
SkunkPrince
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dvcomega dvcomega
Hi. I’ve asked for a reference number but apparently the only number on the watch was 14390-61-SC. Is there a specific number I’m asking for? What would a number look like for this kind of watch? I’ve also asked for them to take another look at the hour hand - thanks
That's the reference number, also (in this case) known as the case number.
 
SkunkPrince
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I did a search on the OP's 14390 and I've seen multiples of this watch with the same hands, so I'm willing to call it a variant.
 
dvcomega
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Thanks. Do you think the dial and hands are original, I know the dial could potentially have been swapped as it doesn’t say Seamaster
 
SkunkPrince
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dvcomega dvcomega
Thanks. Do you think the dial and hands are original, I know the dial could potentially have been swapped as it doesn’t say Seamaster
In my opinion, that dial is too good to be refinished, though of course that is always a possibility. With Omega, there is just so much variation. That could easily be a service dial, for example. In this case, I think you should accept it for what it is and wear it.
 
dvcomega
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SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Yes, but that drawing is not of any particular watch, it's a placeholder for "we don't have a picture."


Thanks, I’m basically trying to establish if anything has been replaced just so I know the history, but pretty hard to find that out I know.
 
dvcomega
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[QUOTE="SkunkPrince, post: 1578868, member: 67397" “that dial is too good to be refinished, though of course that is always a possibility. With Omega, there is just so much variation. That could easily be a service dial”

For someone who knows nothing about Omega watches what does that mean I’m really simple terms?
 
SkunkPrince
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dvcomega dvcomega
Thanks, I’m basically trying to establish if anything has been replaced just so I know the history, but pretty hard to find that out I know.
Darn near impossible! Most of those came with faceted "stick" hands, and as mentioned much earlier, the dial isn't lumed. Both or either could be replacements. But it's nice as is.
 
SkunkPrince
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A "service dial" is a dial Omega keeps in stock to replace during service when the original dial is too damaged. Most of the time, they're somewhat generic when the watch in question is no longer manufactured.
 
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