Opinions on this Omega Ref.2576-4 "Pre-Seamaster"?

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

Hello OF-Members
Today I've spotted a beautiful Omega Ref. 2576-4 (cal. 342 / 1146XXXX), which has no "Seamaster" print on the Dial. The Price is pretty good but I do have some concerns considering the lume on the hour/minute hand and about the small second hand.
- The lume on the hour/minute hand looks almost too nice and even (relumed?!)
- The small second hand seems a bit too short?
What do you think about the originality of the watch? And do you know if one could call it a Pre-Seamaster?

Thank you in advance for your keen eyes and your support!

padders · Apr 14, 2020

First comment, it’s not what is normally known as a pre-Seamaster. That model and its 2577 brother were introduced in 1948 as the original Seamaster, the waterproof models that came immediately before in the mid '40s are therefore known as the pre-SM. The 2576/7 didn't have SM text on the dial until about a year after launch so late 1949. A few years after they got text on the rear too but these were plain. Your watch serial dates it at maybe late '48 early '49 by the way so it is early but not one of the very first which I think had serials around 11.3m or so AFAIK. The hour/min hands have deffo been replaced and likely have superluminova, otherwise it is a little tired but seemingly straight, the patina is quite noticeable but also quite pleasant. The small second looks OK to me. The movement looks very clean which is a good sign. I'd personally be happy to own that, but at the right money. What is the asking price?

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

@padders
Thank you so much for the valuable information! Now I'm sure that the hour and min hands have been replaced and that it's not a pre-Seamaster.
The asking price is 500$ which I think is pretty fair. I decide today about purchasing it or not and if I pass, I'll let you know first and immediately!
Have a nice day and thanks a lot!

padders · Apr 14, 2020

It's a shame about the hands but that price sounds good. It may need a service of course but if it is running well then that is pretty fair. You could always have the hands redone sensitively with a darker more aged looking lume, or get some replacement originals.

kyle L · Apr 14, 2020

Personally I would not be so quick to write the hands off as relumed...it is very hard to tell just from that one picture.

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

@kyle L
The lume seems so even and has almost the same tone as the patina of the dial; there are no cracks in the lume...it seems too good to be true somehow. Here are 2 more pictures providing different angles (it's all I've got).

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

I couldn't resist and bought the watch for about $ 500.- (@padders )
As soon as I get it, I'll examine the lume on the hands and let you know.
I appreciate your help, always a pleasure!

BlackTalon · Apr 14, 2020

Any concerns about the uneven spacing between markers and minute ticks? Does the text look 'off' due to a possible past dial cleaning? The minute ticks between 7 and 9 seem to be a collection of lengths and angles, but not sure if that is due to distortion from the crystal.

padders · Apr 14, 2020

kyle L
Personally I would not be so quick to write the hands off as relumed...it is very hard to tell just from that one picture.

I agree and I know you are someone whose opinion is worth respecting but it wasn't just the lume colour I was going on, it was the square ended lume plots as well as the suspiciously white clean look. Those look like modern replacements to me but I am happy to be proven wrong. It would be a big bonus for the OP if they are in fact original Radium lume. Here are a couple of my early 2577s for a comp, note the difference in hand lume plot shape/size. I haven't noticed too many early Seamasters with those wide triangle lume hands as seen on the OP watch:

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

I think

BlackTalon
Any concerns about the uneven spacing between markers and minute ticks? Does the text look 'off' due to a possible past dial cleaning? The minute ticks between 7 and 9 seem to be a collection of lengths and angles, but not sure if that is due to distortion from the crystal.

I see it too now
Very well seen! But I think (and know that I've bought It I hope 😉) that it's due to the angle. I think on this additional picture the angle of the minute track (between 7/9) looks better and less suspicious ?

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

padders
I agree and I know you are someone whose opinion is worth respecting but it wasn't just the lume colour I was going on, it was the square ended lume plots as well as the suspiciously white clean look. Those look like modern replacements to me but I am happy to be proven wrong. It would be a big bonus for the OP if they are in fact original Radium lume. Here are a couple of my early 2577s for a comp, note the difference in hand lume plot shape/size. I haven't noticed too many early Seamasters with those wide triangle lume hands as seen on the OP watch:

I tend to agree with you considering that the lume on the hands is suspiciously bright and even, but I my limited research showed me a few watches with the same dauphine hands and the same lume insert (same wide triangle / same lume). In fact a almost similar Watch was for sale here on the OF: https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-automatic-2576-4.90054/

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

Damn! It's almost the same watch, watch the link, but the last four numbers are not the same, but the start 1146 is identical.

padders · Apr 14, 2020

Well yes that does look similar! Lets hope yours turn out to be fine, if so you got the watch at a good price IMO. I probably should have noticed both mine have the 2 tone dial effect, yours and the one you link to don't so could well be different.

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

padders
Well yes that does look similar! Lets hope yours turn out to be fine, if so you got the watch at a good price IMO. I probably should have noticed both mine have the 2 tone dial effect, yours and the one you link to don't so could well be different.

Thank you, you helped me a lot! If I had the information about that sold example on the forum earlier I would have postet it from the beginning. But I just found out myself. Let's hope for the best 😀

KingCrouchy · Apr 14, 2020

I'm sorry to be the bearer of Bad news, but I bought this Watch in the past and had it send back because the Case was screwed into pieces. The caseback wasn't holding well anymore and there where pieces of metal everywhere. Did you bought the Watch in Switzerland? Here the Pictures I sended to my Watchmaker.

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

@KingCrouchy
Sadly it is! I've bought in in Switzerland correct. The seller didn't mention any problem with the case back, but I have to admit that I should have seen it on the picture which shows some damage to the screw on mechanism of the case back. I'll test it and probably have it sent back to the seller. Thanks even for the bad news 😀😉 Small f***ing world.

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

@KingCrouchy
Wonderful Nato-Strap btw! Would you share where you've got it from (if that's allowed on here)?

KingCrouchy · Apr 14, 2020

TheBosston
@KingCrouchy
Sadly it is! I've bought in in Switzerland correct. The seller didn't mention any problem with the case back, but I have to admit that I should have seen it on the picture which shows some damage to the screw on mechanism of the case back. I'll test it and probably have it sent back to the seller. Thanks even for the bad news 😀😉 Small f***ing world.

That sucks, the Watch is nice on it's own but sadly had this issue. But the movement got serviced probably if you compare the Pictures with mine, that's a plus. Maybe they solved the issue. Happy to help, even with bad news.🙁
The nato was from cheapestnatostraps.com
https://www.cheapestnatostraps.com/...ntal/products/retro-nato-strap-burgundy-baron
18mm if you are searching for this Ref.

BlackTalon · Apr 14, 2020

TheBosston
I think

I see it too now
Very well seen! But I think (and know that I've bought It I hope 😉) that it's due to the angle. I think on this additional picture the angle of the minute track (between 7/9) looks better and less suspicious ?

Those ticks do look better in that photo. I still can't shake the inconsistent spacing of the minute ticks to the sides of the hour markers, though. (once again could be due to distortion/ photo angles -- would be easiest to tell once you have it in your possession)

TheBosston · Apr 14, 2020

KingCrouchy
That sucks, the Watch is nice on it's own but sadly had this issue. But the movement got serviced probably if you compare the Pictures with mine, that's a plus. Maybe they solved the issue. Happy to help, even with bad news.🙁
The nato was from cheapestnatostraps.com
https://www.cheapestnatostraps.com/...ntal/products/retro-nato-strap-burgundy-baron
18mm if you are searching for this Ref.

I'll check them out, thank you very much! I post an update as soon as I got it. Have a nice evening 😀

Opinions on this Omega Ref.2576-4 "Pre-Seamaster"?

TheBosston

padders

TheBosston

padders

kyle L

TheBosston

TheBosston

BlackTalon

padders

TheBosston

TheBosston

TheBosston

padders

TheBosston

KingCrouchy

TheBosston

TheBosston

KingCrouchy

BlackTalon

TheBosston

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