Opinions on this unidentified vintage Omega [Considering]

fludd · Sep 28, 2023

Hello,

Am I getting interested in vintage watches and just came across this Omega online.
The seller just says that it works and does not intend to remove the back case so I have no more information than the pictures attached.

To give a bit of context, I'd like to try my hands at giving a second beauty to vintage watches as a hobby and would love to start with an Omega. My beginner researches lead me to think this is from the 50s-60s, my clues being the absence of logo at the back as well as collection name, and (more importantly?) the crosshair dial, but of course there are strong chances I am completely wrong. I did not manage to find any other model with the same hour markers though.

The price looks fairly good to me (€150). What do you guys think? Any help with identification, dating, and if it can be a good first purchase to start a restoring hobby, even given the lack of information about the movement condition?

Also, as this is my first post on this forum, don't hesitate to let me know if I missed some guidelines.

Cheers!

Fallout Boy · Sep 28, 2023

Welcome! It s a nice model 👍.

On a flea-market: I would buy (unopened) for the 150! It s a steel-model-so less a dress watch and can have this "patina".

At first glance: around 1950 or before....

just my2cents

X350 XJR · Sep 28, 2023

fludd
a restoring hobby

Restoring vintage watches usually means fυcking them up, especially for the novice.

hoipolloi · Sep 28, 2023

I still can see the Automatic on the dial and the logo with rounded edges. So, it could be powered by a bumper 354 or 351 maybe?. €150 is ok to buy.

fludd · Sep 28, 2023

Fallout Boy
On a flea-market: I would buy (unopened) for the 150!

Thanks there, as well as your thought about the 1950s!

X350 XJR
Restoring vintage watches usually means fυcking them up, especially for the novice.

Gotta start somewhere I guess, but I get your point - I'm more interested in giving watches a shine / working on the case, dial and crystal, which is why I'm looking for working movements like this one (from the seller's words of course).

hoipolloi
I still can see the Automatic on the dial and the logo with rounded edges. So, it could be powered by a bumper 354 or 351 maybe?. €150 is ok to buy.

Thanks for your view!

Question I forgot to ask in my post, do you guys have a bit of context on why there's no collection name on the dial? Is it something we often see on models from the 50s? Thanks again.

hoipolloi · Sep 28, 2023

fludd
Question I forgot to ask in my post, do you guys have a bit of context on why there's no collection name on the dial? Is it something we often see on models from the 50s? Thanks again.

Fulton8or · Sep 28, 2023

I'm guessing that this is either a 28.10 or 351 bumper auto. I attach a scan of my 28.10. 150 euro is a great price if the movement is turning. I would ask seller to rotate the watch back & forth a few turns to verify the seconds hand moves. It should as the 28.10 and 35x series were all shock protected.

Dan S · Sep 28, 2023

The price isn’t crazy, but it looks like someone attempted to clean the dial and pretty much ruined it. I’m not sure what restoration you are considering. Are you planning to hunt down a replacement dial?

bardamu · Sep 28, 2023

Could be a ref. 2421

Syrte · Sep 28, 2023

fludd
I'm more interested in giving watches a shine / working on the case, dial and crystal.

If you’re going to tinker with watches, you should know:
1/ crystal is relatively easy and anyone can do it with toothpaste and other means/ no need to buy a 150 euros Omega to do it;
2/shine: no self respecting collector wants their case to shine— and serious case work deserves a full class in a professional institute;
3/ dial cleaning: this one’s already done as @Dan S pointed out. It’s something you only do if you’re prepared to destroy it, why would you spend 150 euros to practice that if you can do it with a cheap job lot buying several random watches for 20 euros?

gatorcpa · Sep 28, 2023

My observations:

1. This is most likely an early Seamaster model, circa 1948-51. Some models did not have the name on the dial.

2. There is no point in cleaning the dial as someone has beat you to it. It looks to me as the original lacquer finish has been removed chemically. That probably took part of the original dial printing with it. If you go any further, you may lose the rest of it.

3. Probably worth the €150 they are asking, but negotiating a few euros off couldn’t.

4. I’ll echo what other above have said about trying to learn how to service a watch here. This is probably not the one you want to try first.

Hope this helps,
gatorcpa

padders · Sep 28, 2023

Personally I think it is actually what is now known a pre-Seamster. By which I mean it actually predates the SM brand which was launched with the 2576 and 2577 models in 1948. I agree that those also didn't have SM on the dial for the first year or two but that looks more like the waterproof bumper models seen 1946 -1948 which were never actually acknowledged under the SM sub-brand. The model number will tell all but I suspect the serial is in the high 10m to very low 11m region. Would I buy it for €150? Yes I would, despite the less than optimal dial.

TimeODanaos · Sep 28, 2023

Is it automatic? If not, then my guess is CK 2655. Either way, its battered character is irredeemable, and the perfect way to wear a beauty without worry. Buy, open, report back, but please don't "restore".

PS Please get it off that bracelet.

fludd · Sep 28, 2023

Thank you all for your answers, very glad to get your views.

Picking up on a few points that were raised:

- Dial: I actually didn't think it had already been cleaned before, it looked to me as if some places like the very bottom part were still dirty (could be on the crystal though?), so this was part of the restoration I had in mind.
I'm open to search for a replacement dial as close to the original as possible, but with the dating you've pointed out I assume it will be a very tough one. What are you thoughts on this as collectors, would you personally change the dial given its state?

- Crystal: this is actually the part I was more keen to work on myself or replace if necessary, good to know this can be done easily.

- Case/steel: not looking for it to actually 'shine', it was my way of saying giving the watch a clean, if that makes more sense. 😉

- Bracelet: I'd definitely want to change it.

- On working on this watch as a first: I get your point and it motivates me to give a try to a couple cheap ones beforehand to learn. Nevertheless I'm looking still actively looking at buying a few *working* automatic Omega watches in this price range for the simple reason that I like them, think they're keepers and would wear them.

I'll probably purchase the watch this weekend and will keep you posted.

Dan S · Sep 28, 2023

fludd
- Dial: I actually didn't think it had already been cleaned before, it looked to me as if some places like the very bottom part were still dirty (could be on the crystal though?), so this was part of the restoration I had in mind.
I'm open to search for a replacement dial as close to the original as possible, but with the dating you've pointed out I assume it will be a very tough one. What are you thoughts on this as collectors, would you personally change the dial given its state?

- Crystal: this is actually the part I was more keen to work on myself or replace if necessary, good to know this can be done easily.

- Case/steel: not looking for it to actually 'shine', it was my way of saying giving the watch a clean, if that makes more sense.

- Bracelet: I'd want definitely to change it.

As several people have suggested, the loss of the printing in that way (the text and crosshairs) is typically due to a failed cleaning attempt. If you try to clean the dial, you will likely make it even worse. As you note, finding the correct replacement dial will likely be difficult. For those reasons, as a collector, I would not buy this watch, even though it's cheap. I can tolerate almost anything else for the right watch, but at this point, I won't buy a watch if I can't live with the dial.

The bracelet is one of the best features of the watch IMO. Not Omega, but those Expandros are cool vintage expandable bracelets.

krogerfoot · Sep 28, 2023

I actually think the watch might be enjoyable. It will likely never be collectible and the dial is not salvageable,* BUT in my opinion the ruination of the dial has a striking look. I’d probably buy it at €150, especially on that nifty bracelet. It might still look good on a leather strap.

That said, the way it typically goes is you buy a watch cheaply, get interested in the model, do research, learn how a well-preserved example looks and then yours inexorably begins to lose its appeal.

But hey, we know when we get a pet it will inevitably break our hearts by dying. I think you can get €150 worth of enjoyment out of this watch. Maybe more if you don’t succumb to the temptation to make it worse.

* I’m not trying to give a peremptory verdict here; it’s just that I’m not expert enough to explain well how dial cleanings just aren’t a thing. The members here have their various reasons for saying cleaning the dial is a nonstarter, and they know what they’re talking about.

padders · Sep 28, 2023

TimeODanaos
Is it automatic? If not, then my guess is CK 2655. Either way, its battered character is irredeemable, and the perfect way to wear a beauty without worry. Buy, open, report back, but please don't "restore".

PS Please get it off that bracelet.

It says Automatic on the dial...

TIMElyBehaviour · Sep 28, 2023

I’m thinking it’s a or a 2892, 2635- something. They all had that case and dial as well as a 351 bumper

padders · Sep 28, 2023

It’s not 50s with that dial. Your second guess is better and you might have it. Nearest the bull wins a beer from the others I say.

TIMElyBehaviour · Sep 28, 2023

padders
It’s not 50s with that dial. Nearest the bull wins a beer from the others I say.

I had one dated 1950 by serial number similar dial.

Opinions on this unidentified vintage Omega [Considering]

fludd

Fallout Boy

X350 XJR

hoipolloi

fludd

hoipolloi

Fulton8or

Dan S

bardamu

Syrte

gatorcpa

padders

TimeODanaos

fludd

Dan S

krogerfoot

padders

TIMElyBehaviour

padders

TIMElyBehaviour

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