Community Stories

Please Help Identify this Omega watch

B
Posts
4
Likes
0
I have recently inherited this watch from my grandfather. It was said to be purchased in 1959. It is in poor shape and Id like to have it redone to keep for myself in my collection. I was hoping someone would be able to help identify it. I have an appt next week with a jeweler to have it inspected however id like some back round research prior to. In all possibility it might be fake but id like to rule it out.
 
20210611_202026.jpg 20210611_202011.jpg
JimInOz
Posts
16,550
Likes
34,820
You have an early version Omega Globemaster from about 1953/54 and it appears to be in original condition, if a little aged.

Here is an excellent essay that will tell you more about the history of the US specific Globemasters.

http://users.tpg.com.au/mondodec//Globemasterpost.pdf

BTW, you need to ditch the after market bracelet, they have a tendency to gouge holes in the lugs.

And make sure you take it to a WATCHMAKER, not a jeweller.
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,792
Can't tell much (if anything) without the number inside the caseback. It appears you are missing the crystal, and the dial is quite damaged... it identifies the watch as a Globemaster, and if it truly is, you have a rare find but it's in deplorable condition.

I have found a posting on here of the exact same watch, so I believe yours to be authentic. It's a dirty darn shame that the crystal is gone, it might have protected the dial better.

I'm seeing two choices for you, and it's up to you which you want to pursue. It is all original now or close to it, so you could get a new crystal and a movement service and wear it as is... or you could send it to the factory in Bienne, where they will make it look like new, including a factory dial refinish, where it is cleaned off, repainted, and re-inked.

Clearly the less-intrusive alternative is also the lowest cost. Sending it to Bienne might well cost $2000 (that is not a typo).

Of course you can do the less-intrusive cleaning first, and make up your mind about a complete restoration at another time.
 
B
Posts
4
Likes
0
JimInOz JimInOz
You have an early version Omega Globemaster from about 1953/54 and it appears to be in original condition, if a little aged.

Here is an excellent essay that will tell you more about the history of the US specific Globemasters.

http://users.tpg.com.au/mondodec//Globemasterpost.pdf

BTW, you need to ditch the after market bracelet, they have a tendency to gouge holes in the lugs.

And make sure you take it to a WATCHMAKER, not a jeweller.

Thank you for the help for the identification. Does it matter at all that the link your provided shows a different face ? The ones in the article do not have the second dial at the bottom.
 
B
Posts
4
Likes
0
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Can't tell much (if anything) without the number inside the caseback. It appears you are missing the crystal, and the dial is quite damaged... it identifies the watch as a Globemaster, and if it truly is, you have a rare find but it's in deplorable condition.

I have found a posting on here of the exact same watch, so I believe yours to be authentic. It's a dirty darn shame that the crystal is gone, it might have protected the dial better.

I'm seeing two choices for you, and it's up to you which you want to pursue. It is all original now or close to it, so you could get a new crystal and a movement service and wear it as is... or you could send it to the factory in Bienne, where they will make it look like new, including a factory dial refinish, where it is cleaned off, repainted, and re-inked.

Clearly the less-intrusive alternative is also the lowest cost. Sending it to Bienne might well cost $2000 (that is not a typo).

Of course you can do the less-intrusive cleaning first, and make up your mind about a complete restoration at another time.
Can you provide me with the posting for the watch ? It would be greatly appreciated
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,550
Likes
34,820
B BraedenD93
Thank you for the help for the identification. Does it matter at all that the link your provided shows a different face ? The ones in the article do not have the second dial at the bottom.

Omega had many dial variations even for the same model. Yours is fine.

Here is one referred on the forum some years ago.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/omega-globemaster.14682/
 
JimInOz
Posts
16,550
Likes
34,820
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
Indeed the one I saw, friend on the other side of the world! 😀

Great minds think alike (or remember the same thing).

😁
 
gatorcpa
Posts
12,666
Likes
17,109
JimInOz JimInOz
You have an early version Omega Globemaster from about 1953/54…
Not quite so early. Howard Hughes and Omega settled their issues sometime in 1955, so the Constellation name started in the US at that time.

Norman Morris Co. still wanted to use the “Globemaster” name. With the introduction of the cal. 55X/56X movements in 1958, Omega had some surplus cal. 491 and 501 movements to sell. And so a match was made.

1959 would be dead-on for this 2nd Generation Globemaster. Here is a 1959 US price list:

upload_2021-6-12_7-47-26.jpeg


Note the inclusion of both Constellation and Globemaster models.
gatorcpa
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

J

Please help identify this model

jakedo3006 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
J
jakedo3006
Posts
2
Views
516
V

Family old story. Please help identify this vintage omega

vigenere Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Vitezi
Vitezi
Posts
1
Views
3K
K

Help to identify this Omega watch

Kerry5592 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
padders
padders
Posts
4
Views
2K
H

Please Help Identify This Vintage Beauty

Happy_Jake Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
1
Views
2K
jordiz

Help to identify this Omega Constellation

jordiz Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
mac_omega
mac_omega
Posts
5
Views
382
T

Can anyone help identify this watch?

themilkman Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
SOG53
SOG53
Posts
8
Views
373