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Please, I would like help identifying a Vintage Omega with Olympic markings

  1. Klausius Oct 21, 2018

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    Hello Omega folks,

    I'm new to the forum, and maybe like quite a few new members, I'm here since I happened to receive an old Omega Seamaster as an heirloom, and was left wondering what exactly it is. Hence I wanted to ask for your help and knowledge.
    I did some research, and it seems to me that it could be a 1956 model, based on the fact that it has this Melbourne Olympic marking on the back. However, unlike such models, it doesn't feature the same marking on the front dial (it just reads "Omega Automatic Seamaster Swiss Made), neither does it feature the "XVI on the "Seamaster" mention on the back, like other similar Olympic Seamaster models do.
    At first I thought that there might have been a redial, which would explain the lack of the XVI mention or emblem on it, but it would not explain the back without the XVI.
    [Edit]: Also worth mentioning is the "Swiss Made" marking, which is clearly separated on both sides of the 6. Is it common? Other Olympic Seamaster seem to have it written attached under the 6.
    The back of the watch has been considerably worn down, to the point were the markings are damaged in a very similar way to another Olympic watch mentioned on the forum (here is the link of that thread: here).

    So I'm a bit puzzled. Here are some photos of the watch in question. The bracelet is a rather old and worn out German Cornelius Kaufmann model.
    My hypothesis is that it simply is a model I haven't found information about, possibly a later version of the Olympic Seamaster?
    I have not had the watch opened (it's working perfectly fine) so I have no other information regarding it. The glass is badly scratched though, my father or maybe his father likely used it a lot.

    I would like to mention that I'm by no means a watches expert, I just know what google taught me, and have started looking into it because of getting the watch in the first place. So I hope that you will pardon my general ignorance.

    Thanks
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    Edited Oct 21, 2018
  2. chipsotoole Oct 21, 2018

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    What a lovely watch to inherit. The gold case has lost a bit of it's sharpness here and there from use but it's still bitchin'! Omega did so many variations of dial design so it's no surprise you can't find anything to match it. These Olympic beauts come up from time to time..I've seen more celebrating Melbourne than any other games. One of the OF members here (I forget who) is a big fan and collector of these watches...someone'll page him in the next few responses I'm sure.
    I particularly love the crown and case.
    Buy some "polywatch" and you'll have those crystal scratches out in ten minutes.
    Service it, wear it and enjoy it, there aren't many of these around!
     
    connieseamaster likes this.
  3. BenBagbag Oct 21, 2018

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    It's a rare bird and certainly an heirloom. I believe the dial was refinished at some point, which was common at time of service. Interested in hearing more about it though!
     
  4. Klausius Oct 21, 2018

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    Thank you for your answers!
    I must confess that I know next to nothing about this watch. My father had it hidden in a compartment under the foam of his camera case for some reason, among old goldmarks from the second Reich. He himself was more of a Rolex person, and I didn't even knew that he owned an Omega before he passed away.
    I think that it's indeed a very beautiful watch, and that's why I was curious about it in the first place. I think I will get it serviced by the Omega shop, but I have no idea what to expect in terms of costs for such a procedure...
    I'm curious to see what the afficionado and specialist of the forum has to say about it, I would gladly learn more about the watch (which in some remote way would tell me a bit about my father).
    @BenBagbag, you said that the dial had been likely refinished, how can you tell? I'm sorry I know almost nothing on that matter ^^'.
     
  5. mondodec Editor Constellation Collectors Blog Oct 21, 2018

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    Hmm, I think the dial has been replaced in entirety.

    Coffin markers and applied XVI are the two constants in the Melbourne Olympic Seamasters. The Japanese lacquer dials were prone to crazing and I have seen more than one of these models with a replacement dial. See here for a review of the various models.

    Nevertheless, the dial is part of both the history of the watch and its ownership, and so I would simply preserve it as is.

    Cheers

    Desmond

    PS Rather than have the watch compromised any further, I would avoid an Omega service agent (who will want to send it to Bienne for a very expensive and not altogether sympathetic refurbishment) and source a local, independent watchmaker who knows his way around vintage Omegas.
     
  6. mac_omega Oct 21, 2018

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    IMO the case back is just a variant we have not encountered so far - except the missing XI it looks totally original and is in rather good condition - the olympic crest is still very well preserved and not worn down like in many other Olympic SMs.

    The dial is a wrong replacement for sure as Demond wrote.

    To be sure that the case is all original (I don´t doubt this) have it opened by a competent watchmaker and take a photo of the inner caseback.
    There you ought to find the ref. number 2850

    best
    Erich
     
  7. Klausius Oct 22, 2018

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    Thank you again for the extra information.

    So the dial has been likely changed given that it doesn't feature the characteristic elements of the other Olympic Seamasters, including those coffin markers... It makes sense, I figured that the absence of the "XVI" was already surprising in itself. So it would mean that my father likely had to have it fixed at least once.
    I read the essay you forwarded with attention, and learned quite a lot. Thank you @Desmond. As you said (and it is definitely sound advice), I will not try to get the dial replaced to a more historical model, at least not in the near future. Maybe if it gets damaged, then I will consider "writing" my own part of this watch's history, but not for now.
    I'm a bit surprised that you recommend not going directly to Omega... I thought that they would be the best bet. This will make it a tad more difficult, since I have no idea how to find a trustworthy watchmaker with a decent knowledge on old omegas (I guess that asking any of them, they would likely say that they are about the most qualified person on Earth, except for the guy who actually built it in the first place). Well thank you for the warning at any rate. If I ever hear of one such competent watchmaker I will try and get the ref. number on the same occasion.
    I had another practical question. Since the markings seem to be pretty vulnerable to wear, would you advise against wearing the watch on a daily basis? I'm the kind of person with a "these boots are made for walkin'" approach, but I don't intend to massacre a golden 1950's piece of heritage like any workhorse either, so I'm not certain of what I should do. It would be also sad to have it gather dust in a drawer (or under the foam of a camera case).

    with gratitude
     
  8. chipsotoole Oct 22, 2018

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    Why not ask here about competent watchmakers in your area....The OF members have spread their net far and wide.....I can tell you about 2 great watchmakers in Nürnberg....
     
  9. Klausius Oct 22, 2018

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    Actually that makes a lot of sense. But rather than Germany (I don't live there anymore) are there some watchmakers you would recommend in Paris? The problem is likely that the offer is very large, finding the good ones in the crowd might be rather difficult.
     
  10. mondodec Editor Constellation Collectors Blog Oct 22, 2018

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    Yes, I'm sure someone will have a recommendation of a good Parisian watchmaker. Maybe if you speak French you could try one of the French watch forums if you have no success here.

    In respect to wearing the watch once it's serviced, these models were originally promoted as a sports watch with a formal look, however it may be worthwhile recalling how watches were worn in those days. Usually people had more than one watch: a utility, or day, watch for harder wear and sports-related activity, a tool watch if it was relevant, and at least one other watch to wear on more formal occasions. If they were lucky, their "best" watch would be gold. If men wore a suit then a watch like your XVI would have been most suitable as a day watch.

    The case is 18k gold and it would take an awful lot of wrist time to wear away the Olympic medallion. So, if your daily work doesn't involve labour in conditions where a watch would be vulnerable to all sorts of knocks and shocks, why not wear it every day. I would.

    Regards

    Desmond