Question re white gold Seamaster

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Rasputin

·Oct 5, 2023

What are your thoughts on the originality of this watch? I assume it to be an American 14k gold cased cal 505. What I find strange is the dial does not mention “chronometer” despite the cal 505 and I’m not seeing “Swiss” on the dial though the crystal ring may have obscured it. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of the inside of caseback. Anyone know the case reference this likely is and whether the movement and dial are original?

 

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Geezer

·Oct 6, 2023

I'm thinking the case and movement are from the 50s but the dial and hands are later (60s).

 

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Risto

·Oct 6, 2023

Dial and the hands are definitely late 1960s style.

 

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Rasputin

·Oct 6, 2023

So we’re talking a mismatch between case/movement (1950s) and dial/hands (late 60s)?

 

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hoipolloi

·Oct 6, 2023·Vintage Omega Connoisseur

That Seamaster font was used on late 50's to early 60's.

 

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M'Bob

·Oct 6, 2023

Rasputin

So we’re talking a mismatch between case/movement (1950s) and dial/hands (late 60s)?

Still looks great, and different to boot.

 

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Rasputin

·Oct 6, 2023

Has Omega ever matched a non-chronometer dial to a chronometer grade movement?

 

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gatorcpa

·Oct 6, 2023·ΩF InvestiGator

Rasputin

Has Omega ever matched a non-chronometer dial to a chronometer grade movement?

Not to my knowledge.

I would also be concerned that I’ve never seen any Omega chronometer grade movement mated to a U.S. National Production case. The chronometers that I have seen in U.S. Omega advertisements from the 1950’s were all Swiss cased.

Higher end National Production watches like 2nd generation Globemasters did not have rated movements. You needed to move up to Seamaster Chronometers and Constellations to get those.
gatorcpa

 

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Dr No

·Oct 8, 2023

gatorcpa

Not to my knowledge.

I would also be concerned that I’ve never seen any Omega chronometer grade movement mated to a U.S. National Production case. The chronometers that I have seen in U.S. Omega advertisements from the 1950’s were all Swiss cased.

Higher end National Production watches like 2nd generation Globemasters did not have rated movements. You needed to move up to Seamaster Chronometers and Constellations to get those.
gatorcpa

 

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gatorcpa

·Oct 8, 2023·ΩF InvestiGator

Thanks!

Now that I have a case reference, I can find others:

https://www.belmontwatches.com/products/pre-owned-omega-seamaster-9082
(This might be @Dr No ’s watch with a new crystal)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284168006630
(Obvious redial).

However, I don’t think the OP’s watch is a Ref 9082. The lugs are different. Also, both of these are yellow gold, not white.

So we are back where we started.
gatorcpa

 

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Pixitfecit

·Oct 8, 2023

I would guess that this watch was put together.

 

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Dr No

·Oct 9, 2023

gatorcpa

Thanks!

Now that I have a case reference, I can find others:

https://www.belmontwatches.com/products/pre-owned-omega-seamaster-9082
(This might be @Dr No ’s watch with a new crystal)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284168006630
(Obvious redial).

However, I don’t think the OP’s watch is a Ref 9082. The lugs are different. Also, both of these are yellow gold, not white.

So we are back where we started.
gatorcpa

You're right, Gator - that is my former SM chronometer on Belmont's website. The photos I posted were originally posted here on OF about six years ago by a friend of the original owner. A year or so later, that watch came up on eBay with an enthusiastic polish job and incorrect crown.
I was so driven to own a ref 2989 that I decided to take a chance on it. (I didn't realize until later that the SM seen here on OF the year before was the same watch). The movement had been serviced incompetently and case polished by someone equally incompetent. My watchmaker couldn't get it running better than -12 sec / day, so I let it go. Would like to find another, but they're few and far between.

Best,

Art

 

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Rasputin

·Oct 9, 2023

Unless it’s not an Omega case, there’s a very finite number of possibilities for a white gold reference from this era. Is this case that uncommon?

 

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gatorcpa

·Oct 9, 2023·ΩF InvestiGator

White gold cases from this era are very uncommon.

Again, without a reference number, It is impossible to tell you what it is or supposed to be.
gatorcpa

 

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Rasputin

·Oct 15, 2023

Turns out to be a Jonell Case ref GX 6558 with an OXG caliber 505 dated to 1958.

According to the Omega database this reference originated in 1961 with a solid yellow gold case containing a cal 505:

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-us-collection-omega-gx-6558

Most examples I've seen utilized a caliber 500 dating from 1956-1958 and not 1961. Note the serial number of the 505 dates from the same time frame as other examples with a cal 500.

Norman Morris was known to assemble Swiss movements into American made cases. Perhaps this was a surplus 505 assembled in a Jonell case esp considering Omega began transitioning to 55X/56X movements in 1959?

Edited: Oct 20, 2023