RCAF Omega 6 pack

I'm located in Trenton, Nova Scotia. I have some pics of the watch, basically just front and back. I was surprised to find your last 60 came from Gagetown. My daughter lives in the area and my x son in law was posted there and I spent some time there in the early 80's when I was with the Pats on exercise. As for Biel, well, I'm probably going to pass, even though I'd like to keep it as authentic as possible. The main thing for me is to get it running and wear it even if it's not 100% authentic. I've got 3 grandkids and only 2 other Omegas so this has to work. Unfortunately, we just don't have a good watchmaker around here that I know of since my previous guy died a couple of years ago.

Hi,
Wow, lot of neglect on this lady. Has the serial number been erased from the caseback? I ask as I've tracked everyone that I've come across.
Buster

Hi,
Is the caseback still with your watch or is this also missing?
Cheers,
Buster

I think the dark spot by the 8 & 9 is where the lume came out of the hands and I don't have the back so can't say what the serial # might be. I don't know if the engraving was done in Canada or at the factory. If at the factory I wonder if an archive from Omega would list serial # attached to movement #. Sad part of this whole story is I went to the local flea market and had the case back in my hand but there was no watch so I left the back there. That same week a guy listed on KIJIJI that he had a bunch of watch stuff for sale. I went up to see him and as I was sorting through the items lo and behold there was the 60. I was putting items in 1 box and the stuff I didn't want I threw in another and managed to throw the pusher in the wrong box. When I got back home and realized I didn't have the pusher I called the guy back up and asked if it was still there and he said no some woman had come and bought all the other stuff. I asked him to call or email her to see if she would sell me the pusher but she said no she was happy with her purchase and was keeping everything. The following week I went back to the flea market and asked the guy who originally sold the stuff if the back was still there he said he thought it should be but search as we did couldn't find it and then his son said he sold the whole tote the week before. I tried an ad on KIJIJI to see if who ever bought the tote might have the back but no one replied.

That's too bad that it panned out this way. I can tell you from experience that I had one missing a caseback and it took over three years to track one, not in great condition.
Judging by the overall condition, the radium lume staining (dial refinish), missing pushers, crown, caseback etc., you may be best to sell it for parts. This may not be cost effective to attempt a restoration. During servicing the movements were sometimes swapped, so there won't be a direct correlation to a caseback serial number, engraved by the RCAF.
That said, if you want I can forward your photos to my watchmaker and see what he thinks. If he thinks it is beyond hope, he may want to pick up the case and movement for parts. I trust his judgement on my RCAF chronographs.
Cheers,
Buster

Thanks Buster; I think I may have a line on a Lemania single pusher case and back which I think may work if it measures out right, just waiting for the guy to get back to me and crossing my fingers. All markings have been removed from the case back so if I can just move pusher, tube and back over to my case that should be the major hurdle covered. Just have to get used to waiting.

No worries,
If all of that works you'll have a good movement to start your restoration with. Regrettably, the future collector value will be the sum of the parts used, but if that's not a priority, then make it a daily wearer.
Cheers,
Buster

I don't know if it would hurt the future value that much, some I'm sure, but since it is a Lemania movement and case after all, and most of the parts needed aren't signed Omega except for the case back do you think it would affect it that much. It would be great if I had an original back but if that's all that isn't original per se then I can live with it until one shows up. And if they swapped movements when in for servicing are any of them truly original. I suppose if a person had the records and the provenance for each swap it would help but in the end it would still just be an original movement in an original case albeit not the case it left the factory with. I don't know. All I know is they are really nice watches and I hope I can get this one revived. There's just something about that simple, plain looking, uncluttered dial that says I'm all business and I get the job done right without all the frills. It really is a classy looking watch in my opinion.

You are correct in that you'll most likely find the ancillary parts to bring your 60 back to life. DND has destroyed all records and to the best of my knowledge the movement swaps etc., would not have been recorded. The caseback is key though as this had the RCAF serial number. I had a 62 that had the number removed from the original backing and it detracted a lot from the overall price.

I love the simplicity of the RCAF dials (all manufacturers) and the single-pusher functionality. I wear mine frequently and can't stop admiring them.
I look forward to seeing photos of your restoration.
Cheers,
Buster

Thanks Buster, been great talking with you. Hopefully, everything will work out and I'll be able to post some after photos. If not, I'll let you know and you can ask your watchmaker if he wants some spare parts. Gotta go visit the grandson now.
Take care.
Dan

Lovely looking pair Bill. I believe yours is the earliest correct number I've seen, 033?
Cheers,
Buster