Hi all,

I recently came into possession of an Omega pocket watch. I was able to do some basic research and learn that the watch was made and cased maybe a year or two later. Essentially a 1916-1919 give or take.

Could someone suggest a resource to help me learn more about this item?

Otherwise any input from members is always appreciated.

I’m debating whether if I should keep this one or let it go.

Thanks!

Dr. K

 

The movement looks to me to be a 19 ligne (diameter) Omega movement with 15 jewels which is missing one plate screw. Bi-metallic, temperature compensating balance wheel, blued steel Breguet (overcoil) hairspring. Movement serial number indicates manufacture likely circa 1918-19 or so. The movement was produced by Omega in a number of grades, and this one is a cut above average, but not high grade. The 12-hour face (dial) is vitreous enamel with Breguet-style numerals, and appears to be in good condition for a 100 year old dial. The .900 inside the case back indicates coin silver. This, indicating the case is the same standard as coin of the era, (or 90% silver). The tiny, slightly indistinct stamping of a bear above the .900 stamping is the Swiss standard mark for a case that was at least .875 pure silver. The watch appears to be in very good condition.

 

^^^^^ This is why I love this place!!

Lovely looking watch. Get yourself a nice coin silver chain or a leather lanyard (some members here make them) and a snazzy vest (waistcoat for our UK friends) and rock that thing with an Oxford and jeans in the colder months. Or go the @Mad Dog route and wear a leather belt case and a Metallica T-shirt.

 

Check out the seamless braided leather lanyards produced by our very own @DaveK on the For Sale forum, here.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/pocket-watch-lanyards.115644/

Click on the link and find out how to get your very own lanyard.

Many pocket watch aficionados on the message board have bought Dave’s unique and beautifully made (not to mention versatile) lanyards. Your truly included.

 

^^^^^ This is why I love this place!!

 

The dial is in great shape , and those hands are pretty cool too.

 

I hear a dibs coming

 

I'm pretty sure Dr K wants to hold on to that fine example . To your earlier point JW, imagine trying to just google the info the Dr K was looking for. Good luck. This forum and its sensible contributors are irreplaceable.

 

Thank you so much for the information and comments!

 

The "crown in the crescent" (Halbmond und Reichskrone) hallmark is a German requirement for fine silver items sold in that country.

 

Very interesting point!

thanks!

 

“Fine silver” is the description of 1.000 pure silver. The watch is not fine silver. It is coin silver (.900 fine). Does the crown and crescent mark also apply to silver alloys?

 

Sorry if I misspoke.....the crown and crescent mark in Germany is required for silver fineness 800/1000 and better. Thanks for the heads up.

 

“For fineness 800/1000 or better?” Fine silver is pure silver, or .999 (not 1000). There is no grade of silver that is finer.

 

This watch brings up an interesting point - it seems that sterling or coin silver cases are far more rare than gold cases or the gold filled ones either. I'm guessing tastes, but man I wish the few pocket watches I had were sterling (or coin) silver instead of gold plate.

 

White and green gold, nickel, gun metal are other options too

 

I guess you bring up a good point. I have seen mostly golds

 

The term “coin silver” could mean .800 fine, .875 fine, .900 fine, or .925 fine. It depends on the country, and the era. The case on the subject watch is marked .900. But it could be .875 which was a popular alloy for Swiss watch cases. Many Swiss watch cases were exported to Great Britain where .875 was not a legal standard. So a .900 stamping on a Swiss case exported to Great Britain guarantees that the case is no less than .875 pure. In an early post in this thread, it was disclosed that this case may have been exported to Germany.

 

I’m having some difficulty winding and setting the time with this one. Any recommend repair shops?

 

Whereabouts are you located?