These "R" serial numbers do not come up with any result when I try to look them up on the Omega Extranet, so that isn't much help.

I don't know what the process was back in the 70's (or before) but currently if you have a damaged part that is serialized, you send the old part back to Omega, and they engrave a new part with the same serial number, and send the new one back to you. The old one is not returned because they don't want duplicates out there. I am going through this process right now with an 1120 movement that needs a new barrel bridge, and that is the part on some older models that has the serial number on it. I can just buy a new bridge without the serial number, but having the serial number added doesn't cost anything extra - it just takes time so 6 weeks for the replacement bridge to arrive.

Cheers, Al

 

1120 would have it on the barrel bridge or the balance cock. Never seen one with a serial number on the rotor.

BTW when this thread came up last year, I emailed Omega here in Canada about these numbers - no answer. I just today emailed someone else from Omega in another country I know who has been with the company for many decades - we'll see what he says.

Cheers, Al

 

I got an answer from Omega. Not what I hoped for but anyhow it solved the mystery!

Answer from Omega:
As far as the extract of the archive is concerned, it is likely that, at some point in time before you acquired the watch, the movement was exchanged with a replacement movement (movement number beginning with R.XXXXX) and therefore we regret to inform you that no extract of the archive can be ordered.

 

Strangely enough I have just found another of these.... Numerically speaking not a lot of difference between them....

 

wow! How interesting. The movement looks not to be rhodium, as mine, (or is it?) but the R-number is very close, only 176 movements apart.
Can you see from the dial text aproximately when the watch is from? My dial is early 80´s I suppose
http://chronomaddox.com/speedy_dial_details.html

 

Did you hear anything back on this?
The link by @gatorcpa is interesting (I think this must be the same post I recalled having read somtime in the past):
http://www.watchprosite.com/?page=w...95908&pzt=&dv=true&wf.responses.open_bLoB_s=0

 

Hi, This is from ST145.022-69. This supports the theory that these are indeed replacement movements. To suggest that yours is a one off seems too much of a coincidence to me especially given the proximity of the numbers....

 

It's off a Tissot....

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Tissot-Chron...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Sorry, I´m mixing up things. My movement is not rhodium. It is a 861 movement pink gilt colored, so in case this is a replacement movement, it is pre-92

 

...today I get a 135.003-62 SC (Seamaster 30 from 1962). My 1st R-movement...I thought "replacement", that seems to be correct?

 

Thanks. Maybe there was a water damage on the crowns side. The patina on the dial is more distinct on the right (=crown) side...

 

No it may not be. The lemania 1873 is identical to the Omega 861. In fact I own a watch with this movement. The fear on this piece is that it’s a pieces together movement from multiple watches. Which is a perfectly fine movement but as this appears to be a 78 to mid 80’s watch your going to have resale issues down the road and they are easy to source with no questions asked. The pictures hide the baseplate engraving which is also suspect.

 

Well.. this got me curious ;-)
I popped off the case back and looked at the engravings through a loupe. the baseplate 861 engraving and Omega logo is definitely there.

 

Hi all,

Apologies for reviving an old thread; just stumbled upon another R-serial Speedmaster (145.022-68 or 69). The owner is very frank about the fact that it has an odd serial number. To my eyes, it appears to be a bit of a Franken:

- R-serial movement
- AML dial (145.022-68 Transitional ?)
- 145.022-69 caseback
- Newer crown
- DNN bezel (but appears quite 'aged' for a 90's replacement)

To me, it appears to be another clue for an R-serial movement to be a non-original (i.e. Service) movement. Perhaps this new datapoints helps people.

Any new thoughts about this?

Cheers,

Sander

Some pics: hopefully the owner doesn't mind when I include a reference: https://www.ebay.de/itm/1969-Omega-Speedmaster-Professional-Moon-Watch-145-022-69/113777876465Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Sorry for reviving this old thread but wanted to add another example. I‘m offered this 2576 with also a R serial number, which I was not familiar with. The seller also said it was a „prototype“, which sounded weird as it was a common movement by then. Reading through this thread, R for replacement makes most sense. I‘m „color blind“ but even I see the different color of the part with the serial number and the rest.

 

I guess the most likely explanation to the "R" serial numbers is that they are numbered replacement parts.
Color blind too, but not that color blind to not see the difference between the stamped bridge and the other parts.
The bridge is holding the bumper rotor, so that this would be worn at some point, perhaps worse on an early design, seem very plausible IMO.
That again would explain it being replaced during a service. Using R-series for replacement parts would make a whole lot of sense as you could still ID the watch, but not having to make new engravings (with the original serial number) to a movement part when replacing it.