Trying to Pinpoint the Year.. Seamaster Bumper 1950?

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Stevenb206

·Mar 30, 2020

I've just inherited, what I think is a Seamaster Bumper 1950 Automatic, but after many hours perusing online archives I have yet to find an identical match.

I have yet to get the back plate off, I don't want to scratch or damage it with my needle-nose pliers and no Watch store is open due to COVID-19...

Thanks for the help,

 

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Dr No

·Mar 30, 2020

1949 - 51 would be my guess. Ref 2577. Otto Frei still has correct pink gold clover crowns.

 

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padders

·Mar 30, 2020·Oooo subtitles!

It isn't one of the very earliest, for the first year or so they had no Seamaster text on the dial but as above it could well be 1950-53. The serial will tell all. I had a version with that dial I dated at 1951 but there are dozens of variants out there and they made 2577s up to around 1954 AFAIK.

I am assuming it is a 2577, if it has a screw on back it likely is, but if it has a snap back it will be a 2767 and will be slightly later, '54-'55. I also had an earlier 2577 with no dial SM text which I dated at '49 based on the serial.

Here is my similar 2577-6:

Edited: Mar 31, 2020

 

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VetPsychWars

·Mar 30, 2020

If it's a very early model. might it not have a domed crown? I agree that one isn't likely to be original.

I saw on online that had an Omega domed crown....

Tom

 

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Caliber561

·Mar 30, 2020

VetPsychWars

If it's a very early model. might it not have a domed crown? I agree that one isn't likely to be original.

I saw on online that had an Omega domed crown....

Tom

If I remember correctly, it's been floated around that dress Omegas retailed by Norman Morris (US distributor) in the 50s may have come with bowler-style crowns instead of clover or decagonal variants.

The crown on the OPs watch is not one of those NM bowlers, though.

 

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seekingseaquest

·Mar 30, 2020

I think others have different opinions, but in my experience the bowler-hat crowns only came on the 2627 Calendar references.. not 2577, 2576, 2767, 2491, 2519, etc.

I’d love to be corrected with some original examples, though..

 

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VetPsychWars

·Mar 30, 2020

On the Omega site, the example of 2491 doesn't have the slotted crown, it looks somewhat similar to the OP's watch. But not indicative of much except for that catalog entry, whichever they used.

Tom

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 30, 2020

VetPsychWars

If it's a very early model. might it not have a domed crown?

Who said it is a very early model?

 

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VetPsychWars

·Mar 30, 2020

OMEGuy

Who said it is a very early model?

I asked. It seemed it might be so.

Tom

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 30, 2020

VetPsychWars

I asked. It seemed it might be so.

Tom

I think that @padders stated above, that the very early models didn't come with "Seamaster" on the dial. I believe this is true.

And along with the configuration, the crown on @padders watch looks familiar to me.

 

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VetPsychWars

·Mar 30, 2020

OMEGuy

I think that @padders stated above, that the very early models didn't come with "Seamaster" on the dial. I believe this is true.

And along with the configuration, the crown on @padders watch looks familiar to me.

And things might have changed quickly. This kind of thing is what pissed me off to begin with. There are things that are just unknowable. To speak ex cathedra (look it up) doesn't do anyone any good.

Tom

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 30, 2020

VetPsychWars

And things might have changed quickly. This kind of thing is what pissed me off to begin with. There are things that are just unknowable. To speak ex cathedra (look it up) doesn't do anyone any good.

Tom

See it from a different angle. If everything was clear to everybody and had always been... this hobby would be so boring, wouldn't it? 😉

I think the fascination of vintage watch collecting is, that you have always have to be aware of being totally reset, just by one single new observation. I love it. 😀

And I love the risk of saying things, that might be being proven wrong as well, as long as there's an educational debate about them.

The latter didn't refer to your post.

 

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VetPsychWars

·Mar 30, 2020

OMEGuy

The latter didn't refer to your post.

I know I've been pissy lately. Unemployment does that to a person. Praying I can find SOMETHING before the severance runs out and I can't pay my rent.

Tom

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 30, 2020

VetPsychWars

I know I've been pissy lately. Unemployment does that to a person. Praying I can find SOMETHING before the severance runs out and I can't pay my rent.

Tom

As I said, I'm happy to see you are back (here with me) and I'm looking forward to these COVID19-free times to hopefully come soon.

The most important thing is to stay safe from this shit all around us. The rest will be solved...

Keep going! 😀

Edited: Mar 30, 2020

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 30, 2020

@Stevenb206 My recommendation is to get this watch to a good watchmaker, who has experience with vintage watches and let him open the watch to see what's inside and ask for his advice and/or come back and show us some pictures and give us further information.

 

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timecube

·Mar 31, 2020

OMEGuy

@Stevenb206 My recommendation is to get this watch to a good watchmaker

Stevenb206

and no Watch store is open due to COVID-19...

If you have a recommendation for a good vaccine and/or cure for COVID-19, that would go a long ways toward getting OP's watch questions cleared up. 😉

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 31, 2020

timecube

If you have a recommendation for a good vaccine and/or cure for COVID-19, that would go a long ways toward getting OP's watch questions cleared up. 😉

Yeah, of course my recommendation is not an instant solution, but IMO the only reasonable advice at this point.

 

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padders

·Mar 31, 2020·Oooo subtitles!

Well a DIY solution might be to try a rubber ball opener or if you are feeling brave, a 2 or 3 prong adjustable opener and case holder (with the use of tape to guard against slips maybe). You would have nothing to lose in trying a ball but if it is gummed shut it may need something with more grip. The original gasket fitted to screw back fat lugs was a ring of a hard material, leather or plastic maybe but these have often been replaced with a rubber o-ring which deteriorates into a gloopy tar.

A photo of the back of the watch would go a long way to identifying it as a starting point. A photo showing the top of the crown would help too since there seems to be some debate over that also.

 

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Stevenb206

·Mar 31, 2020

Here are some more photos. Appreciate the efforts everyone! @padders

 

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OMEGuy

·Mar 31, 2020

The case looks correct (crown does not, as mentioned above), though the gold plating has been worn off, partially.

The engraving on the caseback is individual for sure.

You should change the bracelet (to a leather strap?), because these types of "lug-independent" spring-end-piece-fixo-flex-wonders tend to do damage to the lugs.