(Un)identified vintage 28,5mm beauty

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damifrench

·Jun 16, 2025

Hi everyone,

I recently got a vintage watch and I would like to know more about it. Here are some of the info on the listing page that could be relevant:

• Year: 1939
• Dimensions: 28.5 mm (without crown), 33.5 mm (lug-to-lug), 16 mm (between lugs), 9.5 mm thick
• Movement: Omega 23.7S T2 / 15 jewels / 18000 A/h

It looks like it could be an Omega MI 2102, as seen in another thread on here, but the movement doesn’t seem to match. The catalog below confirms it’s a MI 2102 considering the size and it says on the Omega website (https://www.omegawatches.com/fr-fr/watch-omega-other-omega-mi-2102) that the movement that goes with that model is the 26.5 T2. Out of curiosity, I looked at the bigger version (https://www.omegawatches.com/fr-fr/watch-omega-medicus-mi-2089) and it houses the 23,4 SC that seems to be the same one but no sub second on the picture.

I don’t know if I have the correct model but the incorrect movement, or the other way around but it’s bugging me quite a lot not to know exactly what I purchased. I hope that some experts could help me out!

Thanks a lot and here come the pictures:

 

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Tony C.

·Jun 16, 2025·Ωf Jury member

I'm not an expert on very early models, but the serial numbers of the movement and case match up well, and are likely original. The crown also looks good.

The dial, however, strikes me as being too white to be original to a 75–90 year old watch. Unless it were enamel (doubtful), I would expect signs of aging even if it had been kept in a drawer for its entire life, as finishing lacquers change over time. I could be wrong, but am skeptical of its originality.

 

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damifrench

·Jun 16, 2025

Thanks for your input! At least the serial numbers match, which is a good starting point!

Concerning the dial, the seller says it’s untouched / original and I guess there’s no way to know if that’s true or not. Maybe someone is willing to reassure me? 😬

Any idea concerning the movement and or the model of the watch? As the Omega website for the MI 2102 and the pictures of said movements don’t match…

 

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Mark020

·Jun 16, 2025·not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer

Waiting for the experts but I think redial too

 

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damifrench

·Jun 17, 2025

And by redial you guys mean something from the same era from a different watch or something made in China last year?

It comes from a pretty famous german vintage watches seller, I do believe (and hope) they don’t lie about their products.

 

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ErichKeane

·Jun 17, 2025

D damifrench

And by redial you guys mean something from the same era from a different watch or something made in China last year?

It comes from a pretty famous german vintage watches seller, I do believe (and hope) they don’t lie about their products.

Redial means anything from "someone painted over the old one" to "took a brand new manufactured one somewhere". Basically, anything other than the original dial, or a 'correct' replacement.

I too have a hard time believing that is a vintage dial/hands, they both seem like they are in a condition where they are non-vintage.

 

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damifrench

·Jun 17, 2025

Well I guess I can’t be sure but there’s a pretty big chance it’s not original regarding your feedbacks. What about NOS though?

Any suggestions about the movement?

Thanks guys!

 

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ErichKeane

·Jun 17, 2025

D damifrench

Well I guess I can’t be sure but there’s a pretty big chance it’s not original regarding your feedbacks. What about NOS though?

Any suggestions about the movement?

Thanks guys!

As mentioned above, even NOS end up showing quite a bit of aging, simply from time, unless they are enameled dials, which are pretty rare. Bluing like those hands have ends up dulling over time as well, which makes me suspicious.

 

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Larry S

·Jun 17, 2025·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

The hands are old to my eye … wonder if the dial was a factory restoration. Other than its pristine appearance, it shows a high level of quality, non of the usual signs of a redial. Its a nice watch. If you like it and its reasonable, enjoy as a daily wear and not as a collectible.

 

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gatorcpa

·Jun 17, 2025·ΩF InvestiGator

D damifrench

Concerning the dial, the seller says it’s untouched / original and I guess there’s no way to know if that’s true or not. Maybe someone is willing to reassure me? 😬

Unfortunately, no one is going to able to “reassure” you without a lot more information.

IMO, the dial could be anything from totally original (unlikely) to a 1960’s vintage service replacement (more likely), to an excellent quality redial (most likely, and I’d like to know who did that level of work).

The case also shows what looks to be original matte finish on the sides. Very hard to find. I really think that someone did a top-notch restoration on the dial and case some time ago. Could have been Omega.

gatorcpa

 

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Porteroso

·Jun 17, 2025

It does look to be in nearly unworn condition, if the brushing and polishing is correct, and not a very skilled refinish job.

 

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size11s

·Jun 17, 2025

It's a nice watch, but given the pristine case and super clean dial I would have concerns over the tarnishing of the movement bridges. The white balance of the images looks to be worked on to my eye, so perhaps the dial is not quite so white.

 

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damifrench

·Jun 17, 2025

Actually it’s not like pure white and tends to be a bit more champagne but by the looks of it, that champagne color seems to be the original color and not “aged white”. I could try to take some pictures tomorrow to show you, as my photos wouldn’t be color modified.

Size11s, I’m not sure to understand what should be concerning about the movement bridges? It’s not my first mechanical or automatic watch but I know nothing about mechanisms.

Thanks everyone for your inputs, I enjoyed reading all of them! Gatorcpa said no one could reassure me but the last comments (including his) did.
It looks like everything could be original (and I have been talking to the seller which told me again that it’s untouched) or at least the job done on it was perfectly executed, some you even mentioned Omega.

Larry S said I should enjoy it and that’s what I’m doing. I love it, even though it’s on the small side (28 mm is not something I was familiar with), and it had been running for almost 50 hours before stopping, which is way more than I expected.

I’m typing this from my phone, so it’s pretty hard for me to quote everyone I’m referring to but I hope you got everything I said hahah.

 

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Tire-comedon

·Jun 17, 2025

Not a MI 2102, the case is different (see the bezel for example, or the caseback that is wider than the mid case).
Cal 23.4 inside.
I would bet for a ref CK 2008 (identical bezel, integrated crown...), here in the 23.4 SC version :

One of mine, also with the SC version, original crown, replacement second hand and a different (but original) dial & hands says hello :

The dial is very clean, as already said, it could be either a good redial or an extremely well preserved one (very unlikely), impossible to give an opinion based only on a picture, it would require to see it in the metal.

 

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damifrench

·Jun 18, 2025

Not a CK 2008 unfortunately, as it’s 30,5mm vs. 28,5mm but the hands, font and staybrite stainless steel match! The caliber 23,4 would also be the same, according to Ranfft.
If you have in mind a smaller version of the CK 2008 we could have a winner! Thanks for your help we are getting closer!

But where do you guys find these old catalog pages?

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 18, 2025·Melbourne Australia

D damifrench

But where do you guys find these old catalog pages?

Yann captured the market in old catalogues many years ago 😉.

He has an extensive "library" and quite often shares examples to help others identify obscure (and not so obscure) references.

 

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damifrench

·Jun 18, 2025

I’m new here so it might be obvious for you guys but who is this Yann you are talking about? Some sort of famous vintage expert? 😀

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 18, 2025·Melbourne Australia

D damifrench

Some sort of famous vintage expert?

A modest expert, actually member @Tire-comedon who replied to you earlier.

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 18, 2025·Melbourne Australia

So many questions about the dial.
If the price is a premium based on the seller stating "all completely original", I'd pass.
If the price is acceptable considering the points raised above, I'd have it to wear and look at, it's a nice example.

If it turns out to be a re-dial, I'll eat my hat.

<rushes off to make a hat from short crust pastry, just in case>

 

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damifrench

·Jun 18, 2025

I wouldn’t have figured it by myself that @Tire-comedon is actually the Yann you were talking about! He seems to have done a fantastic job referencing old catalogs! Maybe he’ll eventually try and find another match in 28,5mm.

I already got the watch, it was a bit expensive even though I don’t know what would be a premium price, according to you, for this kind of watch.

It’s fascinating that they are so many questions and so many opinions about the dial. If it’s a redial, it’s perfectly done and if it’s all original, the pristine state is amazing. It’s hard to tell if you’ll have to eat your hat 😬

I’m still in touch with the seller (Germany based, 500k followers on Instagram if you know who I’m talking about) and they told me that they and their watchmakers all think it’s original and that they didn’t see any signs of a redial.