Vintage Omega Geneve

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helodebelo

·Nov 3, 2022

Hi everyone, new to watches. I picked this up in a closing down sale of a vintage jewellers, mainly because I really liked it and wanted something nice to celebrate graduating my PhD. Probably paid more than I should have, but during my PhD I had a visual image of the watch I would buy to celebrate finishing (but not the brand)... I walked past a shop window the month I graduated and there it was! It seems to be working beautifully.

I don't really know anything about the watch or Omegas but I was told that it is recently serviced, 9k gold, and from the 1960s. Can any of you out there provide me with some general info/comments about what I'm looking at, whether its in good condition and tips on care and servicing?

I more got it to mark a significant occasion, but also hopefully it's not a complete dud!

 

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krogerfoot

·Nov 3, 2022

Congratulations on your PhD. The watch doesn’t look like a dud to me. Gold case, matching buckle (even if it’s not original, still looks great), don’t know about the crown. This model of Genève was an entry-level watch, purportedly aimed at younger buyers, so a gold-cased model is a bit of an oddity and a nice find. These models might be susceptible to moisture ingress—I’ve seen a number of them in that state—which is a concern with the stains around the edge of your dial. If the seller doesn’t have a service history for the watch, you should get it serviced, which will cost $200-$300 at an independent watchmaker’s.

I actually don’t know this kind of (front-loading?) case on non-cursive Genèves, so I defer to the experts on that. And congratulations again.

 

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helodebelo

·Nov 3, 2022

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Yes, I love the simplicity of it but with the gold case. My partner inherited a Constellations which beautiful, but I wanted something a little slimmer and simpler. I will look into getting it serviced.

Apologies, but I'm not sure what a front loading case is, so hopefully one of the experts can help!

 

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JimInOz

·Nov 3, 2022·Melbourne Australia

There is no "caseback", the case is basically a shell. The crystal is removed allowing the movement to be extracted from the front.

Omega had two designs of this type of case, known as "Monocoque" and "Unicoc".

Monocoque case.

Unicoc case.

 

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krogerfoot

·Nov 4, 2022

JimInOz

There is no "caseback", the case is basically a shell. The crystal is removed allowing the movement to be extracted from the front.

Omega had two designs of this type of case, known as "Monocoque" and "Unicoc".

Monocoque case.

Unicoc case.

I hadn’t realized Genève models came in this type of one-piece case.

 

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Davidt

·Nov 4, 2022

Are you in the UK?

The gold Geneves from the lates 60’s/early 70’s are quite common here and we’re often given as retirement/length of service watches, hence the flat, blank case back. Possibly an ALD case but many are OWC (Omega Watch Co).

 

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Davidt

·Nov 4, 2022

Also in the current market, an open auction price in the UK is c.£400 with the buckle.

 

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padders

·Nov 4, 2022·Oooo subtitles!

Davidt

Are you in the UK?

The gold Geneves from the lates 60’s/early 70’s are quite common here and we’re often given as retirement/length of service watches, hence the flat, blank case back. Possibly an ALD case but many are OWC (Omega Watch Co).

The ones marked OWC are also local production of course, but by Shackmann who took on the mantle for UK production when Dennison stopped in the late 1960s

 

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hen

·Nov 4, 2022

Congratulation on a nice watch. Those old Geneves are beautiful and stylish, mine says hello.

 

E

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Eblodeblo

·Nov 4, 2022

Davidt

Are you in the UK?

The gold Geneves from the lates 60’s/early 70’s are quite common here and we’re often given as retirement/length of service watches, hence the flat, blank case back. Possibly an ALD case but many are OWC (Omega Watch Co).

 

E

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Eblodeblo

·Nov 4, 2022

I'm in South Australia, but I suppose it could have made its way over here from the UK!

 

E

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Eblodeblo

·Nov 4, 2022

Davidt

Are you in the UK?

The gold Geneves from the lates 60’s/early 70’s are quite common here and we’re often given as retirement/length of service watches, hence the flat, blank case back. Possibly an ALD case but many are OWC (Omega Watch Co).

 

E

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Eblodeblo

·Nov 4, 2022

Thanks for this info. In really know almost nothing about the company. Was this to allow engraving?

 

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TheGreekPhysique

·Nov 4, 2022

Had one exactly like it also in 9ct gold. I believe the reference on the caseback was 131/25017