Community Stories

Vintage Omega watches - Why CK ?

Omegafanman
Posts
4,698
Likes
17,795
I have seen a lot of vintage Omega with a CK reference from various families or with no name dials (one of mine below) I am just wondering what the CK stands for?
There is a CK2292 (steel case) and a UK2292 (alloy case) for example - so is it anything to do with case material?
A few of the early calibre are CHRO… I assume that comes from chronometer?
How many letter based product references are there and what do they mean (if anything). Someone mentioned there was a CH ref as well?
Thanks in advance for any help on this question.
.
 
34360FAA-A576-407F-B416-87AE5935034B.jpeg 7C455048-3D51-4E9E-844C-924BDB3B23B6.jpeg
MtV
Posts
3,402
Likes
13,196
https://omegaforums.net/threads/anatomy-of-an-old-style-reference-number.76789/#post-975382

From the post by @Tire-comedon :

MA = Metal / Nickel plated brass
MG = Nickel-Chromium
MN = White Metal
LA : Aluminum and brass.
MI = Stainless Steel (for non staybrite in a 1940 catalog)
CA = Matte black steel (gunmetal?)
CK = Stainless Steel
CO = Stainless Steel with Gold Bezel
CL = Stainless Steel with red laquered inserts (women's model in a 1933 catalog)
AR = 0.925 Silver
AI = 0.900 Silver
GA = 0.800 Silver (Galonné = silver plate on which a gold leaf is laminated)
GB = 0.800 Silver (Galonné, carrure Galonnée = gold leaf laminated on both back and case)
ND = Niello
DB = 20 microns Gold Plated
DP = 40 microns (laminated?) Gold Plated
OJ = 14 ct Gold
OK = 14 ct Gold (with metal 'cuvette'). Cuvette is the inside back on cases that have two caseback (sorry don't know the English word for that)
OL = 14 ct Gold (with gold 'cuvette')
OT = 18 ct Gold
OU = 18 ct Gold (with metal 'cuvette')
OV = Gold (with gold Cuvette)
OW = Gold (with saphir Crystal?)
OG = White Gold
RT = Gold and White Gold
ST = Gold and White Gold
PA = Platinum
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,698
Likes
17,795
Wow - this place never fails to impress me (ok maybe on occasion;0)
I guess the collectors love of a sharp stainless steel case shows why there are so many CK… around.
Many thanks @MtV and @Tire-comedon
 
gbesq
Posts
9,739
Likes
54,486
Yep, it only makes a very truncated reference to the CK system at the very beginning, but I thought that it was better than nothing! 😀
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,698
Likes
17,795
It all helps - thanks team.

That leaves me wondering about UK..... could be for cheap wartime alloy (or a wild card) as it was an order for the RAF and GB was already taken? UK2292......
.
 
Extract.jpg Lancaster 6B159.jpg
Tire-comedon
Posts
1,336
Likes
3,705
gbesq gbesq
Yep, it only makes a very truncated reference to the CK system at the very beginning, but I thought that it was better than nothing! 😀
To avoid misunderstandings, the list I posted is certainly incomplete and came from what I had seen in some catalogs before 1950. The list published on watchmaster.com is probably complete but applies to watches manufactured as from 1970 only. Those two lists refer to different code systems.
Edited:
 
JimInOz
Posts
17,943
Likes
37,523
Tire-comedon Tire-comedon
To avoid misunderstandings, the list I posted is certainly incomplete and came from what I had seen in some catalogs before 1950. The list published on watchmaster.com is probably complete but applies to watches manufactured as from 1970 only. Those two lists refer to different cide systems.

It's all a small part of one great puzzle Yann.

I collect these gems and use them to cross reference against each other when searching for an obscure reference.

Without the unselfish publication of these lists our identification tasks would be much more difficult.
 
MtV
Posts
3,402
Likes
13,196
JimInOz JimInOz
It's all a small part of one great puzzle Yann.

I collect these gems and use them to cross reference against each other when searching for an obscure reference.

Without the unselfish publication of these lists our identification tasks would be much more difficult.

This, 100%! Thanks @Tire-comedon
 
Archer
Posts
29,675
Likes
76,836
MtV MtV
I was thinking about posting this link, too - weirdly, it lists the rarest case materials but fails to explain CK, the most common among all 😁

gbesq gbesq
Yep, it only makes a very truncated reference to the CK system at the very beginning, but I thought that it was better than nothing! 😀

It's because under the system that post is talking about "CK" doesn't exist. It is replaced with "ST"...

CK is from an older reference system.
 
Tony C.
Posts
8,098
Likes
28,531
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
That list is missing KO, gold cap over steel

In Mike Tyson's "case", it's gold cap over enamel. 😁
 
Tire-comedon
Posts
1,336
Likes
3,705
Tony C. Tony C.
In Mike Tyson's "case", it's gold cap over enamel. 😁
LOL, KO indeed seems the only possible ref for a Mike Tyson case !
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,810
Hm there is KX, 14K gold fill, and KM, but I don't know what it means. These might be unique to US-made cases.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

M

Glasses for 2 vintage Omega watches required

Michael K Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Davidt
Davidt
Posts
2
Views
210
J

Inquiry About Mismatched Case and Movement Numbers in Vintage Omega Watches

JUIEN Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
padders
padders
Posts
9
Views
763
Jille

Value of vintage Omega watch box

Jille Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
JimInOz
JimInOz
Posts
5
Views
232
zakajv

Request for verification of a vintage Omega watch

zakajv Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
zakajv
zakajv
Posts
0
Views
169
klee0021

Vintage Omega Watch Servicing Advice

klee0021 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Dan S
Dan S
Posts
6
Views
369
G

Buying vintage Omega watches in the UK

georgewills Open Discussion
dsio
dsio
Posts
5
Views
306