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What does a “1” stamp inside the Omega symbol on movement mean?

  1. fnzeee May 9, 2018

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    Some watches have a 1 stamped inside the symbol near the calibre stamp. Is it a significant indicator of value or quality? I have heard it means “1st quality”, but seems unlikely given the high quality of all the Omega movements. Can someone end the mystery for me?
     
    Edited May 9, 2018
  2. JimInOz Melbourne Australia May 9, 2018

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    It doesn't mean first quality.

    From memory it indicates hand heights for particular versions of the caliber (but I could be wrong).

    @Archer can clarify.
     
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  3. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector May 9, 2018

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    Think it has something to do with the size of the hand staffs needed
    ie for a movement with high markers

    ( this could be completely wrong hence the Think above )

    @Archer will know
     
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  4. fnzeee May 9, 2018

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    Thank you both...that makes a lot more sense.
     
  5. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector May 9, 2018

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    That's funny Jim same post at the same time :eek:
     
  6. JimInOz Melbourne Australia May 9, 2018

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    Grate mines sync a like.

    :D
     
  7. ulackfocus May 9, 2018

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    Nuts. There goes my opportunity for a prototype joke. :p
     
  8. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker May 9, 2018

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    Movement hand height - for example when a dial has applied markers instead of painted, the hands are higher from the dial to clear, so the relevant posts in the movement need to be longer. This number indicates the hand height of that specific movement.

    Little more difficult to see on modern movement, but this one is marked "H0"...

    [​IMG]

    Cheers, Al
     
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  9. fnzeee May 9, 2018

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    Makes sense. Thank you for the very good education
     
  10. aprax May 9, 2018

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    I was absolutely convinced the 1 in the Omega meant that Omega had delivered the movement without a case. The reason is, that in two instances I ordered an Extract of the Archives on English-cased Omegas I got the remark "This movement was delivered without case." Both had the 1 inside the Omega.
    If @Archer says otherwise I am sure he must be correct. But has anyone seen a number other than 1 inside the Omega-letter? Also, does anyone have an extract from the archives for a "1-marked" movement which does mention watch reference or case number?
     
  11. aprax May 9, 2018

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    On second thought, my previous remark is quite stupid. They would have to intentionally produce movements to be shipped without case in order to initially stamp them differently. It doesn't make sense.
     
  12. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 9, 2018

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    I've got a range of Connies with different case styles, movements (551,561,564) and both pie-pan and dome dials -all Swiss cased and all with the '1' inside the omega symbol
     
  13. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker May 9, 2018

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    Well, just because it was delivered without a case, doesn't mean it wasn't delivered without a dial and hands. The dial and hands are what's important. I've also confirmed this directly with Omega, so it's not me saying it, it's Omega.

    Cheers, Al
     
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  14. aprax May 9, 2018

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    Sorry ...
     
  15. padders Oooo subtitles! May 10, 2018

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    Al, I think he means the 1 you often see within the Omega symbol like below above the 551, not any extra codes or numbers. Is this hand height? It seems to only ever be either a 1 or missing so not sure that makes sense.

    BBEAF229-D306-4418-AB56-7F90FBDA0CF2.jpeg
     
    Edited May 10, 2018
  16. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 10, 2018

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    if I'm reading @Archer correctly
    HO on modern watch movement = '1' inside symbol on vintage

    = greater hand height required due to dial / dial furniture
     
  17. padders Oooo subtitles! May 10, 2018

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    So it is a binary thing then, long or short, I guess that would work.
     
  18. STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector May 10, 2018

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    High Onyx markers = 1 inside the Omega symbol

    image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
  19. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers May 10, 2018

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    I agree, it's this way with all of my dome dials (551, 561, 564) but for both onyx and non-onyx indices (they're still all high)
    However, my .010, 564, pie pan, also has a '1' - and I don't think the second hand passes over the indices (the hour and minute hands don't) Therefore, I've assumed the pie-pan dial also requires the extra height
    So, I guess the reverse question is - which Connies don't have a '1'
     
  20. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker May 10, 2018

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    Yes, well aware of what he is referring to, and yes as I've said it's the hand height. Not sure why because there are only 2 that means it doesn't make any sense. The number of heights for a given movement is determined by the variety of dials used on them and what their heights are.
    Just to illustrate the height difference, here are the options for a Cal. 550:

    72205501218 | CANNON PINION H0 - TOTAL LENGTH : 2.05 MM

    72205501219 | CANNON PINION H1 - TOTAL LENGTH : 2.20 MM

    The version I showed above (on a Cal. 1120) is just the modern equivalent to what you see inside the Omega symbol on the older movements. For the Cal. 1120 there are at least 4 different heights available, but not all movements have that many options.

    If you look at an ETA 2824-2 technical guide for example, you will see 6 different hand heights listed, with the difference in height from shortest to tallest being well over 1 mm:

    http://www.darthalex.com/etapdf/ETA_2824-2_DEF_Tech.pdf

    Cheers, Al
     
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