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What model is this 1950's Omega gold watch?

Daniel Moreira
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Hello everyone,

I inherited this Omega watch from a great uncle from France. He purchased it in Montélimar in April 1975. It is all gold including the bracelet. The original gold rewind button is in the box. I have been trying to find out what model this may be to no success. I would really appreciate any help in figuring this out.
 
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Foo2rama
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It doesn't have a model number. This is either just before model numbers on the caseback or this is a locally made case for Omega to bypass gold tariffs. Since the 501 was made from 1955-1960 it leans it towards a locally made case.

Bracelet is much later most likely 70's.

There is a small hallmark on the lug that I cannot make out, and another I cannot exactly make out on the caseback but I think it is a case makers mark, but I think this is a 9k case made locally.

Crown is very incorrect.
 
cristos71
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
It doesn't have a model number. This is either just before model numbers on the caseback or this is a locally made case for Omega to bypass gold tariffs. Since the 501 was made from 1955-1960 it leans it towards a locally made case.

Bracelet is much later most likely 70's.

There is a small hallmark on the lug that I cannot make out, and another I cannot exactly make out on the caseback but I think it is a case makers mark, but I think this is a 9k case made locally.

Crown is very incorrect.

All good info, but I think I see a French eagle's head on the back case so that will make the case 18kt, which is the common purity seen for these French cases
 
Foo2rama
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cristos71 cristos71
All good info, but I think I see a French eagle's head on the back case so that will make the case 18kt, which is the common purity seen for these French cases
Ahh I see that. Would it be common for that to be the only Hallmark on an 18k case? Hallmarks are not my strong point.
 
cristos71
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On these French Omega cases yes, outside case back, lug and side of the mid-case will all have one
 
cristos71
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And the bracelet, if French, will be 14 or 18kt. I think 9kt is generally seen as UK production....and, ahem, here on the continent not really seen as gold, being only 37.5% of the yellow stuff 😁
 
Boojumhunter
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Hi Daniel, welcome to the forums!

Any idea what you'll do with it? If you're keeping it since it's a beautiful watch and wonderful heirloom, the team here would probably recommend getting it sympathetically serviced (ie not polished, minimal changes apart from putting on a correct winding crown), putting it on a nice vintage-looking leather strap, and wearing it happily. Personally I'd sell the gold bracelet to fund the above, but keep it if you love it.

Please keep us posted!
 
Daniel Moreira
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Daniel Moreira Daniel Moreira
Hello everyone,

I inherited this Omega watch from a great uncle from France. He purchased it in Montélimar in April 1975. It is all gold including the bracelet. The original gold rewind button is in the box. I have been trying to find out what model this may be to no success. I would really appreciate any help in figuring this out.
Foo2rama Foo2rama
It doesn't have a model number. This is either just before model numbers on the caseback or this is a locally made case for Omega to bypass gold tariffs. Since the 501 was made from 1955-1960 it leans it towards a locally made case.

Bracelet is much later most likely 70's.

There is a small hallmark on the lug that I cannot make out, and another I cannot exactly make out on the caseback but I think it is a case makers mark, but I think this is a 9k case made locally.

Crown is very incorrect.

Thanks so much for the info provided! The original crown along with replacement and extension parts for the bracelet is in the box.
 
Daniel Moreira
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Boojumhunter Boojumhunter
Hi Daniel, welcome to the forums!

Any idea what you'll do with it? If you're keeping it since it's a beautiful watch and wonderful heirloom, the team here would probably recommend getting it sympathetically serviced (ie not polished, minimal changes apart from putting on a correct winding crown), putting it on a nice vintage-looking leather strap, and wearing it happily. Personally I'd sell the gold bracelet to fund the above, but keep it if you love it.

Please keep us posted!

Selling the bracelet and replacing it by a black leather one is exactly what I was thinking of doing Boomjumhunter. Wearing a gold bracelet like this is not my style although the mesh is beautiful. The gold winding crown is in the box. The watch hold the correct time and works perfectly as far as I can tell. Do you have any idea what the going value for the watch and/or bracelet would be?
 
aggie
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cristos71 cristos71
And the bracelet, if French, will be 14 or 18kt. I think 9kt is generally seen as UK production....and, ahem, here on the continent not really seen as gold, being only 37.5% of the yellow stuff 😁
Neither 14 nor 9kt were allowed in France at the time..Only 18 kt ( 22 and 24 kt as well but not common)
 
cristos71
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aggie aggie
Neither 14 nor 9kt were allowed in France at the time..Only 18 kt ( 22 and 24 kt as well but not common)

Good to know but the bracelet looks later to me, when did the rules change regarding gold purity?
 
DON
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Daniel Moreira Daniel Moreira
Selling the bracelet and replacing it by a black leather one is exactly what I was thinking of doing Boomjumhunter. Wearing a gold bracelet like this is not my style although the mesh is beautiful. The gold winding crown is in the box. The watch hold the correct time and works perfectly as far as I can tell. Do you have any idea what the going value for the watch and/or bracelet would be?

If you want to value the watch. You can check Ebay's completed auctions to see if anything similar has sold.

The bracelet is sized for a particular wrist size, but as it's still useful. You can ask for 10% over scrap gold value from a dealer

DON
 
aggie
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cristos71 cristos71
Good to know but the bracelet looks later to me, when did the rules change regarding gold purity?
Apparently they changed in1994.
 
Daniel Moreira
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Before posting in this forum (which has been very interesting and helpful, thanks to all who replied), I submitted the watch photos and little info I had to Sotheby's in the off chance that they would provide me with an estimate.

I just received an e-mail back from them with a $2,000 - 4,000 preliminary estimate and interest in having the watch for auction on consignment in their March 2022 Online Watch Sale.

Has anyone had experience with a Sotheby's consignment sale?
 
padders
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That is presumably on the bracelet? It sounds high if head only for an unserviced plain dial* gold case full rotor model I’d have thought, but about right assuming there is $1000-1500 gold value in the bracelet.

*by this I mean no sub branding like Connie, Seanaster etc.
Edited:
 
londoncolin
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If we're talking about value here, it might be worth mentioning the replacement hands.
 
ConElPueblo
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Daniel Moreira Daniel Moreira
Before posting in this forum (which has been very interesting and helpful, thanks to all who replied), I submitted the watch photos and little info I had to Sotheby's in the off chance that they would provide me with an estimate.

I just received an e-mail back from them with a $2,000 - 4,000 preliminary estimate and interest in having the watch for auction on consignment in their March 2022 Online Watch Sale.

Has anyone had experience with a Sotheby's consignment sale?

I would say that $2k is most definitely in the higher end of what I would say this could sell for. Realistic, but not necessarily easy to achieve. In a regular sale, you would need a buyer who really wants it bad, at an auction you'd need two of those.

While it is in no way a poor watch, as far as gold watches are concerned a locally produced watch without a model name is not that sought after.

londoncolin londoncolin
If we're talking about value here, it might be worth mentioning the replacement hands.

I don't see anything wrong with them?
 
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