Community Stories

Where to find parts for my "rare" Omega 26.5

Dmoose21
Posts
6
Likes
4
Hello all. I received this Old Omega watch in non-working condition and I was curious if any of you could give me advice on how to pursue repairs. I went to school for machining, and I am wanting to learn watchmaking for my own collective purposes. Hoping to work my way up to owning an old Constellation one of these days!

Anyway I don't know much about the watch other than it was brought to the US from France after WWII. I can tell obviously the minute hand and crown is unoriginal but I am not sure about the rest. The watch does not work and upon further investigation the hairspring is broken. Balance assembly and jewels all look good under magnifying glass and it spins freely. A little wind on the watch and the pallet fork is properly ticking back and forth (with a little persuasion since the balance is inoperable) The watch is incredibly dirty and FULL of old brown oil (it looks like rust but it is just dirt). When I removed the balance I saw it is movement number 26.5 but there is a B stamped above and I don't know what that means. Also on the front of the case there are two pins at the 6 o'clock mark and I don't know what they are for. Any suggestions with what to do with this watch would be great. I can see the case was originally brushed on the lugs and sides with the bezel and back appearing to be polished. Unsure as I don't have a true original to compare it to.

omega front.jpg omega mvmt.jpg omega serial.jpg omega pins.jpg


Also what would something like this be worth? It is not for sale as it is an heirloom piece.


If anybody has a parts movement they would be willing to part ways with I would greatly appreciate it. I am also looking for proper hands and crown.
 
B
Posts
269
Likes
155
whats the backplate like. are there any numbers. it loooks like it could be a weelms watch. but unsure. regards p
 
D
Posts
10
Likes
1
Dmoose21 Dmoose21
Hello all. I received this Old Omega watch in non-working condition and I was curious if any of you could give me advice on how to pursue repairs. I went to school for machining, and I am wanting to learn watchmaking for my own collective purposes. Hoping to work my way up to owning an old Constellation one of these days!

Anyway I don't know much about the watch other than it was brought to the US from France after WWII. I can tell obviously the minute hand and crown is unoriginal but I am not sure about the rest. The watch does not work and upon further investigation the hairspring is broken. Balance assembly and jewels all look good under magnifying glass and it spins freely. A little wind on the watch and the pallet fork is properly ticking back and forth (with a little persuasion since the balance is inoperable) The watch is incredibly dirty and FULL of old brown oil (it looks like rust but it is just dirt). When I removed the balance I saw it is movement number 26.5 but there is a B stamped above and I don't know what that means. Also on the front of the case there are two pins at the 6 o'clock mark and I don't know what they are for. Any suggestions with what to do with this watch would be great. I can see the case was originally brushed on the lugs and sides with the bezel and back appearing to be polished. Unsure as I don't have a true original to compare it to.

omega front.jpg omega mvmt.jpg omega serial.jpg omega pins.jpg


Also what would something like this be worth? It is not for sale as it is an heirloom piece.


If anybody has a parts movement they would be willing to part ways with I would greatly appreciate it. I am also looking for proper hands and crown.
Wow amazing watch as below poster mentioned .the british military order 2000 that look very close to that style from Omega. But thing Longines and maybe 1 other firm made similar as well. Thats pretty rare pilots watch. Many you see have mechanism to lock down the bezel which was rare feature on them. No expert but i trued to buy Omega white dial version and went over $5000 canadian and didnt get so worth do proper research.
 
Vitezi
Posts
3,148
Likes
13,656
Hello @Dmoose21 and welcome to the forum, and a great watch to make an introduction with! You appear to have a rare aviator's watch, perhaps a CK2000. The hands have been replaced but that fantastic bezel is intact.

Calling forum expert @watchyouwant for his opinion and advice...I believe he has one or two of these
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,888
Likes
28,352
Hey @Dmoose21 - welcome along!

26.5 parts are getting harder and harder to find - you’re going to want to hunt down a complete balance (with hairspring intact).

These sometimes pop up on eBay (from what I’ve seen out of Poland/Bulgaria/Hungary), but not all that often.

Might be a case of setting up some alerts and waiting patiently.

👍
 
ChrisN
Posts
2,218
Likes
4,942
As you've removed the balance and cock, do you have a picture of the balance showing the hairspring and another of the underside of the cock showing how much of the hairspring is left in the stud?

If the spring is broken at the stud then a watchmaker should be able to re-attach it there.

Good luck, Chris
 
Dmoose21
Posts
6
Likes
4
ChrisN ChrisN
As you've removed the balance and cock, do you have a picture of the balance showing the hairspring and another of the underside of the cock showing how much of the hairspring is left in the stud?

If the spring is broken at the stud then a watchmaker should be able to re-attach it there.

Good luck, Chris
As I said the watch is absolutely filthy and I haven’t had a chance to clean it up yet. Her is a pic of the balance assembly. There appears to be about one full coil missing from the hair spring and it sheared from the stud
868EFA15-77BA-41FC-A78A-CF00E98B15CA.jpeg
 
ChrisN
Posts
2,218
Likes
4,942
Too far gone I'm afraid.

These calibres will probably have different "balance complete" for plain or Incabloc designs as I think they came with both. As I recall there may also be bi-metallic and mono metallic balances. I also think that your watch is marked 26.5 SOB so should be a 26.5 T2 (there are a few variants).

Just be careful when buying a balance that you get the right one as they won't be cheap. You can't reliably switch hairsprings from one balance to another either as they are a matched pair.

For me, this will not be a good learning experience so, consider sending it to a watchmaker who will sort everything. Then, buy an ETA 6497 or 6498 movement to learn on.

Good luck, Chris
 
Dmoose21
Posts
6
Likes
4
I ended up snagging a parts movement with a supposed intact balance assembly so depending on how that arrives I should have a ticking watch in the next couple of weeks. What are your suggestions insofar as restoring the brushed finish to the case, polishing the back and bezel as well as replacing the crystal? Mine currently has what I believe to be original glass crystal and it is incredibly thick. There are some deep scratches and a couple of chips along the chamfered rim.

Would anybody have suggestions on finding proper hands as well?

THANK YOU!!
 
watchyouwant
Posts
5,270
Likes
8,979
Lots of work here .... In original condition , working and serviced, you would not find anything under US$ 5000 plus. You use this one to Learn watchmaking skills ???? Oh Dear..... But up to you. Next: all Lume here on the numerals and the triangle at 12 O' clock is Radium. You want to preserve the value? Don't remove the Radium! The crystal has to be manufactured. If you want something done with that, find an optical company, who can polish the flat part only with diamond paste. Leave the side damage. Don't touch the case. at all. Stay away from the polishing wheel ! Take good care of the small second hand. Impossible to find. Minute and hour hand you might have to source from other brands in the correct lengths and modify the holes. And that's, where an older Watchmaker comes in. Many have these blued hands from small size pocket watches left ... Somewhere.... The crown is an oversized flat crown. Just look up Omega Pilots watch 1930's. What is the diameter?
 
DON
Posts
1,933
Likes
1,183
Omega recreated that model in their Museum Collection.

Yours should be from around 1938 and reference CK 2042

Below is the modern version, but a reference check will bring up some original models

19899168-7hbej1opbu5bene8lhwp1s3r-ExtraLarge.jpg

DON
 
Dmoose21
Posts
6
Likes
4
Thank you all for your input and constructive criticisms. I have decided to set this one to the side to pursue less “rare” or valuable pieces for learning experience. I will continue to ask though, if anybody has 26.5 movements or parts they would sell, I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to buy.
 
Dmoose21
Posts
6
Likes
4
Bump* (if it’s allowed)

looking for a lead on a 26.5 movement with a good balance. Thank you!!
 
tyrantlizardrex
Posts
8,888
Likes
28,352
Dmoose21 Dmoose21
Bump* (if it’s allowed)

looking for a lead on a 26.5 movement with a good balance. Thank you!!

hi @Dmoose21 you can’t post a want to buy thread until you have made 200 posts of value (the core of this forum is not sales/marketplace) - as per the sales/wtb forum rules.

would recommend setting up searches on eBay - and waiting patiently.
 
ChrisN
Posts
2,218
Likes
4,942
It sounds like the spares movement you bought also had a bad balance. What's wrong with it as it my be fixable? For example, if it's a broken staff then that can be solved.

Your best option is to give this to a watchmaker who works a lot on vintage as we have ways to find parts that you won't have.

Good luck, Chris
 
Tire-comedon
Posts
1,314
Likes
3,646
Be careful, there have been several versions of the 26.5 SOB ( at least three transformations and also transformations of the incabloc on the T3…). Check compatibility of the balance and cock before purchasing a spare movement or some spare balance staff.
 
watchyouwant
Posts
5,270
Likes
8,979
Dmoose21 Dmoose21
Bump* (if it’s allowed)

looking for a lead on a 26.5 movement with a good balance. Thank you!!

Yes, look for it. You won't find it here. Buy a complete watch with a working Mvmt. Bring everything to an older watchmaker. Have it fixed. Once you have one Mvmt. Working, switch over the original bridge with the Mvmt. Number. Then get an Omega EoA and sell the watch for quite a few $$$$ . Get another cheap omega for your experiments.
 
watchyouwant
Posts
5,270
Likes
8,979
Quite a few watches on eBay with that movement. Did you buy one to fix your problem? This one described the balance as free/working ..... 294856520760. From Spain.
 
8 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

G

Where to find parts ?

geomar Universal Genève Watches
DaveK
DaveK
Posts
14
Views
462
T

How to find out about my Omega

tbg0519 Modern Omega Watches
dsio
dsio
Posts
7
Views
1K
mseamaster

Where to find a good general purpose kit

mseamaster Watchmaking
rendo
rendo
Posts
29
Views
3K
lonegunm4n

My Omega Service Timeline

lonegunm4n Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Fish70
Fish70
Posts
76
Views
25K
C

need guidance sourcing parts for Seamaster DeVille

cbs59 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
C
cbs59
Posts
16
Views
3K
qazwsx1

My rare Omega ref.2514 with waffle dial.

qazwsx1 Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
qazwsx1
qazwsx1
Posts
20
Views
4K