So both my local watchmaker and Omega boutique have confirmed this is a genuine mid-1950s watch, but despite extensive Googling.

The closest I've found is this eBay watch which has the same dial, but different case, and it doesn't seem like its actually a 2792-6.

Any ideas?

 

9 karat case was possibly locally made in Australia and there will be no direct analogue to any Swiss reference.

 

Australian cases usually had Handley's markings where as this one doesn't.

To @PickPocketWatch , where are you located and what can you tell us about the history of the watch?
I also agree that it may be mid 1950s, maybe earlier (say 1953/1953) but as you've hidden the full serial number I can't give you an exact date.

 

Thank you both for your responses.

I'm in Melbourne. I believe that the watch was purchased at an auction, by a family member, a number of decades ago.

I've noticed that there might be some very feint engraving on the back of the caseback on the left-hand side, but it doesn't look like "Handley".

The Omega boutique dated the watch as 1953-1955. Would it be helpful if I shared the full serial number? I can get it tomorrow.

 

Hope you've been enjoying our great weather for the last week or so then .

If the watch is Australian as @X350 XJR noted, then it's a good chance the movement was imported and then fitted to a locally made case (most probably by Handley who were based in Abbotsford, just down from the Skipping Girl sign in Victoria street).

I was pulling you leg about the serial number, it makes sense that it's mid 50s.

As it was on the cusp of Omega actually naming watches (e.g. Seamaster in 1948), and the effects of WW2 still hurting the Australian economy, it may have been one of the movements shipped to Australia for casing before that practice was overtaken by Omega importing fully assembled watches themselves.

It looks to be a nice watch and with a gentle clean, a new crystal and a movement service it would be a pleasure to wear.

Cheers
Jim

 

Forgot to add. Omega only had "models" from about 1948, starting with Seamaster.

There were exceptions such as those from the 1920s/1930s, but there were not that many of them.

For example: Acribes - 1930s, Alcaios - 1940, Argos - 1930s, Dedalos - 1930s, Euroos - 1933, Foibos - 1933, Filenios - 1930s and Firmus - 1930s.

There wasn't many of them were there .

 

Thanks for the information! Much appreciated. I just poked around in the Trove newspaper archives and saw some adverts from Handley in the 1950s advertising their cases.

Any advice for tracking down more information about this case in particular? I suspect not, but couldn't hurt to ask...