| Author | Message | ||
     Tommyg New member Username: Tommyg Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2010 Rating: N/A |
I work in eastern Europe and keep an eye out for watches as I travel around the various countries. I have a few 50's and 60's Omegas in my collection, but I'm not that familiar with those dating from around 1939-1944. I seem to stumble across them quite often over here. The ones I find have round cases but small, rectangular-shaped 15 or 17J movements, marked Omega but with no reference numbers. The cases appear to fit the movements, but as I am unfamiliar with these watches and they appear unlike any I've seen in the US or UK I haven't purchased them. Any information on how I can authenticate these and if they are even collectible would be appreciated. | ||
| Gatorcpa Intermediate Member Username: Gatorcpa Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2006 Rating: N/A |
It is rather difficult to authenticate pre-WWII Omega watches. As you have stated, they generally did not use case or movement reference numbers at that time. There are caliber designations on these older watches, located underneath the balance wheel. These are almost impossible to see without a loupe and while the watch is running. One thing you can do is measure the diameter of the movement. This is usually the beginning of the caliber designation on these older Omegas. For example, a 30T2 movement would be 30mm in diameter, etc. There is a lot of good research on Omega movements here: http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk& Just type "Omega" in the search box. In addition, Omega provides a chart to date older watches by movement and case serial numbers: http://62.73.172.167/cu_vintage/img/movement.pdf The date from this chart for the movement and case need not match exactly, but should be reasonably close. Three to four years difference between movement and case is not unusual. One thing to "watch" out for is a proliferation of converted Omega pocket watches to wristwatches. These would generally have a subsecond dial at the 9 o'clock position. I know of no Omega wristwatch that was made this way at the factory. Good luck and happy hunting! gatorcpa |